NORTHERN IRELAND — Michael O'Neill has extended his contract as Northern Ireland manager until 2032, a decision that has drawn strong approval from midfielder Isaac Price. Price said the squad is 'buzzing' about the news, expressing relief that O’Neill chose to remain with the national team instead of pursuing club management full-time.
O’Neill had recently served as interim manager of Blackburn Rovers while simultaneously leading Northern Ireland, guiding the club to safety from relegation during his six-month tenure in 2023. He ultimately rejected an offer to become Blackburn’s permanent manager, opting to continue his role with the national side.
Price, who plays for West Brom, was first called up to the Northern Ireland senior squad by O’Neill in 2023 while still a teenager. He credited the manager with giving him his international start despite limited first-team experience at club level. 'He trusted me, he threw me in when I wasn't playing any real senior games at club level,' he said.
The midfielder emphasized O’Neill’s impact on his early career, calling him 'probably the main manager that I've had since I started playing first-team football.' He added, 'We all love playing for him,' and noted the manager’s enthusiasm for the team’s youthful core. 'He's got a good group of players here. They're all young and I think he's probably excited to keep working with us.'
Price acknowledged the unusual dynamic of briefly facing O’Neill as an opponent during the Blackburn interim period, describing it as 'a bit weird' given their manager-player relationship. Nevertheless, he praised O’Neill’s performance during that stretch. 'Michael showed how good a manager he is, he managed to keep them safe and did a great job for them for six months,' he said.
Price also said the squad had been uncertain about O’Neill’s future, noting, 'We were a little bit nervous that maybe he might have took a club role on full-time but I think everyone's buzzing.'
No independent assessment of Isaac Price’s claims was available.