Former Ireland boss Martin O’Neill set for return to management with Romanian club
Martin O'Neill left his Ireland role in 2018. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Former Ireland boss Martin O’Neill may be set for a return to management in Romania.
It’s been almost five years since the 72-year-old’s last job after he was sacked by Nottingham Forest, but it has now emerged that Romanian top-flight side Rapid Bucharest are reportedly working on bringing O’Neill in as their new boss.
It would be O’Neill’s first club job outside of the UK in his managerial career, with Fanatik reporting that the club are hoping to secure the Derryman’s signature after Cristiano Bergodi was sacked last month following a disastrous start to the play-off series. The club have two games remaining this month before the campaign ends.
Today's Sport News in 90 Seconds - 8th May
Rapid Bucharest finished second in the Romanian top-flight regular season but went on to lose seven of their eight play-off games.
Their last Liga 1 title came 21 years ago, with local rivals Steaua Bucharest and Dinamo Bucharest enjoying far greater success in recent years.
After five years in the Leicester City hot seat, O’Neill took charge of Celtic in 2000 and led the Scottish club to great success by winning three league titles, three Scottish Cups and reaching a UEFA Cup final during his five years at Parkhead.
However most Irish supporters remember him for leading the national side to Euro 2016, where he was assisted by legendary midfielder Roy Keane. After the highs of France, where the Boys in Green reached the Last 16, Ireland missed out qualification for the 2018 World Cup after losing 5-1 on aggregate to Denmark in the play-offs.
After failing to win any of four Nations League games in 2018, O’Neill and Keane parted company with the FAI in November 2018.
