Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has signed a new four-year contract with the Irish FA.
O'Neill became Northern Ireland's manager in December 2011, after guiding Shamrock Rovers to two League of Ireland titles. The team also reached the group stages of the Europa League in 2011.
Euro 2016 will be Northern Ireland's first appearance at the European Championships. O'Neill's side topped Group F beating Hungary, Finland and Greece on the way to qualification. The last major tournament reached by Northern Ireland was the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
WATCH | Michael O’Neill on signing his new four year contract… #DareToDream #GAWAhttps://t.co/wwXmIATD7f
— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) March 16, 2016
Northern Ireland have been drawn in Group C in the tournament along with World Champions Germany, Poland and Ukraine. Nice is the venue to the team's first game of the tournament when they face Poland on June 12th.
On the news of signing the contract, O'Neill revealed how honoured he is to lead the country to France. "I am extremely proud to be manager of Northern Ireland and I have thoroughly enjoyed the role over the past four years. I am therefore pleased to have signed this new long-term contract with the stability that it brings to me, the staff and the players. We are all now looking forward to Euro 2016 and the chance to create more history this summer.”
The four-year deal includes the qualification periods for the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020. Northern Ireland have been drawn against teams including Germany, Czech Republic and Norway.
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