Regardless of dismal record, Simon Grayson’s did not deserve his abrupt dismissal

Both at club and international level the skilful midfielder has overcome adversity

O’Neill trusts footballers to do what’s necessary because he was one and knows the drill

Benitez will get a warm reception from Liverpool fans for reasons more than football

Pedro Caixinha may fear for future should Celtic remind hosts of how far they have fallen

Modern football is one long racket, Messi is the whisper of history heard above it

Michael Walker: It’s a balancing act of domestic domination and European inspiration

Michael O’Neill’s team secure second spot with their 2-0 win over Czech Republic

A point against the Czech Republic would guarantee second place in pool

Leicester striker’s fairytale rise from non-league obscurity to international striker

Former West Ham player reveals why he was so eager to join Middlesbrough

Wagner’s minnows will be fortunate to survive the choppy waters of the top flight

Real Madrid boss looking to emulate Arrigo Sacchi in Cardiff

The targeting of boys playing football or girls going to a concert is grim on so many levels

However briefly uplifting the 90 minutes in Stockholm, they are incomparable to what has gone and what lies ahead

Shakespearean element to Ranieri’s regicide as kings of England meekly hand over crown

Italian’s 3-4-3 formation move put Chelsea on path to glory as he quietly overhauled team

Club going downhill since Indian owners Venky’s bought a Lancashire institution

Defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday consigned Black Cats to the Championship

Manager will look for the right resources to be able to compete with Premier elite

Mauricio Pochettino’s side need to win a trophy to avoid the Belgium hype syndrome

When Paddy McCarthy left Cashel for Argentina he brought his luggage and love of sport

David Moyes seems to have truly lost plot and looks unable to ‘slap’ himself out of quagmire

Brendan Rodgers close to leading Celtic to a domestic treble on 50th anniversary of 1967

Jamie Ward and Conor Washington on target as O’Neill’s men go second in Group C

Professionalism, pride and preparation the mark of the new-look Northern Ireland

Championship club eye playoffs as blossoming Horgan and Boyle follow lead of McGeady

Goal-shy Middlesbrough are relegation-bound if their current form continues

‘When Oriel is full, it’s a brilliant, brilliant atmosphere and a great place to play football’

Unfashionable and characterised as dull, the Frenchman has a CV to savour

Dubliner who has laboured in lower leagues revelling in Lincoln City’s FA Cup run

Premier League relegation battle adds intrigue to a season that is rewarding mediocre

Club’s greatness in past was founded on eyeing success and failure as equal imposters

At 33 Southampton stalwart moves to West Ham – just as Saints book big Wembley date

City manager’s selections, his ideas, are under scrutiny – not least from himself

London, Liverpool and Manchester are English football’s city-states present and future

Crystal Palace manager had eight memorable years at club but left under a cloud

Ireland and Newcastle United goalkeeper looking optimistically towards future

Huddersfield’s revival under David Wagner could make Yorkshire soccer relevant again

If Jurgen Klopp’s side make the top four this season, the German will have done well

It was some time ago but reigning champions being relegated happened before

Michael Walker: Recent results show Chelsea are also a team of serious substance

Stephen Kenny’s side break new ground in their quest to take it up another level

Manager’s propensity for conflict not lessened by start he has made at Old Trafford

Poppy issue a handy diversion from government inaction in health/sport arena

Pep Guardiola could well do with dynamic Ivorian midfielder during this time of crisis

Sunderland’s woes bring much pleasure to the Newcastle faithful in topsy-turvy rivalry

Club have slumped to 16th in Championship and haven’t scored a goal in four games

Northern Ireland embark on a more inclusive intiative at redeveloped home

Two tales of one city both ending with a sense of true belonging to respective clubs

Move to Olympic Stadium has become symbol of east London’s growing identity crisis

Barcelona thrashing highlights big clubs’ dominance and Uefa’s abdication of leadership

Confidence is high ahead of the Celtic manager’s first match against Rangers

The club’s good start surely cannot last and they remain joint favourites to go down

Claudio Ranieri’s men face only side to beat them at home in title-winning season

Expansion to 24 teams gave minnows the chance to write their own piece of history

Michael O’Neill’s side bow out with heads held high after unlucky defeat to Wales

‘People didn’t give us a chance of doing anything, but we’ve come within a whisker of getting to the last eight’

Gareth McAuley’s own goal the difference but Michael O’Neill’s side bow out with pride

Durable captain needs to counter pivotal influence of Wales linchpins Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale

Two teams in last 16 must mean there are decent players in green jerseys

Michael O’Neill gives players a well-deserved rest ahead of resumption of odyssey in France

“The players gave him a round of applause; what more does a manager need to say?”

Narrow defeat, coupled with Turkey’s win over Czech Republic, guarantees Northern Ireland a place in the last 16

Michael O’Neill explains how far things have moved on since Euro 2012

Shaw says IFA’s gamble now paying off as team play steadily improves

Assistant boss Jimmy Nicholl sees similarities to the great side from the 1980s

Michael O’Neill’s men can stand tall against Germany after their victory in Lyon

‘It was probably the proudest I’ve felt in the dug-out and probably in my entire football career’

Gareth McAuley and Niall McGinn score as Michael O’Neill’s much-changed side see off Ukraine

Michael O’Neill makes dramatic decisions in bid to keep side in tournament

Northern Ireland need to face fixture as a ‘cup final’ as three points are a must

While France 98 felt like a celebration, this tournament has a much darker side

Everton striker says victory over Ireland necessary to keep second-round hopes alive

Manager Marc Wilmots: ‘Tactically, technically and organisationally we came up short’

Goals from Emanuele Giaccherini and Graziano Pelle secure Group E win in Lyon

Italy's nous is no myth. They conceded just seven goals in their 10 Euro 2016 qualifiers

Poland fail to read script as Arkadiusz Milik’s goal secures victory in first group game

The Northern Ireland manager is hopeful Kyle Lafferty will be fit for opening game

Evans brothers typify sense of fellowship that will prove vital for Michael O’Neill’s side

Security impossible to ignore in Paris yet still there is desire for optimism

Northern Ireland striker declares himself fit to face Poland in Euro 2016 group opener

Niall McGinn is the one that got away from Tyrone manager Mickey Harte

Striker who worked as postman during Euro 2012 may feature in Poland opener

Manchester United defender has operated as a roving midfielder in recent friendlies

Fleetwood Town defender has played a big role in helping Northern Ireland to France ’16

Striker Kyle Lafferty a lonesome figure as Northern Ireland fail to register shot at goal

Togetherness is the watchword for Northern Ireland manager with few stars to call on

Michael O’Neill’s side are now 11 games unbeaten but sterner challenges lie ahead

Euro 2016: Northern Ireland squad in buoyant mood during get-together in Republic

Unbridled hype surrounding English premiership exposed by silky Spanish skills

Manchester United's forgotten Stranbane boy who was better than Ryan Giggs

Former Republic of Ireland international has overseen dramatic reversal in club’s fortunes

Season’s end not yet upon us and already the next campaign is beguiling us

A different ‘face’ of Leicester: The move from crazy-good to crazy-bad took all of 90 minutes

Man City's Belgium attacker is showing up Chelsea’s error in letting him go

Aston Villa left to ask what a different a season makes as they head for the drop

Former Republic of Ireland striker was last living link to famous win over England in ’49

Ireland defender wants to play Gaelic football in Killybegs after professional career ends

Northern Ireland striker Kyle Lafferty has 13 minutes in Premier League this season