Family, football and Dalglish: what drives Northern Ireland boss Michael McArdle

Michael McArdle sat for an interview at Windsor Park after naming his squad for the World Cup play-off with Portugal, having been appointed Northern Ireland manager in March. He has won two of his four matches in charge.

McArdle has more than 25 years of experience working in football and described the play-off with Portugal as the biggest game of his managerial career to date. He said he balances the reality of facing one of Europe’s top-ranked sides with the long-held dream of reaching a first World Cup in Brazil. Family is a recurring theme in his life and work: he was born and bred in Moodiesburn to the east of Glasgow and still lives there.

His personal life is rooted in the village where he met his wife, Tammy, on the same paper round when they were both 12; they have been married for 28 years. McArdle has three children, Connor, Mya and Cole, and is about to become a grandad for the first time. On the role of family within the national setup he said: "Family's crucial to me. We're all a family when we represent the country," he said. "That's a family of players and a family of staff, but also as an ecosystem and domestic game. "We're all the one family when we're together and that's a message that will always be strong while I'm at the helm."

Northern Ireland have won two of their four games under McArdle, with the first two international windows producing two victories over Malta followed by defeats to Turkey and Switzerland. If Northern Ireland are to make it to their first World Cup in Brazil then there are a number of hurdles to clear; they would need to beat Portugal over two legs and then would face Croatia or, more likely, Iceland. The Portuguese and Iceland have beaten Northern Ireland over the past two years or so, and McArdle acknowledged the team will likely face an additional inter-continental play-off in February because of their rankings.

McArdle spoke about preparing for match moments and working with his staff on in-game scenarios, and said he is enjoying his new role. "I think the dream piece is crucial, so we've dreamed about how we get there and what it'll feel like when we do it. "The other piece of it is the reality. We know it's a highly challenging task first of all to get through Portugal." He added: "You look forward to every game but it's one of those ties that gives you the opportunity to test yourself at the highest level. "Also the excitement of possibly achieving something and punching above our weight, which we're special at doing."

Captain Simone Magill will not be available to play in the play-offs but will join the camp as she steps up her return following the birth of her daughter, Skye, and will have her newborn with her. McArdle described the inclusion as important for the squad and families around the players: "Having Simone, Mark and Skye on camp is great. First of all for Simone and Mark to experience what the future is like when Simone's representing Northern Ireland. "It gives us that window of opportunity and it's something we've planned together over the summer months. "I think that's crucial because it's one thing knowing the players and the girls that represent us, but also the families that support them as well. "I'm very passionate about that and I don't underestimate the power of it."

Before taking the Northern Ireland job, McArdle held a number of coaching, academy and development roles, and was head of elite women's football at the Scottish FA, with a brief interim spell in charge of their senior team. He has used the summer to spend time around the Women's Premiership in Northern Ireland to build relationships with players, head coaches and club boards. On that work he said: "I was still getting to know them as people, not as footballers, so that was really important for me to build those relationships. "Not just the players, either. Getting to know the head coaches a bit more and some of the clubs at boardroom level, to understand how can I serve them and help the club evolution, the domestic league and pathways as well."

McArdle cited childhood and coaching influences from his Moodiesburn upbringing, including a long-standing admiration for Kenny Dalglish and local coaching figures. He named Michael O'Halloran and Sir Alex Ferguson among his coaching influences and pointed to Arrigo Sacchi, Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez for their management and leadership. "What drew me towards Sacchi, Mourinho and Benitez was not just the tactical side of the game, but how they managed it and their leadership. "They didn't play professionally and it kind of aligned with myself, although I didn't realise at the time."

Those personal values and influences form part of McArdle's approach as Northern Ireland prepare to face Portugal in the World Cup play-off.