By Phil McNulty chief football writer

McIlroy quits Northern Ireland

Sammy McIlroy forged his managerial reputation in England's football basement before rising to the international stage with Northern Ireland - now he is making the reverse journey.

It is an unlikely return to his roots for the man who went back to his homeland as a prodigal son when he succeeded Lawrie McMenemy as national team boss in April 2000.

The indicator of McIlroy's growing frustration with Northern Ireland's fortunes is that he is prepared to swap it all for the unlikely surroundings of Stockport County and Edgeley Park.

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It is a frustration that has arrived swiftly after he readily accepted a new two-year contract in July 2003.

He said at the time: "I was proud to get the full backing of the international committee.

"I wanted another two years so I could work with the young players coming through."

Those young players must now make do without McIlroy.

It may well be that his unfortunate footnote in football history, the grim statistic of 13 games without a goal, was ultimately the driving force behind his surprise departure from the Northern Ireland job

McIlroy has been linked with other jobs during his stint in charge, notably Stoke City, but he has always insisted his loyalties lay with Northern Ireland, making his departure even more of a shock.

I was proud to get the full backing of the international committee Sammy McIlroy in July 2003

The 48-year-old was taking on his dream job when he left Macclesfield after a highly-successful spell, in which he won the Conference twice and saw the club achieve Football League status.

It was a homecoming akin to that of Tottenham's Glenn Hoddle after a glittering Northern Ireland playing career stretching over 14 years and 88 caps.

He was part of the same Northern Ireland side as Martin O'Neill, who would be the dream successor but is too established in club management at Celtic to even be considered.

McIlroy's finest moment came in the 1982 World Cup when Billy Bingham's side beat hosts Spain, and he was also a key member of the side in Mexico four years later.

But a desperate run of 13 games without a goal, coupled with a failure to establish real continuity in selection, has prompted a return to club football.

He has already received crticism for the manner of his departure, but McIlroy will always have a special place in the country's football history.

McIlroy carried the tag of "the new George Best" when he burst on the scene in the early 70s at Manchester United.

It was a pressure he handled well - especially after scoring on his debut as a 17-year-old in a derby against Manchester City at Maine Road.

McIlroy was a key member of United's resurgence under Tommy Docherty, and went on to play 390 games for the club, scoring 71 goals and winning an FA Cup winners' medal against Liverpool in 1977.

He also scored a dramatic late Wembley equaliser against Arsenal two years later, only for the game to end in the heartache of a 3-2 defeat.

McIlroy has always retained north-west roots, which may have made his unusual decision to quit to join Stockport more understandable.

He went on play at Stoke City, Manchester City, Orgryte in Sweden and Bury before retiring.

McIlroy, a proud son of Belfast, will have been deeply hurt by Northern Ireland's failures in recent times.

And that, plus the day-to-day managerial action he said he craves, may have been the catalyst for what must rank as one of football's most unlikely managerial switches.