Martin O’Neill and Michael O’Neill been named joint-winners of the Philips Sports Manager of the Year award at a ceremony at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dublin.
It’s been a memorable year for the two O’Neills. Martin steered the Republic of Ireland to Euro 2016 via a 3-1 aggregate play-off victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, with Michael masterminding a brilliant qualification campaign that ended with Northern Ireland topping Group F and booking a place at a first major championship in 30 years.
Martin O’Neill – who became the fifth different national soccer team manager to win the award, following on from Jack Charlton, Mick McCarthy, Brian Kerr, and Giovanni Trapattoni, spoke afterwards of his joy at joining Northern Ireland in France and once again hailed his players for turning things around when all hope looked lost.
"I felt with four games left we were still in the group and I don't think it was really bravado. We had to win our games either at home to Germany or away to Poland but we knew it was possible," he said.
"The players came through and they have been fantastic. For us to join Michael is great. I must admit that I felt really envious of him enjoying himself [after qualifying] when we were still in the doldrums, but we were delighted to qualify."
Other past winners of the accolade, which has been running for 34 years, include Declan Kidney, who was honoured for his achievements with both the Munster and Ireland rugby teams, and Kilkenny hurling manager Brian Cody.
Reflecting further on the path to qualification, Martin O'Neill added: "We deserve to be there.
“It’s been a long route for us – a couple of extra games in the play-offs, beating a side that was ranked well and truly above us.
"The players gained a great deal of confidence from being unbeaten for a while and starting to win games" - Martin O'Neill
“So it’s a great achievement by the players.
“I’m absolutely delighted for them, delighted for the nation, really, who will be travelling to France in great numbers, and hopefully it will be a few days to enjoy.
“We started off very every well.
“We had seven points in the first three games, including an away draw against Germany - who happen to be the world champions. Sometimes I think that’s kind of forgotten.
“We lost in Scotland, which seemed a lot of doom and gloom, but it was never the end of the world and we beat Germany at home.”
The 63-year-old declined to cite a turning point in the campaign, adding: "Every goal that we scored was a big moment for us. Ever save that we made was a big moment for us.
"Eventually the players gained a great deal of confidence from being unbeaten for a while and starting to win games."
O'Neill's assistant Roy Keane has been linked with a return to club management, and the Ireland manager opined: “Roy is very much his own man. What he decides to do is entirely up to him.
“I think he wants to come here, he’s been a big part of our success, I think he’d like to go and enjoy that. If you’re asking me do I think he’ll go back into management, I think he’s young, he has the enthusiasm, drive and determination, and I think people keep forgetting that he did excellently at Sunderland.
“I think he’ll step back into club management or management of some description at some stage.
“I have no problem with him whatsoever, whatever he decides to do is entirely up to him. I’d be delighted if hopefully he joins us in the Euros. He deserves to do so.
“Let’s enjoy Christmas. John [Delaney]and myself will have discussions in the not too distant future.”
Northern Ireland registered six victories and suffered just one defeat in a remarkable 10-game campaign.
“The expectations were to be competitive in the group and give ourselves a chance of qualification,” Michael O’Neill said.
“With the third-place spot being available for a play-off, I always felt that was possible. It was trying to get the players to believe that as well.
“We were coming from a really low point, if I’m honest.
“But we got victories on the board very early.
“Once we got that, we started to believe and suddenly third place wasn’t going to be enough for us and we wanted automatic qualification at that point.”
