FORMER REPUBLIC OF IRELAND MARTIN O'NEILL has made a sensational claims that he was called the outsider”, “a Northerner”, and became a “figure you tend to hate during his time as Ireland boss.
O'Neill was Ireland's manager between 20013-2018. His crowning achievement as Ireland boss was getting to Euro 2016. The Irish eventually lost out to beaten finalists France in the last 16
However O'Neill left the role in 2018 after coming to a mutual agreement with the FAI following a run of poor results.
The two-time European cup winner highlighted the 5-1 loss to Denmark as a particular low point during his tenure, where he compared himself to another Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni.
The Co. The Derry native highlighted the issues of being from Northern Ireland as manager of the Republic in his new autobiography, ‘On Days Like These.
Dublin , Ireland - 15 November 2018; Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill and assistant manager Roy Keane, left, prior to the International Friendly match between Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)He also backed up his claims while speaking to the Belfast Telegraph: “The Denmark result became a point for the Republic media to throw everything at you in terms of criticism. It was kind of storing up a little bit," said the 70-year-old.
"The truth is this: there were a number of times that I was called ‘the Northerner’ or ‘the outsider’ and I was treated in many ways the same way as [Giovanni] Trapattoni eventually became: one of those figures you tend to hate. I think that was it.
“My persona didn’t seem to fit with them throughout the time and I’m even going back to heavy criticism in the early stages of our 2016 European campaign when we were in the same group as Germany, Poland, Scotland and Georgia," he added.
“When we only drew with Scotland in Dublin and we still had plenty of matches to go, the criticism was very heavy at that stage but we made it through."
“I think if you are viewed as a bit of an outsider to begin with then it’s hard, regardless of results being okay, to win them back again. That would be my thoughts on it.”
Roy Keane, who was O'Neill's assistant during his Ireland tenure didn't believe that O'Neill was treated differently in his role initially, but according to him he eventually came to the same conclusion as his colleague on the touchline.
“I mention this in the book: when, initially, I said to Roy Keane I was considered a bit of an outsider and he wasn’t so sure to begin with but as time wore on, he was absolutely convinced of it.
“At the end of the day I’m maybe not blameless. I think they felt I had an arrogant streak about me. I think that’s been called a few times but that’s absolutely and utterly far from the case.
“The result against Denmark was treated as if it was the first match of the group rather than a play-off game to get to the World Cup.”
Ireland have since failed to qualify for a major tournament since O'Neill's tenure.
Exclusive: Martin O’Neill: As Republic of Ireland boss, I was treated as an outsider and called the Northerner...a figure you tend to hate
✒️ @StevenBeacom5https://t.co/Y5gzcA2FvD— Belfast Telegraph Sport (@BelTel_Sport) November 7, 2022
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