Euro qualification a must for O'Neill

WHEN it comes to the crunch, Martin O'Neill knows that he must guide the Republic of Ireland to the Euro 2016 finals in France.

The 61-year old Derryman was unveiled to the media for his first press conference as the new Ireland manger in a packed function room at The Gibson Hotel in Dublin.

Flanked by John Delaney, the Football Association of Ireland's Chief Executive and Gerry McDermott, the FAI's Communications Director, O'Neill entered the room not long after the scheduled 1pm start time; just as the punctuality stickler would have wanted it.

O'Neill had addressed some underage managers and coaches, before being greeted by a posse of Irish fans, including Davy Keogh and his famous flag, prior to briefing the media.

The bottom line for O'Neill is that he will have to qualify for the newly-extended European Championships, the qualification campaign for which doesn't get underway until next September. Qualifying will be where he will succeed or fail; it is that simplistic.

"That is what I will be judged on," O'Neill said.

"There is pressure, of course, but this is an opportunity, a fantastic opportunity at this time.

"It is a genuine privilege and pleasure to be here. I am genuinely excited by it and I am looking forward to it immensely.

"When I thought about it, this opportunity mightn't arise again for me.

"I would like to have some competitive games coming up, but that's the nature of the business. 

"It is my remit to get the team to France. My contract lasts for the length of time that the Republic of Ireland are in the Euros."

The Football Association of Ireland have long been fans of O'Neill and he had held talks just before the ill-fated tenure of Steve Staunton.

Once Giovanni Trapattoni's tenure was ended in September, O'Neill's name headed to the top of the bookmakers' boards.

Indeed, he is the first favourite to get the job since Liam Tuohy in 1971. 

O'Neill displayed charm and wit at today's conference, stating that the late Brian Clough might have had 'some palpitations' at O'Neill and Roy Keane, two students of Clough, teaming up together.

O'Neill also had time for a barb at Paulo Di Canio, who succeeded him at Sunderland towards the end of last season.

O'Neill said of having been sacked by Ellis Short in March: "I was very disappointed. I thought that my record in the game would have suggested that we would accrue the five points from the eleven games to keep us in the League. 

"The owner chose otherwise and appointed a manager who criticised everything that went on before and he's not actually in work at the moment."

O'Neill, a two-time European Cup winner with Nottingham Forest, has been given a two-year tenure in the job and is expected to confirm the addition of Steve Walford, Steve Guppy and Mike McGurn to his backroom team in the coming weeks.

O'Neill recently held talks with Crystal Palace and had been linked to Norwich and Fulham, too, but there is no release clause in his deal with the FAI.

He said: "I am fully committed here. I want to do the job."

It had been suggested that some of O'Neill's passion was lost during his time at the Stadium of Light, but he appeared full of vigour for the challenge.

He said: "I never lost my energy or my enthusiasm. I was always enthused. 

"My energy was always there - it's what keeps me going."

His first task, he says, will be to devise a system of play his players can 'identify' with, 'but not enough to lose the inherent passion that exists in the squad."

O'Neill takes his first training session at Gannon Park, Malahide on Monday ahead of the friendly games against Latvia and Poland.

He said: "These two games give me a chance to look at the style of play, systems. There isn't a system that I am not aware of, or at least there shouldn't be at this stage of my life.

"During different spells with different clubs I have had different systems. I will have a look at it, but it will depend on who is available."

O'Neill says he is confident that he can inspire his players to scale the heights again. As a manager he guided Leicester to two League Cups and took Celtic to a UEFA Cup final as well as winning three Scottish League titles with the Hoops, including a League and Cup double in 2000/01.

Of the side he takes over, O'Neill said: "We have very talented players in our side; gifted lads who I hope can express themselves. 

"I am obviously dependent on having my big players available for big games."

Ireland are now placed at 59th in FIFA's world rankings - the country's worst ever standing.

Crowds at the Aviva Stadium have dwindled down, but the suggestion is that interest in Friday's game against Latvia will far exceed what such an offering usually would.

O'Neill said: "I am hoping that they will come back. The only way for us to bring them back is to win some games and try to win them with some style and panache. 

"Along the way there will be ups and downs, but I hope the fans will come back and enjoy the experience. 

"My enjoyment will come from winning football matches."

And that, when you strip everything back, is what his tenure will be determined by.