MARTIN O’Neill finally put any rumours regarding his future with the Republic of Ireland to bed last night when he signed a new contract extension.
O’Neill had previously come to a verbal agreement with the FAI committing him to seeing the national side through the qualification campaign for the 2020 European Championships. However, Ireland’s failure to make this summer’s World Cup in Russia and job vacancies elsewhere left a question mark dangling over the Kilrea man’s future.
The former Sunderland, Leicester City and Aston Villa manager was linked with a return to the English Premier League at the helm of either Everton or Stoke City, but those jobs were subsequently taken by Sam Allardyce and Paul Lambert, respectively.
The new contract extension runs until 2020, with O’Neill targeting an appearance at that summer’s Euro finals. Number two Roy Keane and the rest of the backroom staff will also stay on.
O’Neill will be in Lausanne, Switzerland today for the draw of Uefa’s new Nations League, while Ireland’s next fixture is a trip to Turkey in March for a friendly.
