Northern Ireland will call on Sammy McIlroy's World Cup experience after the former Manchester United midfielder was appointed on Tuesday as their new national team manager on a two-year contract.

McIlroy, who helped the Irish beat hosts Spain at the 1982 World Cup and captained them in Mexico four years later, will step down as manager of Macclesfield to take up his new, full-time post.

The Belfast-born 45-year-old, who won 88 caps for Northern Ireland, succeeds Lawrie McMenemy whose contract expired on November 30th.

IFA general secretary David Bowen confirmed McIlroy as the "unanimous" choice to lead Northern Ireland in their bid to qualify for the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.

"Following a meeting at 6.30 p.m. last night at IFA headquarters, the international committee announced the appointment of ex-Northern Ireland captain Sammy McIlroy as the new manager," he said yesterday.

"This is to be a full-time post for the next two years and will cover the next World Cup.

"The decision of the committee was unanimous once the members had been advised by the president and general secretary of the available options following many weeks of intensive research."

The IFA were keen to make an appointment as soon as possible to give the new manager time to prepare for Northern Ireland's coming list of friendlies, which starts with Luxembourg away at the end of February.

That Northern Ireland wanted a full-time manager appears to have ruled out the possibility of Leicester's Martin O'Neill combining the job with his Filbert Street role.

Macclesfield vice-chairman Eddie Furlong confirmed that McIlroy would take charge of the Third Division side for the final time against Cheltenham at Moss Rose on Saturday.

"We will be sad to see him go and have some mixed feelings, but we have not stood in his way," he said. "We wish him all the luck in the world."

McIlroy took his first steps in management with non-League side Northwich Victoria and Ashton United, before being appointed Macclesfield manager prior to the 1993-94 season.

His second season in charge saw the Silkmen win the Vauxhall Conference, but they were denied promotion as their ground had not met the requirements of the Football League.

But two years later, Macclesfield won the Conference title again and this time Moss Rose was deemed fit for the League. McIlroy completed successive promotions by guiding Town into the Second Division at the first attempt, although they were relegated back to the basement division last term.