Michael O'Neill: You'd be foolish not to consider Blackburn Rovers opportunity - but I'm not looking beyond this season

The Championship club have appointed O’Neill on a short-term basis after reaching an agreement with the Irish FA which means he will remain in charge for next month’s World Cup play-off semi-final trip to Italy.

O’Neill, who has added former Northern Ireland internationals Steven Davis and Damien Johnson to his Rovers backroom team, takes over with the Ewood Park outfit sitting inside the relegation zone.

Interim chief Johnson will remain at the helm for Saturday’s trip to Queens Park Rangers with O’Neill observing from the stands – his first match will come in a Lancashire derby against Preston North End next Friday.

O’Neill has spent 12 years as Northern Ireland manager across two spells and enjoyed tremendous success – the highlight sealing qualification to the 2016 European Championships.

Between those stints, O’Neill was in charge of Championship club Stoke City, winning 55 of his 143 matches with the Potters before returning to the international arena in December 2022, signing a five-and-a-half year contract.

O’Neill is setting quickly into life at Blackburn and acknowledged “I always felt that I’d have to consider an opportunity if it came” to return to the club game.

“It’s a lovely feeling,” O’Neill told RoversTV. “It’s been a bit of a whirlwind morning, but everyone’s been lovely since I came in.

“Everyone’s been really welcoming, we have had a good session this morning and we’re all looking forward to the game tomorrow.

“We’re not looking any further ahead than this season. This is 15 games, we’re not dealing with a transfer window or anything, and our focus is on ensuring the team is as well prepared as possible to give us the best chance of getting results.

“I’ve been an international manager for nearly 12 years now, over two spells, as well as my time at Stoke in between. I always felt that I’d have to consider an opportunity if it came.

“When a club like Blackburn Rovers comes, I think you’d be foolish not to consider the opportunity.

“Having come to Ewood Park over the years and seeing the team in a really good place, I’ve always realised what a really big club this is.”

O’Neill took over at Stoke with the club sitting bottom of the Championship table and comfortably guided them clear of relegation threat, ending the season in 15th.

He’s determined to achieve a similar feat with Blackburn, who are level on points with Leicester City and one adrift of Portsmouth in the race to avoid the drop.

“When that opportunity comes along, you have to listen to it and it’s worked out for both parties," he added. “The initial conversations you have with the people at the club are very important and they were very positive.

"I got a good feeling from those discussions.

“I want to bring something to the club because there’s no getting away from the situation at the club at this moment in time.

"I found Stoke City in a similar situation and we managed to preserve our Championship status, and I have the same intention with Blackburn Rovers.

“It’s a challenge, there’s no doubt. It’s been a difficult period for the club, but I’ve watched a lot of the Championship this season and the games are so tight.

"There’s very little in the games, even those that see the bottom of the table play the top of the table.

“This is a club certainly geared for Championship football and above, there’s no doubt in that, having spent this morning here at the training ground. I think we’ve got the squad and the staff to certainly help us do that.”