MARTIN O’Neill believes the Republic of Ireland’s next generation will have the “drive and determination” to put themselves firmly on the road towards reaching Euro 2020. O’Neill has finally put pen to paper on a contract extension with the Football Association of Ireland to remain as manager for the next qualifying campaign, after initially agreeing to do so in October 2017. The 65-year-old had been the leading candidate to take over at Stoke, where Paul Lambert was eventually appointed as successor to Mark Hughes. Speculation over O’Neill’s position increased following the 5-1 aggregate World Cup play-off defeat by Denmark which ended hopes of reaching the 2018 finals in Russia. O’Neill accepted he had taken time for “a bit of reflection”, but was always content his understanding with FAI chief executive John Delaney allowed for him to talk to other potential employers. Now, though, O’Neill remains very much focused on the job of bringing the best out of the emerging talent and to provide a change of the guard within the senior set-up. “I am obviously pleased to do so [extend my contract],” O’Neill said on Sky Sports News. “I had conversations with the FAI board. They wanted me to continue… Read full this story
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