Northern Ireland senior men’s team coach Diarmuid O’Carroll has been named as the new manager of Newcastle United’s Under-21s.
O’Carroll, a key member of Michael O’Neill’s backroom staff, has made the move to the Premier League team from Scottish Premiership outfit St Mirren.
“It’s been a whirlwind few days but I am overjoyed to be joining such a huge club and I am really excited about the role,” said the 37-year-old, who will continue in his Northern Ireland role.
“There is a huge amount of talent in the Newcastle United Under 21 playing and backroom teams. The chance to link up with Eddie Howe and the first team, too, is particularly exciting.
“To add this to the journey I’m on with Northern Ireland and the chance to fuse my experiences in both club and international football is something I’m really looking forward to.”
O’Carroll, who is set to join up with the Northern Ireland squad next month for the UEFA Nations League games against Belarus and Bulgaria, has been a senior coach in Michael O’Neill’s backroom team since March 2023.
Before joining St Mirren as assistant manager in February 2022, he was a first team coach with Morecambe alongside current Saints boss Stephen Robinson. He also previously worked with Robinson at Motherwell where he was U18s boss and then U20s manager and a first team analyst.
He has also previously managed Crusaders’ women’s team, the Strikers, and Glentoran Women. He initially joined Motherwell as U18s manager in September 2019 following a stint in the USA where he was director of coaching at Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club.
During his playing career he won league titles with Crusaders (two) and Cliftonville (two) and he also played for Glenavon, Dungannon Swifts, Celtic’s reserves, Ross County (on loan), Morecambe, Airdrie United and Valur in Iceland.
He previously worked for the Irish FA as club and community development officer and within its coach education department.
