It was heartbreak for many Northern Ireland fans after last week’s 0-0 draw at Basel saw them miss the last flight to next year’s FIFA World Cup at Russia. They failed to overturn the 1-0 deficit from the first leg. The aggregate defeat added more pain to the Norn Irons as the only goal scored in the tie was a controversial penalty which ultimately led to their demise.
Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill, who has been in charge for the national team for almost six years now, is understood to have come to the end of his time at the helm. In his six-year stay at the club, he has overseen 52 games for the national team. He has a decent record of 18 wins and 14 draws while in charge with Northern Ireland.
His biggest achievement was finishing second in the qualifiers behind Germany, something that permitted them to participate in the playoffs and gave hope to an entire nation. However, for Northern Ireland, their World Cup adventure came to an unfair end and now O’Neill could be on his way out.
A nine-year spell at England’s premier competition came to an end last season for the Black Cats when Sunderland were finally relegated last year. The club probably survived more relegation wars in the last ten years than the number of goals they scored last season. However, it was doom spelt all along for the Black Cats last season and after finishing rock bottom, they moved down to the Championship.
Things have not gone well for the Black Cats well this season either. Sunderland have just won one of their 16 league matches this season and with only 10 points on the board, they stand in the relegation zone. The club is last in the Championship standings and has failed to register a home win since last December.
After failing to guide an aimless Sunderland side to safety last season, David Moyes resigned as the manager of the club in May this year. Simon Grayson replaced the Scot and has now been sacked after only eighteen games in charge.
It is a sad state of affairs for the club’s board which now has to search for a ninth manager in a time span of six years. Should O’Neill come to Sunderland, he would be a capable replacement and his prior experience of making a team punch above its weight will surely prove beneficial for the Black Cats.
