Stoke City: Martin O'Neill rejects chance to succeed Mark Hughes

Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane led the Republic into the Euro 2016 knockout stages but lost in the 2018 World Cup play-offs

Martin O'Neill has rejected the chance to become Stoke City's new manager.

The 65-year-old Republic of Ireland boss looked set to replace the sacked Mark Hughes but has now removed himself from the running.

His decision means Stoke have failed to land any of their top three targets.

Gary Rowett signed a new contract at Derby County to end Stoke's hopes of recruiting him, while former Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores decided to remain with La Liga side Espanyol.

Stoke, who travel to Manchester United in a 20:00 GMT kick-off on Monday, are 18th in the Premier League table, one point from safety.

The club had hoped to have their new manager in place for the United game but O'Neill's decision appears to end any prospect of that happening.

The first-team coach Eddie Niedzwiecki has been in temporary charge since Hughes was sacked and it is understood the players have responded well to his training sessions.

Welshman Hughes had been in charge of Stoke for four and a half years but was fired following a run of six defeats in eight matches, culminating in defeat by fourth-tier Coventry City in the FA Cup.

The former Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers, Fulham and QPR boss succeeded Tony Pulis at Stoke in May 2013 and was the fourth longest-serving manager at a Premier League club.

He guided Stoke to three straight ninth-placed finishes, before dropping to 13th last season.

O'Neill and his assistant Roy Keane verbally agreed two-year contract extensions with the Football Association of Ireland in October and the expectation is that deals will be formally signed before the Uefa Nations League draw in Lausanne on 24 January.

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77 comments

Comment posted by User0222811846, at 23:33 14 Jan 2018
Wenger?
Comment posted by carer, at 01:00 15 Jan 2018
Told you so! Mark Hughes was spot on when he asked "well who else is gonna do it" just before his sacking.
Comment posted by Finkelstein, at 08:30 15 Jan 2018
Martin O'Neill is a man of honour and integrity. A 'handshake' still means something with him. He is 'old school'.
Comment posted by Stephen, at 06:26 15 Jan 2018
Nigel Pearson is just the man for the Stoke job. Cut the " press hype" for once from his persona & you will find a great motivator, team man, & more importantly a man who will totally rebuild Stoke City. He did a fantastic job at Leicester from Div. One to the Premier League& without breaking the bank!
Comment posted by rammo, at 00:07 15 Jan 2018
Really good club. Very supportive chairman. Salary and transfer budgets are there. No great weight of expectation. In a relegation fight with about 10 clubs. I think the Stoke Board are just looking in the wrong place. Why not get an up and coming manager who actually wants the job and has ambition.
Comment posted by rellis, at 03:17 15 Jan 2018
After the publicity surrounding Flores, and now O'neill, turning them down anyone now approached knows they are at best 3rd choice for a club in real relegation trouble. Can't see many big names being prepared to accept that. Looks like a lower league guy might be their only hope and perversely that might be the best way forward for them anyway
Comment posted by User0557175479, at 00:28 15 Jan 2018
Get someone who would be good in the championship, as that's where they'll be in August
Comment posted by JimmyC, at 10:00 15 Jan 2018
Have they been taking tips from rangers on how to hire a manager?
Comment posted by User0803400951, at 10:10 15 Jan 2018
Sacking Mark Hughes was incompetent; they were never going to get a better manager - but to sack him without a replacement lined up - bonkers.

Stoke is the new Sunderland. It's in free-fall. They sold their best player, sacked their manager & some of their better players are over the hill.

Stoke's board scuppered their ship & are trying to hire a captain while its sinking!
Comment posted by duffspur, at 01:02 15 Jan 2018
I have to say i’m Scratching my head to think of many managers who are achievable targets for Stoke who have what it takes to get them out of where they are. At this rate they will be looking at championship managers.
Comment posted by User0557175479, at 23:38 14 Jan 2018
Don't blame him
Comment posted by Pharaoh, at 08:34 15 Jan 2018
Don't understand clubs who sack a manager without having their hands full of a replacement. Amazing.
Comment posted by footyfan94, at 06:12 15 Jan 2018
Don't think him not coming has much to do with Stoke. I can understand why at 65 a top level manager would want to continue in their international job and look to improve both the current and future success of their national side as well as spend more time with his family than come to the same size of club which he has managed his whole career. Would have been great at Stoke but understand reasons
Comment posted by Jeff-Vader, at 09:32 15 Jan 2018
O'Neill wouldn't have the time anyway as he's also busy filming the Supervet.
Comment posted by roverman, at 06:48 15 Jan 2018
Should have kept hughes..wish we still had him at blackburn
Comment posted by Wengerout, at 08:18 15 Jan 2018
@43 what planet are you on?!? Rejected by Rowett, Flores & O'Neill - Ancelotti would be a coup!! Seriously get real. Rogers will not leave Celtic for Stoke either. They will be lucky to get Lambert!!!
Comment posted by TKGriffiths, at 01:47 15 Jan 2018
Garry Monk is the man for this job IMO. Done good work in every post he's been in and left them all with the clubs in decent shape, unlike a lot of managers in today's game.
Comment posted by collymonster, at 07:12 15 Jan 2018
What a lucky escape for Stoke City, Hughes was hardly the most exopansive with his tactics,but O'Neill & Keane will take Stoke back to the Pulis era in terms of football played. Both O'Neill and especially Keane seem to take pleasure in being so dour.
Comment posted by benjobd, at 08:44 15 Jan 2018
We need to sign an applicant now instead of chasing managers.

We won't get the requisite players in now to survive during this window.

On that basis I'd like to see an up and coming manager given it. If he's shown an interest and applied I'd give it to Potter.
Comment posted by D1710656310950, at 07:54 15 Jan 2018
Rather prophetic words from Hughes, just before he left, when asked if he was still going to be the manager the following week and said ` Well if I don`t who else will`....obviously he knew something.