Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has signed a four-year contract extension, less than three weeks after turning down the Scotland managerial vacancy. The 48-year-old, whose previous deal expired in 2020, has agreed a lucrative six-year package worth approximately £700,000 per year that runs until 2024.
O'Neill, appointed by the Irish Football Association in December 2011, spoke to the Scottish Football Association about succeeding Gordon Strachan last month but chose not to take the post. He also held talks with West Brom and Sunderland following Northern Ireland's World Cup play-off defeat to Switzerland in November.
Under O'Neill, Northern Ireland reached the last 16 at Euro 2016, their first major tournament since 1986, and narrowly missed out on the 2018 World Cup after a 1-0 aggregate loss to Switzerland. The IFA acted swiftly to secure his future after the SFA hesitated over paying his £500,000 compensation fee.
O'Neill said: 'I am extremely proud to manage my country and I am pleased to be extending my time in charge of the senior team. In recent months I have been approached about other opportunities, but no other challenge attracted me as much as taking Northern Ireland back to a major tournament.'
He added: 'I am also excited about my new role as Chief Football Officer and of having hands-on involvement in shaping our football development programmes and elite performance pathways.'
