Michael O'Neill (footballer)

Did You Know?

• O'Neill was appointed MBE in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to football and the community in Northern Ireland.
• He underwent hip replacement surgery in April 2022.

Early life

Michael Andrew Martin O'Neill, born 5 July 1969 in Portadown, County Armagh, is the son of Dessie and Patricia O'Neill. Dessie was a hurling goalkeeper for All Saints, Antrim GAA, and Ulster; his brother Sean ran the Men's 800 metres for Northern Ireland at the 1982 Commonwealth Games. Raised Catholic, O'Neill attended Presentation Convent Primary School before his family relocated to Ballymena, where he went to All Saints Primary School and St Louis Grammar School. In 1980, he won the Northern Ireland Schools FA Cup. He also represented Antrim GAA minors in Gaelic Football. His youth football began with Star United FC, and at age 14 he joined Chimney Corner.

Club career

O'Neill made his Irish League debut for Coleraine at age 15, becoming a regular by 18. After a UEFA Cup tie against Dundee United in 1987, he was signed by Newcastle United in October 1987 for £100,000. He scored 13 goals in 22 appearances in his first season, helping Newcastle finish eighth in the First Division, but injuries and loss of form contributed to relegation the following season. In August 1989 he joined Dundee United for a club-record £350,000.

A difficult relationship with manager Jim McLean led to O'Neill being dropped in 1991 after refusing to extend his contract. He left in 1993 for Hibernian, where he had three successful seasons under Alex Miller. He agreed to join Sturm Graz in 1996 but instead moved to Coventry City, spending just over two years there. After loans to Aberdeen and Reading, he signed for Wigan Athletic in September 1998. He later played for St Johnstone, Portland Timbers, Clydebank, Glentoran, and Ayr United.

Managerial career

He became manager of Brechin City in April 2006, winning Second Division Manager of the Month awards in December 2007 and October 2008. He left Brechin to join Shamrock Rovers in December 2008, citing Gordon Strachan as his main managerial influence. He guided Rovers to second place in the 2009 League of Ireland and won the 2010 league title, their first since 1994. In 2011 he led Rovers to the Setanta Sports Cup and became the first manager of a League of Ireland team to reach the group stages of a European competition, defeating Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League play-off round.

Rovers retained the league title in 2011, but contract talks stalled and O'Neill left in December 2011. He was appointed Northern Ireland manager on 28 December 2011. His first game ended in a 3–0 loss to Norway, followed by a 6–0 defeat to the Netherlands. During 2014 World Cup qualification, Northern Ireland drew 1–1 away to Portugal and beat Russia 1–0 at home.

In November 2013 he signed a new two-year deal. He led Northern Ireland to Euro 2016, their first European Championship finals. In November 2019 he became Stoke City manager, staying until August 2022. He returned as Northern Ireland manager in December 2022.

In February 2026 he took a short-term role as Blackburn Rovers manager until the end of the 2025–26 season, combining it with the Northern Ireland job and guiding Blackburn to Championship safety.