Ian Baraclough appointed new Northern Ireland manager

Belfast, June 28 (IANS) Ian Baraclough has been confirmed as the new Northern Ireland manager, a statement on their official website said.

Baraclough, who has put pen to paper on an 18-month contract, is set to lead Northern Ireland into a packed calendar of games including UEFA Nations League, the UEFA Euro 2020 play-off semi-final away to Bosnia-Herzegovina, UEFA Euro 2020 – should Northern Ireland qualify – and the next FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, the statement on irishfa.com, read.

Baraclough will take over from Michael O’Neill.

“I was delighted to be linked to the job. To ultimately accept the role as the new Northern Ireland manager is an honour and a privilege. I couldn’t be more energised and excited to get going,” Baraclough said.

Irish FA president David Martin said: “On behalf of everyone connected to the Irish FA, we wish Ian the warmest of welcomes and look forward to him being a key part of our team.”

Irish FA chief executive officer Patrick Nelson added: “I’m delighted to welcome Ian as our senior men’s team manager. He will help us build on recent success but also kickstart an exciting new era for the men’s senior team and the association. We hope to hit the ground running in his first competitive fixture this September versus Romania in the UEFA Nations League.”

–IANS

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