After announcing his retirement following a successful Irish League career, Sean O’Neill has laid out his ambition to one day return to Northern Ireland’s top-flight as a manager.

O’Neill made the last of his 574 appearances in Ballymena United’s 2-2 Premiership draw against Cliftonville on Tuesday evening.

The 37-year-old won seven trophies, including three Gibson Cup crowns, during an 11-year stint at Crusaders and also enjoyed a spell on the books of Dungannon Swifts.

O’Neill started his senior Irish League career at Ballymena in 2005 and 21 years later has called time on playing duties with the Sky Blues as he prepares to take the first step on his coaching journey.

placeholder image — Sean O'Neill has called time on his Irish League playing career. (Photo by Pacemaker)

"If I'm honest, I have a coaching opportunity and I have to look beyond playing,” O’Neill told BBC Sport NI. “I've been offered a job, I'm not going to make any bones about it, that is what's happened.

"I wish I could have stayed to the end of the year but, to be honest, the job wouldn't have been there. I have to think about myself now.

"I would love a (manager's) job one day. I love this league and to be a manager one day in it would be great and further on who knows?

"Ultimately that's what I want to do, I have set my stall out early. That's what I want to do and hopefully I'll get there."

O’Neill returned to Ballymena in 2022, initially on loan before signing a permanent contract, and he’s delighted to have ended his senior playing career where it began.

"It’s emotional,” he told the club’s media channel. “It has been a whirlwind but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.

"I’m so glad I’ve went out on a competitive game, I’m just happy and content.

"I didn’t want to make a fuss. People asked me if I wanted a guard of honour at the start – I wanted to win the game, it was as simple as that.

"It was easy to get up for it. It was more after the game when you’re getting a guard of honour and things like that, that’s when it probably hit me more.

"It (Ballymena United) has meant the world to me. To get my debut here, I loved every minute of it previously. Strange things happen in football, you fall out with managers, you’re not picked – that happens and you move on.

"I’m so glad I came back because I love this place so much. There’s great people about the place and the club is going in the right direction.”