Northern Ireland Celebrates O'Neill's Contract Extension Ahead of Guinea Clash
Northern Ireland midfielder Isaac Price expressed excitement among the squad after manager Michael O'Neill confirmed his contract extension, keeping him at the helm until 2032. This decision comes after O'Neill turned down an opportunity to manage Blackburn Rovers permanently, having successfully guided the team to safety while balancing his role with Northern Ireland. O'Neill's leadership will be pivotal as the team prepares for upcoming friendlies against Guinea on Thursday and France on June 8, ahead of the Nations League campaign set to begin in September. Price highlighted O'Neill's significant impact on his development, recalling how the manager included him in the senior squad for the first time in 2023 when he was just a teenager. He stated: "He went to Blackburn and did a job for them there. We were a little bit nervous that maybe he might have took a club role on full-time but I think everyone's buzzing." "We all love playing for him and especially for me he's probably been the main manager that I've had since I started playing first-team football." "He trusted me, he threw me in when I wasn't playing any real senior games at club level." Price emphasized the youthful talent within the squad, noting O'Neill's enthusiasm for continuing to work with them as they aim for success in the upcoming matches.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-06-01