Michael McArdle, the Scottish FA’s head of elite women’s football and former interim head coach of Scotland, has been appointed Northern Ireland manager.
McArdle, who is Tanya Oxtoby’s permanent successor, replaces interim boss Kris Lindsay, who presided over Northern Ireland’s two opening defeats to Switzerland and Turkey in their Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign last week.
Lindsay will return to his role as Northern Ireland men’s under-16 boss.
Glaswegian McArdle will start his role on 1 April and will lead NI in their remaining qualifying fixtures, starting with a double-header against Malta at home on 14 and away on 18 April.
The former Ayr United assistant took charge of Scotland’s first four Nations League A games last year – all defeats – as the Scots looked for their own permanent head coach in Melissa Andreatta.
Once Australian Andreatta was appointed, McArdle returned to his lofty role within the SFA, which included managing various youth teams, including recently, Scotland Under-23s, while being responsible for identifying and developing talent and creating pathways to the national team.
McArdle said that “history and ambition” attracted him to the Northern Ireland role.
“This is a group in transition, with exciting young talent developing at international level while remaining competitive,” he said.
“There is a good balance of experience alongside a generation of players currently breaking through, and I want to support them with the elite level structures needed to turn that potential into a consistent national standard.
“Supporters can expect a team that is disciplined, brave in possession and relentless without the ball, continuing to reflect the hard-working character that defines Northern Ireland teams.”
