Meticulous Michael O'Neill the man behind northern ireland's rise

When Michael O'Neill took Northern Ireland to Greece early in the Euro 2016 campaign he was asked a question about the ongoing redevelopment of Windsor Park.

Would he like to see statues of the country's footballing legends at the new-look national stadium?

"Maybe if we win this match they'll put one of me up," he joked.

It was a light-hearted aside, but a year on O'Neill has cemented himself as one of his country's most celebrated sporting figures.

George Best might have an airport named after him in Belfast and record goalscorer David Healy is unlikely to be deposed as fan favourite any time soon, but neither man went to a major tournament.

O'Neill is one win away from leading his nation to France in 2016.

It is a remarkable rise to prominence for a man who came in as a low-key successor to Nigel Worthington at the end of 2011.

His previous managerial posts had come at Brechin City and Shamrock Rovers, hardly the standard CV of an incoming international manager.

But he had caught the eye at Rovers, guiding the Dublin club to the group stages of the Europa League for the first time in their history.

He helped them punch above their weight to reach a competition few fancied them for. Little wonder the Irish Football Association, which was looking for just that kind of outcome itself, took notice.

O'Neill arrived with a vision of inclusivity and modernisation.

Players whose faces did not fit under the previous regime - Roy Carroll, Shane Ferguson, Jamie Ward, Dean Shiels - were welcomed back and he threw himself into local and youth football in an attempt to win the allegiance of individuals who may have been considering switching to the Republic of Ireland.

But even more importantly he won the trust of the slender group of elite players he had at his disposal. Aaron Hughes was talked out of retirement and the likes of Gareth McAuley, Chris Brunt, Jonny Evans and Steven Davis were immediately impressed at the forensic fashion in which O'Neill insisted on improved standards for Northern Ireland get-togethers.

Hotels, travel arrangements and training conditions all jumped to new levels under O'Neill's watch.

It was important stuff, but even O'Neill cut a baffled figure when, ahead of a World Cup 2014 qualifier, a Russian journalist interrogated him about the side's choice of hotel and his thoughts on the city's traffic problem.

Via a translator, he duly offered a measured view of Moscow's congestion issues.

That was not the only unusual exchange he endured on his early travels. On a friendly trip to Turkey - taking place near the Syrian border in Adana - he was approached by a local photographer.

"Which one is (John) O'Shea," asked the snapper, in a misguided attempt to find the Republic of Ireland defender.

"The only O'Shea we've got is ricochet, given our luck," quipped O'Neill.

It is the kind of good-natured crack that has punctuated his tenure.

But behind the scenes O'Neill is a diligent worker.

He keeps meticulous records of the game time managed by all the Northern Irish players in England and Scotland, can readily quote statistics - both recent and historical - and keeps himself fully briefed on the progress of all of age-group sides.

It is a combination that has taken Northern Ireland to the brink of history, statue or no statue.