Michael O'Neill is set to take on a dual role, managing both Northern Ireland's national team and Championship club Blackburn Rovers, for the remainder of the season.

In an unusual arrangement, O'Neill will balance his responsibilities with the national team and the club, a challenge that is rare in the world of football.

The announcement of O'Neill's appointment at Blackburn Rovers comes just six weeks before Northern Ireland's crucial World Cup play-off semi-final against Italy, scheduled for March 26.

Northern Ireland, who have not appeared in a World Cup in 40 years, face an uphill battle to qualify for the tournament, with Italy, Wales, and Bosnia-Herzegovina standing in their way.

At Blackburn Rovers, O'Neill's primary objective is to guide the team to safety in the Championship, with 15 games remaining to avoid relegation.

As O'Neill navigates his dual role, questions arise about how he will manage the demands of both positions, with high stakes for both the national team and the club.

O'Neill's decision to take on the dual role has been confirmed, and he will now oversee both Blackburn Rovers and Northern Ireland.

This is not the first time O'Neill has managed a club and the national team simultaneously, having previously taken charge of Stoke City in November 2019, alongside his duties with Northern Ireland.

However, the Covid-19 pandemic led to a change in circumstances, and O'Neill eventually focused solely on Stoke City before returning to international management full-time in 2022.

According to O'Neill, the opportunity to manage Blackburn Rovers was too good to pass up, saying, "This opportunity came to light, and it was something that appealed to me."

After discussing the possibility with both the Irish Football Association and Blackburn Rovers, O'Neill believed it was feasible to take on the dual role, benefiting both parties.

O'Neill expressed confidence in his ability to manage both roles, stating, "I believe I'm capable of doing it, and both parties will benefit from it."

Many are questioning how O'Neill will balance the demands of both positions, given the high stakes for Northern Ireland and Blackburn Rovers.

A spokesperson for Northern Ireland fans, Gary McAllister, told BBC Sport that O'Neill's dual role has not been well received by supporters, but O'Neill remains unfazed.

O'Neill emphasized that he would not have taken on the dual role if he thought it would distract from the upcoming match against Italy, saying, "If I felt for one minute it would distract, I wouldn't have taken the opportunity."

He also assured that he would maintain his focus on Blackburn Rovers, stating, "It's essential they have my attention."

To make the dual role work, O'Neill has prioritized preparation, and he will oversee day-to-day training at Blackburn Rovers, assisted by Damien Johnson, Steven Davis, and Phil Jones.

O'Neill revealed that he and his team have extensively studied Italy, led by Gennaro Gattuso, and he does not anticipate any surprises in their upcoming match.

With a significant gap between the World Cup qualifying matches and the play-off, O'Neill has used this time to prepare for the Italy match, saying, "November to March is a long period, which leaves you with a lot of downtime."

O'Neill explained that his team has done extensive research on Italy, watching them as much as possible, and he has already visited Atalanta's stadium in Bergamo, where the match will take place.

According to O'Neill, the preparation for the World Cup play-off is already in place, and he will focus on watching games and players between now and the match in March.

Michael O'Neill will face 16 fixtures in the remainder of the season, including the crucial World Cup play-off semi-final against Italy.

Northern Ireland's match against Italy is scheduled for March 26, just five days after Blackburn Rovers face Championship leaders Middlesbrough, and O'Neill hopes his players will remain injury-free.

O'Neill expressed confidence in his knowledge of his squad, saying, "I know my squad extremely well, and I know pretty much the squad I'll pick for March and the team I hope to pick."

However, he acknowledged that injuries can occur, and he will be keeping his fingers crossed that his squad remains intact until the match against Italy.

O'Neill believes that his involvement with Blackburn Rovers will actually benefit his preparation for the World Cup play-off, saying, "The benefit of being on the grass will sharpen me coming into the games in March."

He does not see any significant downsides to his dual role, stating, "I don't see really any downside to it."

While O'Neill will manage both roles until the end of the season, he does not think it is possible for an international manager to work part-time, but he believes this opportunity came at an ideal time.

Northern Ireland's last match was against Luxembourg in November, and O'Neill has used this time to prepare for the World Cup play-off against Italy.

Starting next season, the September and October international windows will be combined into a quadruple header, which may impact the feasibility of managing a club and national team simultaneously.

O'Neill emphasized that he does not think it is possible to manage a national team part-time, but he believes this specific situation is manageable, saying, "I think it's feasible to do it at this time in the season."

The four-month gap between World Cup qualifying and the play-off has created an opportunity for O'Neill to take on the dual role, which he believes is workable.

According to O'Neill, the key to success lies in preparation and organization, which has allowed him to feel comfortable taking on the dual role.

O'Neill's ability to prepare and organize has been crucial in making this opportunity a reality, and he believes it will ultimately benefit both Northern Ireland and Blackburn Rovers.

O'Neill highlighted the difference between this situation and his previous experience with Stoke City in 2019, saying, "The biggest difference is the fact that we're so well prepared already for Italy."

This preparation has given O'Neill the confidence to take on the dual role, knowing that he has a solid foundation in place for the World Cup play-off.

O'Neill's primary objective at Blackburn Rovers is to guide the team out of the relegation zone, a challenging task with 15 games remaining.

Blackburn Rovers appointed O'Neill to save the club from relegation to League One, a fate they last suffered in 2018.

However, success with Blackburn Rovers could create complications on the international stage, as several Northern Ireland players will be competing against O'Neill's team to avoid relegation.

O'Neill has consistently emphasized the importance of Northern Ireland's players competing at the highest level, but this could lead to conflicts of interest, as many players will be facing his Blackburn Rovers team in crucial matches.

Sheffield Wednesday's season has been marred by a points deduction and injuries, but goalkeeper Pierce Charles has been a bright spot in an otherwise challenging year for the club.

Oxford United boasts a significant Northern Ireland presence, with players such as Brodie Spencer, Jamie Donley, Jamie McDonnell, and Ciaron Brown contributing to the team's efforts.

Portsmouth, managed by Terry Devlin, is also facing a tough situation, while West Brom's Isaac Price, a key player for Northern Ireland, is not out of the woods yet in terms of his team's safety.

However, O'Neill has distanced himself from the fate of these clubs, stating that he does not want to be held responsible for their outcomes, emphasizing that their managers are accountable for their respective teams' performances.

O'Neill's primary focus is on achieving the best possible results for Blackburn Rovers, as he emphasized that his role is to prioritize the club's interests.

He believes that the managers of other clubs have the same responsibility to act in the best interests of their teams, and therefore, does not see this as a conflict of interest.

O'Neill declined to speculate about his future beyond the current season, and even if he succeeds in keeping Blackburn in the Championship, he did not commit to joining the club on a permanent basis.

The part-time international management rule limits his long-term options, meaning that he will have to choose between club and country when his current arrangement comes to an end.

For now, O'Neill is focused on the present, with an agreement in place until the end of the season, and he is not looking beyond that point at this time.

O'Neill's contract with Northern Ireland runs until the conclusion of the Euro 2028 finals, and although there is a release clause, he remains committed to guiding the team to the tournament.

As an ambitious manager, O'Neill strives to compete at the highest level, and his current situation is driven by a desire to explore new opportunities within the given timeframe.

He clarified that his considerations are not about abandoning Northern Ireland, but rather about exploring an opportunity that aligns with his capabilities and the discussed timeline.

O'Neill views this as a chance to capitalize on his managerial abilities, while also acknowledging the constraints and possibilities that have been presented to him.