Former Irish League manager: It took about five seconds to accept international boss offer
Northern Ireland women’s interim manager Kris Lindsay has hailed the role of Michael O’Neill in helping to develop coaches throughout the Irish FA system – and revealed “it took about five seconds” for him to accept his new temporary international position.
Following the departure of Tanya Oxtoby to Newcastle United, former Dungannon Swifts boss Lindsay has been placed in charge for World Cup qualifying fixtures against Switzerland and Türkiye next month.
Lindsay holds the position of National Academy Manager at the Irish FA and also serves as U16 manager, bringing through the next generation of Northern Ireland stars.
O’Neill sits atop of the Northern Ireland coaching pyramid as chief of the senior men’s team and plays a key role in outlining strategy throughout the pathway which is implemented in underage set-ups.
In December, all elite men’s managers and coaches, including O’Neill and Lindsay, came together at Windsor Park to “keep everyone connected, aligned and learning from one another”.
O’Neill has gained extensive experience at both international and club level, currently taking charge of Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers until the end of this season.
Lindsay feels that insight is invaluable to young coaches starting out on their own journeys and hopes to replicate a similar pathway to O’Neill’s with the senior women’s team.
"From a coaching perspective, Michael has been excellent with regards to all our underage youth international teams,” he said. “He's very open, he's very engaging and that pathway that he’s created into the senior men's team is excellent.
"That's what we continue to do on the girls' side of the game as well.
"I think that alignment between pathways and opportunity for our young players and our women's pathway and the opportunities that they get at senior international level, that's something that the association has worked extremely hard at over the last number of years and one that I hopefully will continue to build on.”
Lindsay views the opportunity to lead Northern Ireland into a crucial double-header in Lausanne and Lurgan next month as a privilege and is giving everything to make it a successful spell.
"I'm a very passionate Northern Irish fan, men's and women's, and I was privileged to do the job that I did previously before this interim appointment,” he added. “When the offer came, it was an exciting opportunity.
"It was one I was really excited by the challenge of and it took about five seconds for me to say yes.
"To lead your country as a manager is a privilege...it's hard work and it's one that over the last number of weeks and the next number of weeks that I'll pour my heart and soul into to make sure that we continue to build on what's been previously built.
"Hopefully we will have some positive performances in in the first two games.”