David Healy Rules Himself Out Of Northern Ireland Job

David Healy has ruled himself out of replacing Ian Baraclough as Northern Ireland manager, claiming more qualified candidates should be considered.

The Northern Ireland football association announced the sacking of Baraclough on Friday after just two years in charge, following a poor Nations League campaign and falling short of qualifying for the World Cup.

Top goal scorer of his country, David Healy is currently in charge of Linfield where he has led them to five Irish League titles, two Irish cups and the Football League Cup.

During his playing career, Healy scored 36 goals in 95 appearances for his country, including having the joint record for 13 goals in a European Championship qualifying campaign, alongside Robert Lewandowski.

Healy is among a number of candidates linked to the job, including Neil Lennon, former manager Michael O’Neil and Tommy Wright.

Speaking to the Sunday Life, while Healy admitted it would be a position he may consider further down his managerial career, he claims more experienced candidates should be considered.

“I represented Northern Ireland with, hopefully, great pride as a player. I played in games I probably shouldn’t have because I was injured. I played when I shouldn’t have travelled, but I wanted to play.

Playing and representing your country is the is the pinnacle for me. I played for some incredible clubs along the way as a footballer but managing Northern Ireland for any young aspiring footballer turned coach or manager should be the dream.

Further down the line I’d imagine there’s a job there you’d want to take. At the minute, with the calibre of coaches and managers who will be linked with it, I’d imagine there will be quite a few more in demand who want the job.”

While Baraclough's tenure in charge may not have produced results, with just four wins in 22 games, David Healy praised his efforts for the progression of younger players within the side.

"I do hope when people see an international at the age of 24 or 25 and well-established a few years from now, they remember it was Ian Baraclough who gave him his first international cap."