O’Neill draws on ’82 heroics as he chases his own glory

AFTER years of dismal failure, few would have given them a snowball in hell’s chance of making it all the way to France this time round.

But somehow Michael O’Neill has galvanised his Northern Ireland side into a fighting unit who have emerged with a 100 per cent record — and a very real opportunity of emulating the heroes of Spain ’82.

While the 45-year-old is naturally reticent about making predictions, the mere mention of some of the heroes from that campaign brings a glint to his eye with the exciting realisation that his current squad are proving they might have what it takes to follow in their footsteps.

For those of O’Neill’s generation, Gerry Armstrong’s famous goal in a 1-0 win over the host nation in Valencia will never be forgotten.

‘I was 13 in 1982 when we got to the World Cup Finals. That was an amazing time,’ recalled O’Neill as he prepared his team for tonight’s game with Romania in Bucharest.

‘My hero back then was probably Martin O’Neill. But there were other good players such as Billy Hamilton and Gerry Armstrong. I remember being in the house and watching the game against Spain. Armstrong scored j ust after half-time.

‘Mal Donaghy got sent off with 25 minutes to go. I couldn’t watch the telly. I was hiding behind the couch. I’ll never forget that.

‘In 1986 the squad was coming to its natural end and changes were made. When I got involved in 1988 the likes of David McCreery, Norman Whiteside and Nigel Worthington were still there. All good men and happy to help the youngsters.

‘Now, this time, we’re trying to create our own history. We have never qualified for a European Championship Finals and we are progressing nicely.

‘But the situation is still fragile, there’s such a long way to go. Romania will provide a tough test but we have confidence and belief.’

No wonder. First to be put to the sword in September were Hungary, with Aberdeen’s Niall McGinn and Norwich City’s Kyle Lafferty scoring in a 2-1 victory in Budapest, which was Northern Ireland’s first away win in four years.

Former Rangers forward Lafferty scored in the subsequent 2-0 home victory over the Faroe Islands and also the sensational 2-0 win over Greece in Piraeus.

Northern Ireland sit two points clear of tonight’s opponents Romania at the top of Group F, but O’Neill will have to keep his proud record going without skipper Steven Davis after the former Rangers star pulled out with a hamstring injury.

After years of accepting their lot, however, the Northern Irish fans have something to believe in again under the canny O’Neill.

While his stock rises, the danger for the Windsor Park faithful is that he may be lured elsewhere.

And perhaps it should also come as no surprise that the man who plied his trade as a midfielder with Dundee United, Hibernian and St Johnstone should harbour hopes of managing i n the Scottish Premiership once his international adventure is over.

O’Neill has had spells in charge of Brechin City and Shamrock Rovers, but revealed that he was nearly won over by the world of finance before football management came calling.

‘When I stopped playing, I got my qualification in financial services and then came to work for Ernst & Young in Edinburgh,’ he explained.

‘But football was always what I wanted. I didn’t choose to be a manager, it chose me. It kept gnawing at me.

‘I started off as Mixu Paatelainen’s No 2 at Cowdenbeath and then I became my own man at Brechin. From there it was on to Shamrock Rovers and now the Northern Ireland international job.

‘I’d love to manage at club level again. I’m still young. It’s going well for me right now. I will want to try other things down the line. I think I’m good at developing players. I like Scottish football and I watch with interest the way things take shape there.

‘I’d like an opportunity at some stage. I’ve never had money to spend and that is a skill in itself.’