In a year in which both the Republic of Ireland and the North secured qualification for next summer's European Championships  in France, the managers of both teams have been recognised at the Philips Sports Awards.

Martin O'Neill and Northern Ireland counterpart Michael O'Neill were jointly announced as 2015 Managers of the Year at this afternoon's ceremony in Dublin.

"The players came through and they have been fantastic. For us to join Michael [O'Neill] is great. I must admit that I felt really envious of him enjoying himself [after qualifying] when we were still in the doldrums, but we were delighted to qualify," said Martin O'Neill.

He becomes the fifth Republic of Ireland boss to win the Philips Sports Manager of the Year, after Jack Charlton, Mick McCarthy, Brian Kerr, and Giovanni Trapattoni.