Northern Ireland v Netherlands

GOOD EVENING

Welcome to the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park this evening for our last home match in the regular qualifying campaign for UEFA EURO 2020.

Our opponents tonight are the Netherlands and it is sure to be a special evening for a number of reasons. First, we remember that we were so close to taking at least a point from the match in Rotterdam last month, only conceding the goals which lost the game in added time. Second, it is our last home match of 2019. And, third, it may well be Michael’s last time on the touchline in Belfast, depending on the results of both tonight’s match and our game in Frankfurt on Tuesday. While the whole GAWA family will be disappointed to lose Michael to Stoke City after eight years as our senior men’s team manager, we are also happy that he will continue to manage our team until either we qualify for UEFA EURO 2020 or are knocked out of the qualifying tournament. Depending on the results of our next two matches, we may have play-off games coming up in March 2020. The play-off draw is on Friday 22 November at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, so by this time next week we will have the full picture. One page in one matchday programme is not nearly enough to pay tribute to the change Michael has brought about in football in Northern Ireland, and the achievements of our team, over the last eight years. Just think about our last three qualifying campaigns. Qualifying as group winners, finishing only second to Germany, and now fighting to the last minute in a very tough group indicates just how far we have come and how our expectations have been raised during this period.

In addition to this Michael’s influence has also been brought to bear on many other aspects of football in Northern Ireland over the past couple of years in his additional role as Chief Football Officer. For the avoidance of doubt, picking the right person to be Michael’s successor is a huge priority for myself and members of the Association Board over the coming period. Unusually within football we do have the luxury of being able to take our time given the arrangements we have made with Michael and Stoke City. I’m not sharing any state secrets when I say that we will be wanting someone to build on the strong foundations Michael has created during his time here, rather than someone who thinks a blank sheet would be appropriate. And while we thank Michael tonight, and wish him good luck with Stoke City, we should not forget that there is an important game to be played and won tonight. I had not read Michael’s programme notes before writing this welcome, however I strongly suspect he may major on that point, too. So let us raise the roof in Belfast as always tonight. For Michael. For the team. And for the road to UEFA EURO 2020.

Patrick Nelson Chief Executive Irish Football Association

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