Isaac Price thrilled as O'Neill extends Northern Ireland stay until 2032

Northern Ireland midfielder Isaac Price expresses excitement as Michael O'Neill commits to remain national team manager through 2032.

Contract extension announced Northern Ireland midfielder Isaac Price revealed the squad feels 'buzzing' after Michael O'Neill agreed to an extended contract that keeps him as the national team manager until 2032. The Northern Ireland manager turned down an offer from Championship side Blackburn Rovers to take over the club permanently, despite successfully guiding them to safety during his interim stint. O'Neill will lead the team into two upcoming friendlies against Guinea on Thursday and France on June 8, 2026, as preparations continue for the Nations League campaign starting in September. ## O'Neill's influence on young talent Price credited O'Neill as a pivotal figure in his career, noting the manager first called him into Northern Ireland's senior squad when he was still a teenager in 2023. 'He went to Blackburn and did a job for them there. We were a little bit nervous that maybe he might have took a club role on full-time but I think everyone's buzzing,' Price shared after rejoining the squad for the upcoming double-header of friendlies. 'We all love playing for him and especially for me he's probably been the main manager that I've had since I started playing first-team football. He trusted me, he threw me in when I wasn't playing any real senior games at club level.' ## Squad dynamics and future plans Price highlighted O'Neill's strong connection with the current group, describing them as young and motivated. 'He's got a good group of players here. They're all young and I think he's probably excited to keep working with us,' he added. The players are now fully focused on the upcoming matches, with Price emphasizing their collective eagerness to perform. ## Price's perspective on O'Neill's dual role Reflecting on O'Neill's brief time managing Blackburn Rovers while still leading Northern Ireland, Price acknowledged the challenge of facing him in league matches. 'It's obviously a bit weird. You go from him being your international team manager to obviously playing against him, with us both in difficult positions,' he explained. 'But Michael showed how good a manager he is, he managed to keep them safe and did a great job for them for six months.' ## Focus shifts to friendlies with France and Guinea Price expressed excitement about the upcoming friendlies, particularly the match against France. 'We can't wait to play the two games. The France one speaks for itself. We're playing against the best players in the world on a big stage. They're going to be at home, just before the World Cup, and they'll be going there to try and win it. All the lads are really excited,' he stated. ## National team squad prepares for fixtures The entire Northern Ireland squad has assembled for the two friendlies, marking their first competitive preparation under O'Neill's extended tenure. The matches serve as a critical test before the start of the Nations League campaign in September, with the team aiming to build momentum ahead of the new competition.