Aberdeen: Michael O'Neill not giving link 'much thought' as 'focus on' Northern Ireland
- Published
Michael O'Neill recently attended Aberdeen's visit to St Mirren's SMiSA Stadium
Michael O'Neill says he would "never close the door" on a return to club football but his focus is on Northern Ireland after being linked with Aberdeen's managerial vacancy.
The 54-year-old began his managerial career with Brechin City after spending half his playing career in Scotland.
O'Neill was asked about the Aberdeen rumours as he named his squad for friendlies with Romania and Scotland.
"I don't really give it much thought," the former midfielder said.
"That's a story that has been in the Scottish media. I'm not in control of what people speculate or what people write and it's not something I give a lot of attention to.
"As I've said, I was at Aberdeen against St Mirren two or three weeks ago - I was there to see two Northern Ireland players who play for St Mirren. My focus is always here."
O'Neill pointed out that, when he returned for a second spell as Northern Ireland head coach in December 2022, he "signed a five-and-a-half-year contact".
He had previously been in charge for eight years, guiding the team to the Euro 2016 finals before leaving for Stoke City in early 2020.
However, Northern Ireland have lost seven of their past nine games, although they did end a disappointing Euro 2024 qualifying campaign on a high with a 2-0 win over Group H winners Denmark despite finishing second bottom.
"When I came back here, I came back knowing the job that was in hand," O'Neill explained. "I felt I had a group of players who had possibly one last campaign in them.
"Unfortunately, that wasn't the case because a number of those senior players missed the whole campaign with injury, or some retired. We're now in a different phase - we're having to go through a redevelopment, to build a team with very young players.
"If I do leave at some point and go to club football, the IFA did very well out of me going to Stoke and that's a bridge we would cross if I ever came to it, but it's not something I'm focused on at this time."
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