Ex-Town boss and skipper Jim Magilton has been appointed Northern Ireland’s elite performance director on a four-year contract.

A statement on the IFA’s website says that the 44-year-old, who has recently been working as a pundit on Qatari TV, reads: “Magilton will be responsible for all elite player development for boys and girls and will lead and drive on the identification and development of talented young players and the building of a talent pipeline for future sustainable success on the pitch.

“He will also oversee the Association’s coach education programme, which will continue to be managed by Nigel Best.”

Magilton, capped by Northern Ireland 52 times during his playing career, is delighted to have been given the role: “I am very pleased and indeed honoured to have been offered this opportunity to join the Irish Football Association as elite performance director.

“Player identification and development is a key part of the modern game and I am looking forward to getting started in my new role and to working with all the young players in Northern Ireland.

“We must work collectively and strategically to ensure we cultivate the most talented players — both boys and girls — at all age groups in Northern Ireland and I believe that by doing this we can create a talent pipeline which will help to build successful and sustainable international squads of the future.”

IFA president, Jim Shaw added: “As president of the Irish Football Association, I am delighted to announce the appointment of Jim Magilton as the Irish FA’s first ever elite performance director.

“This role is fundamental to the development of football in Northern Ireland and I believe we have found the right person to oversee the identification and development of all our elite young players.

“I also believe that this appointment highlights the Irish FA’s commitment to elite player development and it is about laying the foundations for the next generations of Northern Ireland internationals.”

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill, to whom Magilton was assistant boss in his former job at Shamrock Rovers, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Jim on board. I have known Jim for over 20 years and I know that he will be a huge asset to the Irish Football Association.

“His experience as a player and a coach along with his knowledge and his ability to manage and implement coaching structures, will ensure that all our elite young players are identified and developed and in turn will bring through generations of international players for all our national teams.”

Magilton’s new role could be good news for Town with the Blues academy keen to target the best Northern Irish talent. Earlier this year http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/22677/town-run-rule-over-best-northern-i sponsored a visit by Northern Ireland’s U15 squad.

Elsewhere, former Blues defender Troy Brown has joined Cheltenham Town on a two-year deal after leaving Aldershot following their relegation out of the Football League and administration.

Photo: Action Images

IpswichLewis added 16:57 - Jun 21 That moment when JIm Magilton scored to make it 3-3 and get his hat trick in the second leg of the play offs in 2000 will always be in my memory. Awesome!!
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MitchtheITFCman added 17:05 - Jun 21 Good luck to him
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theobald1985 added 17:09 - Jun 21 good luck to him although I hope this a stepping stone for him getting back into club managment as I imagine he will have learned from his mistakes and have alot to offer.
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Daleyitfc added 17:11 - Jun 21 If ever there is a 'non-job' it's this one. He doesn't have the grey matter for much more though.
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GeorgiDoundarov added 17:15 - Jun 21 Really happy for Jim! He is a real Town legend and although he didn't do great when managing Town he was GREAT player. I think this kind of a job suits him better than being a team Manager. And in addition he will be working with his Northern Irish Association so hopefully he will excel there and be happy for what is he doing. Good luck Jim! We will always b e in our hearts!!!

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GeorgiDoundarov added 17:17 - Jun 21 ... phu... I mean: JIM YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS!!!
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ian_marshall added 18:03 - Jun 21 Jim gave us our highest finish since the Marcus Evans era began....
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runningout added 18:12 - Jun 21 mmmm, interesting view you have 'BlueMachines'
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BlueBadger added 18:15 - Jun 21 Good luck to him, his tenure here was much underrated.
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martleshamitfc added 18:34 - Jun 21 Surely the words "Northern Ireland" and "elite" do not go together!
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whosroundisitanyway added 18:48 - Jun 21 Unlike the words martleshamitfc & stupid.
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martleshamitfc added 19:18 - Jun 21 Well not since the 1982 world cup anyway!
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whosroundisitanyway added 19:30 - Jun 21 And your Avatars mate"Big Al".
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martleshamitfc added 19:38 - Jun 21 Haha Big Al was of course a legend bur sadly not too many "elite" Northern Irish players have been seen lately?
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Lightningboy added 19:46 - Jun 21 Well done Jim...always be a town legend in my eyes...good luck with the new job.
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itfchorry added 19:49 - Jun 21 Should never have been sacked by Evans and Clegg - Was just getting us going
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muhrensleftfoot added 20:21 - Jun 21 Good luck jim. Sorry I may have had bad things to say about you a few years ago, when you managed top half finishes. If only I knew then what I know now. I had no idea that things could be so bad with Keane and jewell. Who knows had we stuck with you, we may have done a whole lot better.
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Taricco_Fan added 20:23 - Jun 21 Not sure what this job is all about....but good luck anyway!
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Warkys_Tash added 21:11 - Jun 21 Agree it's a bit of a non job for Jim, lets be honest there won't be much talent spotting to be done so he will probably be sitting on his hands a lot of the time. Shame as Jim could do a decent job in the Championship. He was far better than PJ & Keane
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RegencyBlue added 21:20 - Jun 21 Great player for Town but frankly not a great manager. His style of management by all accounts was a bullying one and the way his brief reign at QPR ended seems to confirm this. If he has learned his lesson good luck to him but I was not sorry to see him go at the time and, despite the benefit of hindsight since, I still think it was the right decision. The appointment of his successor was the major error!

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Fatcatevans added 21:50 - Jun 21 He'll be ok until the red mist sets in.
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itfctrent added 22:30 - Jun 21 I miss him. Best of luck Jim, you will always be in our hearts, best of luck with NI director position.
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h32 added 23:14 - Jun 21 ...... Good Luck Jim - travesty of justice that he hasn't found himself back in management long before now - much worse than him out there - and didn't we find that out before MM's arrival ?
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BigAlwasmyhero added 07:41 - Jun 22 Martlashamitfc your first comment was unnecessary. If you took the time and read up on why the IFA have had to appoint Jim you'd understand. Google the Milk Cup and keep an eye on the tournament when it starts. You may be surprised
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BroskiBeen added 15:10 - Jun 22 Jesus! He gets around abit now, he was managing in Australia not too long ago , punditing on Quatari T.V now back to Ireland think he's doing all this for the money now, I reckon if he played now he wouldn't have been with us long, he would have gone for the wonga
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