O’Neill returns to the former club where he spent ten years as a player
Nottingham Forest have announced the appointment of Martin O’Neill as the club’s new manager after Aitor Karanka was sacked last week.
🏠 #WelcomeHomeMartin#NFFC are delighted to confirm the appointment of Martin O’Neill as the club’s new manager. https://t.co/yXCtHY7Qvx
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) January 15, 2019
It’s O’Neill’s first job back in management after he and Roy Keane parted ways with the Republic of Ireland national team by mutual consent in November 2018.
Forest currently sit just below the play-off places in the Championship in 9th with 39 points but sacked Karanka after a poor run of form that saw the team pick up just one win in six league games – against league leaders Leeds United.
Forest have intentions of returning to the top flight, and their best chance of doing so will be through the play-offs. They’re currently four points behind sixth place Derby County.
O’Neill is something of a Forest legend, having spent ten years at the club as a player, during which time he scored 62 goals in 371 matches. The Northern Irishman helped the Reds to win a First Division title, two European Cups and two League Cups.
His last job in club football came to an end in 2013, when Sunderland sacked him after his management left them just one point above the relegation zone.
O’Neill’s highlight as Republic of Ireland manager came in Euro 2016, when he led the boys in green to the round of 16, escaping a group that included Belgium and Italy.
