Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill ‘agrees to become new Stoke boss’
NORTHERN IRELAND manager Michael O’Neill “has agreed” to become the new Stoke boss.
The Potters officially approached the Irish FA for Northern Ireland manager on Thursday.
But the Championship strugglers are yet to meet the compensation clause in O’Neill’s contract.
According to Sky Sports News those discussions are ongoing, but the 50-year-old wants the job at the Britannia.
O’Neill took over as his national team boss in 2011 and has a win ratio of 37 per cent from his 70 games in charge.
He led Northern Ireland to their first ever European Championships in 2016 and first major tournament for 30 years when they qualified for the Euros in 2016.
There, they got through a group thanks to a 2-0 win over Ukraine, before getting knocked out by Wales in the last 16.
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O’Neill was given permission to speak to Scotland in January 2018 but decided to stick with the team he has taken from 127th in the world to 34th, signing a new contract until 2024.
He is currently preparing his side to take on the Netherlands and Germany in Euro 2020 qualifiers.
But he told Sky Sports News “good ownership and good people” could help convince him to leave international football.
His only previous experience of managing clubs came with Scottish side Brechin City and Irish giants Shamrock Rovers – he is yet to take charge of a side in England.
But his success with the Green and White Army could lead Stoke to taking a chance on O’Neill.
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The Potters are on the hunt to appoint a new boss after sacking Nathan Jones last week.
They currently sit bottom of the Championship, with just two win in 15 league games this season.
SunSport exclusively revealed Chris Hughton ruled himself out of the job while the likes of Tony Pulis, Alex Neil, Neil Harris, David Moyes and Alan Pardew have all slipped down with the bookmakers due to the interest in O’Neill.
