McArdle readies Northern Ireland for World Cup play-off

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 8 Oct, 14:48 · Archive

Northern Ireland manager Michael McArdle says his team is 'play-off ready' ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Portugal.

Northern Ireland manager Michael McArdle has prepared his team for a World Cup play-off against Portugal following his appointment in March. McArdle has described the situation as 'like a movie script' and says he has made the team 'play-off ready' for their attempt to reach the World Cup.

McArdle's path to management was unconventional. For seven and a half years he worked in the construction industry while playing semi-professional football, studying for a degree in building services engineering and raising three young children with his wife. He eventually committed fully to coaching after taking what he describes as a '300% drop in salary', funding his coaching badges from his remaining earnings.

How it is being reported

• ‘Like a movie script’: Michael McArdle backs Northern Ireland to make historyManager says he has made team ‘play-off ready’ since taking over in March. They now face Portugal in their quest to reach World Cup For seven and a half years, Michael McArdle worked in the construction industry while playing semi-professional football, studying for a degree in building services engineering and raising three young children together with his wife. Any leftover earnings he put into funding his football coaching badges. Eventually he took a big risk and decided to take “probably a 300% drop in salary” and commit to coaching, a life-changing moment that now may be leading…Guardian Football · 8 Oct, 13:12
• Family, football and Dalglish - what drives NI boss McArdle?BBC Sport NI's Andy Gray sits down with Northern Ireland manager Michael McArdle to discuss his long career ahead of his biggest managerial test in the World Cup play-offs.BBC Sport · 7 Oct, 08:10

In this story: Michael McArdle · Northern Ireland · Portugal

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