Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has played down links to the vacant checkpoint in Aberdeen.
However, the 54-year-old admits he rules out taking control of the club’s football again in the future.
O’Neill is understood to have admirers within Pittodrie as the Don hierarchy searches for a new permanent manager.
However, it would take significant investment to buy O’Neill out of his long-term contract with the Football Association of Ireland that runs until the summer of 2028.
O’Neill also explained why he took part in Aberdeen’s 2-1 defeat to St Mirren at Paisley on 2 March.
Aberdeen’s board of directors aims to appoint a permanent head in the next foreign break.
Interim manager Neil Warnock relinquished his control post after the 3-1 Scottish Cup quarter-final win over Kilmarnock.
First-team manager Peter Leven will take over on an interim basis for Saturday’s Premiership match at Motherwell.
Speaking about Aberdeen, O’Neill said: “I’ve signed a five-and-a-half-year contract, so I’m focused on what I’m doing here with Northern Ireland.
“It’s a story that made headlines in the Scottish media.
“I don’t do any of that.
“My purpose is still there.
“I was at a game two weeks ago between Aberdeen and St Mirren watching Caolan Boyd-Munce and Conor McMenamin, who played very well.
“I don’t know what other people speculate or write and it’s not something I pay much attention to. “
Former midfielder O’Neill was loaned to Aberdeen from Coventry City in 1998.
O’Neill guided Northern Ireland to the Euro 2016 final before leaving for Stoke City in 2020.
He returned to work in Northern Ireland in December 2022, signing a five-and-a-half-year contract.
O’Neill will take Northern Ireland to Hampden on Tuesday, March 28 for a friendly.
When asked if he would like to work out at the club again, O’Neill replied: “I would never close the door on that.
“But when I came back here (Northern Ireland), I came back knowing the work that lay ahead.
“I felt like I had an organization of players who had one last crusade in them.
“Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case, as several of the veterans have missed the entire crusade due to injury or retired.
“Now we are in another phase, we have to go through a reorganization, build a team with very young players.
“If at some point I leave and move into club football, the IFA did very well to take me to Stoke and it’s a bridge we would cross if I was ever handed over there.
“But it’s not something I’m focused on right now. “
??Parkred: The story of Aberdeen’s 2014?? League Cup triumph
A long and special read with former Don coaches, players and administrators reflecting on the preparation of the trophy, the final and the celebrations: https://t. co/ZPPzeis1M6 pic. twitter. com/XfMTXFHsbb
– EveningExpress Sport (@ee_sport) March 14, 2024
Lately comments are disabled because they require cookies and it looks like you have disabled cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, adjust your personal cookie tastes to allow feedback.