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Stoke have made an official approach for Northern Ireland manager Michael O\u2019Neill, the Irish Football Association has announced.<\/p>\nStoke have made an official approach for Northern Ireland manager Michael O\u2019Neill, the Irish Football Association has announced.<\/p>\n
The Potters have been linked with a host of potential replacements since sacking Nathan Jones last week and have now contacted the IFA about their long-serving boss.<\/p>\n
In a short statement released to the PA news agency, the IFA said: \u201cThe Irish Football Association has been approached by EFL Championship club Stoke City who are seeking permission to speak to Michael O\u2019Neill about their vacant manager\u2019s position.\u201d<\/p>\n
O\u2019Neill has been in charge of his national side since the end of 2011 and guided them to their first major tournament in 30 years when qualifying for Euro 2016.<\/p>\n
They still have a chance of reaching next year\u2019s tournament too, sitting third in Group C behind Holland and Germany and face the daunting prospect of games against both powerhouses this month.<\/p>\n
Regardless of those results a play-off place seems likely for Northern Ireland, which will surely factor into the 50-year-old\u2019s thinking as he ponders the prospect of taking over the Championship strugglers.<\/p>\n
Speaking at Wednesday\u2019s squad announcement in Belfast, O\u2019Neill was asked about potential interest from Stoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is always flattering. It is better to be linked than not linked, let\u2019s be honest,\u201d said O\u2019Neill, who was unsuccessfully targeted by Scotland last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not a distraction for me. It is something that has been ongoing for a number of years, and the focus has been on preparing for next week\u2019s games.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs I have always said, if and when a situation arises, then you look at that scenario at that moment in time. But right now, my focus is obviously on the two games that lie ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n