O'Neill set to take the top job

Northern Ireland are set to name their new manager next week, with Michael O'Neill the favourite to succeed Nigel Worthington.

O'Neill, who ended a successful stint as Shamrock Rovers manager last week, is the first choice of the Irish Football Association.

Iain Dowie and Jim Magilton – who assisted O'Neill at Shamrock – were the other men interviewed for the post. All three represented Northern Ireland as players and are keen to take charge of the World Cup 2014 campaign, despite a disappointing end to Worthington's tenure which saw the side finish fifth in their qualifying group for Euro 2012. During his time with Shamrock, O'Neill won back-to-back League of Ireland titles and became the first manager to take an Irish team into the group stages in Europe.