Glasgow Rangers are reportedly considering Michael O’Neill for the Ibrox post, while Sunderland have also been linked.
O’Neill’s reputation has been enhanced dramatically since he took the national team job six years ago, guiding the country to Euro 2016 before they were cruelly denied a place in Russia next year.
The Scottish Sun reports that Rangers and Sunderland are amongst the sides interested in offering O’Neill a fresh challenge – so could the state of the current Northern Ireland squad boost the Gers’ or the Black Cats’ chances of landing the 48-year-old?
Of the 23 players who were in the squad for the second-leg of their play-off with Switzerland on Sunday, 11 were over the age of 30, while four members of the squad are 35 or older.
Considering that qualifying for Euro 2020 does not begin until 2019 – though the much-maligned Nations League will have started by that point – it would be no surprise if a number of those key men have retired from international football by the time their next competitive fixture comes around.
It would be commendable if O’Neill decided to stick around and try and usher in a new era for the new country, but he would undoubtedly be forgiven if he felt that it was also the right time to move on and allow another manager to start the new chapter.
And should he have his doubts about whether he is the right man to lead the country forward, perhaps the prospect of moving to either Rangers or Sunderland may boast more of an appeal to him if either opportunity was offered.
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