The 64-year-old left no doubt in anyone’s mind.
Whenever a managerial vacancy opens up in the Premier League, the same names are always bandied about in terms of potential successors.
Martin O’Neill is one of these names and it’s no surprise why.
The Derryman has managed at the top level in both England and Scotland, with his recent performances as Republic of Ireland boss coming in for almost universal praise.
As as result, O’Neill will always be linked to high-profile positions and of course, the current opening at Leicester City is no different.
O’Neill managed The Foxes for a fruitful spell betwen 1995-2000 which yielded promotion to the Premier League, two League Cup triumphs and qualifying for the UEFA cup on two occasions.
He has been linked with the recently vacated position at the King Power Stadium, as he was before Claudio Ranieri was appointed in 2015.
However, Irish fans can breathe a huge sigh of relief with the knowledge that O’Neill is completely focusing on Ireland qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.
“I wouldn’t be going,” O’Neill told BBC Radio.
“I’m enjoying the job here at this moment.
“There’s a big game in a couple of weeks time and some difficult matches ahead, not only at the end of March but in June as well.”
Ireland face Wales on 24 March in a crucial World Cup qualifier before facing Austria in June, a game which is also at home.
When quizzed on whether it would be possible to hold two roles, both with Leicester City and Ireland, O’Neill was quick to dismiss such a notion, citing how it would inevitably cause problems for all parties involved.
“If that was the case – and I’m not talking about myself, I’m talking in general – if someone was trying to do two jobs at the same time, I think there would be problems if you didn’t get the results on both sides.”
There will undoubtedly be more speculation in the coming months as more club vacancies open up but with O’Neill having signed a contract extension with the FAI last September, Irish fans can be relatively confident that the former Leicester boss will be with Ireland for the foreseeable future.
