Biography: Martin O'Neill began his career in Northern Ireland, winning the Irish Cup with Distillery. O’Neill’s autobiography ‘On Days Like These’ is an entertaining read filled with fascinating stories, biting humour and searing honesty on the author’s wonderful football life. Now, for the first time, Martin O’Neill reflects on one of the most varied and interesting football careers in the British Isles.

The only disappointment was that as his career progresses, particularly into management in the premiership, he doesn’t go into more depth when describing many of the characters in the dressing room, the make-up of the club and the characters involved. He reveals what it was like to play under Clough during the glory years, and their incredible journey from the second division to winning the First Division championship, two League Cups and back-to-back European Cups. O’Neill’s memories of a “mesmeric” Clough remain vivid, from the moment of their initial meeting in the winter of 1975. This is a tidy little book, it charts the progress of a man who I am sure will be fondly remembered as a football genius by my generation.The spirit, the determination, the passion and drive … My last breath on this earth is when those things will leave me.

He talks about his pride in captaining his country and the elation he felt when Northern Ireland qualified for the 1982 World Cup.O'Neill represented Northern Ireland over sixty times, playing alongside George Best and captaining the side at the 1982 World Cup, where they reached the quarter-finals. Like the rest of us, he's a flawed character and one who is open about how he found it difficult to keep his mouth shut at times. He demonstrated a unique ability to harness all the best attributes of his mentor with a more understanding approach to players that took him from lower league management right to the top end of the game. I was hoping he would take the Sunderland job when he was last in the frame for it because I think he could still make a super manager.

Photograph: Marc Aspland/News Licensing Martin O'Neill’s last job in football was at Nottingham Forest in 2019 and he has not given up hope of managing again. Written with his trademark honesty and humour, On Days Like These is one of the most insightful and captivating autobiographies and a must-read for any fans of the beautiful game.For the first time, Martin O'Neill reflects on one of the most varied and successful football careers in the British Isles. There are some nice stories in here, but I would have liked to hear more about what Clough was like or what life was like in Glasgow, but he focuses on what happened on the pitch, which is fine.