Worthington set to be NI manager

[Steven]

From the BBC.

Worthington set to be NI manager

Nigel Worthington will be unveiled as the new Northern Ireland manager on Friday, BBC Sport understands.
The 66-times capped former defender is the Irish Football Association's choice to succeed Lawrie Sanchez who resigned to take charge of Fulham last month.

The 45-year-old has previously managed Blackpool and Norwich City and has just completed a spell in temporary charge of Championship side Leicester City.

It is unclear if the appointment goes beyond the Euro 2008 qualifying series.

Worthington's first game in charge will be against Liechtenstein at Windsor Park in August.

Northern Ireland are in with a chance of qualifying for a major championship for the first time in over 20 years.

They head Group F on 13 points following the superb victory against Sweden in March.

The IFA Executive is expected to be asked to ratify the appointment on Friday morning ahead of a media conference and a backroom team will then be announced.

Worthington began his career as a left-back with Ballymena United in the Irish League in 1979 and went on to play at full-time professional level for Notts County, Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United, Stoke City and Blackpool.

He spent ten years at Sheffield Wednesday and was a member of the Owls side that won the League Cup and promotion to the top flight in 1990-91.

Two years later, Worthington and his teammates were losing finalists in both the League Cup and FA Cup.

The highlights of his international career included being part of the 1986 World Cup squad in Mexico and a spell as captain under manager Bryan Hamilton.

He managed Blackpool from 1997 to 1999 and was at the helm at Norwich City from 2000 to 2006, guiding the Canaries to promotion to the Premiership in 2003-2004.

The Carrow Road club was relegated the following season and Worthington's reign ended after a poor run of results in October, 2006.

He was appointed caretaker boss of Leicester earlier this year but failed to secure the permanent appointment.

 

[fcukcov]

good luck to him.

 

[Matt_B]

Couldn't care less about him now he's not here.

Just thought I'd fill in for Melton :icon_wink

 

[From Gradel to Grave]

good luck to him.

Hear, hear.

Just thought I'd fill in for Melton :icon_wink

:icon_bigg

 

[four king power]

Tough job for him to take on. Top of the group so the only way is down for NI, good luck to the fecker though

 

[Hazzman]

Good luck to him. Done a good job here. Might need some lucky, there is only one way NI can go from here. They have reached their peak.

 

[fox58]

Sweeden are giving Denmark a good hiding at the moment and will go back to the top of the group

3-0 after 26 mins

 

[drummindefender]

norn iron were never going to qualify as spain and sweden will both come good in the end

 

[MHS]

All the best Nige.