Diarmuid O'Carroll admits he's excited at the prospect of taking up the role of Senior Coach at Northern Ireland and owes St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson a debt of gratitude for his support.
The 35-year-old was today announced as part of Michael O'Neill's backroom team for Northern Ireland's upcoming UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
It's a role that Diarmuid believes will aid his development as a coach and is hopeful that St Mirren will reap the benefits moving forward.
It's really exciting for me personally," he told stmirren.com
"I owe an awful lot to the manager and the club for supporting me and helping me develop over my time here. My main focus day-to-day will still be with the club, but during international breaks I'll go and have another experience that will hopefully see St Mirren get a better coach in the long run.
"I'm young in my development and very much have areas to learn and improve. I look to the manager as he's gone this pathway himself and you recognise what a part it played in his development before he became a manager.
"He has a really good relationship with Michael [O'Neill] and I know Michael from previously working at the Irish FA a little bit as well. The fact that someone who is so good with the gaffer is willing to back me and push me forward is a huge compliment. It's humbling and a massive confidence boost."
Saints manager Stephen Robinson praised his assistant and believes it's a shrewd appointment by Michael O'Neill and the Irish FA.
Diarmuid is a huge part of our relative success this season and where we find ourselves," the manager said.
"He's very good on the training pitch and he's brilliant around the place in terms of enthusiasm. I've experienced it when you are away on internationals and on long trips. You need positive people and you need the quality that someone like Diarmuid will bring to it and I think it's a very prudent move by Michael O'Neill.
"I speak to Michael on a regular basis and he came in to see us a couple of weeks ago. He asked my opinion on Diarmuid and I couldn't speak any higher of him. I think he'll be a huge asset to Northern Ireland and I think their players will enjoy working with him."
