You have to say he’s earned it.
Northern Ireland look set to extend manager Michael O’Neill’s time in charge of the national team by another four years after he led them to their first major tournament in 30 years.
The former Shamrock Rovers boss has been rewarded for leading Northern Ireland to the Euro 2016 finals, finishing top of a group that included Romania and Hungary.
The new deal is worth a reported £500,000 a year, according to the Belfast Telegraph, making O’Neill the highest paid manager in Northern Ireland’s history and nearly doubling his existing salary, while his current standing means the IFA have gone beyond their traditional two-year contract to secure their man long-term.
Northern Ireland have been drawn in a difficult group for this summer’s finals, facing Germany, Poland and Ukraine, while they will also face the Germans, along with the Czech Republic and Norway, in qualifying in for the 2018 World Cup.
