Michael O’Neill: Returning international bosses – risk or safe bet?

‘Never go back!’ – it’s entered the football lexicon as a cliched warning against giving managers a second spell in charge.

Well, the Irish FA had no such qualms in re-appointing Michael O’Neill as Northern Ireland boss on Wednesday after taking the side to the Euro 2016 finals during his first stint.

Northern Ireland fans are celebrating the return of the former Stoke City manager but will their feelgood optimism be realised with success on the pitch?

With the World Cup in full swing we take a look at how five national managers have fared on their return to the hotseat.

Let’s start with a man in charge of a team still in the running for the biggest prize of all in Qatar.

‘Never go back!’ – it’s entered the football lexicon as a cliched warning against giving managers a second spell in charge.

Well, the Irish FA had no such qualms in re-appointing Michael O’Neill as Northern Ireland boss on Wednesday after taking the side to the Euro 2016 finals during his first stint.

Northern Ireland fans are celebrating the return of the former Stoke City manager but will their feelgood optimism be realised with success on the pitch?

With the World Cup in full swing we take a look at how five national managers have fared on their return to the hotseat.

Let’s start with a man in charge of a team still in the running for the biggest prize of all in Qatar.

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