Killarney man Diarmuid O’Carroll has sealed a massive move to Premier League giants Newcastle United where he will take over as lead coach of the club’s U21 team.

O’Carroll, who hails from Ross Road and played for Killarney Athletic at schoolboy level, has made the switch from Scottish side St Mirren where he was assistant manager to Stephen Robinson. He previously held positions at Morecambe and Motherwell.

The ambitious 37-year-old has also been coaching the Northern Ireland senior men’s team under Michael O’Neill since 2023 and the IFA and Newcastle have confirmed that he will continue in that role in addition to taking on his new job on Tyneside.

Signing for such a high-profile Premier League club marks a major milestone for O’Carroll, who set off on his professional football journey as a highly-rated 16-year-old prospect with Scottish giants Celtic in 2003. Spells in Belgium, Iceland, England and Northern Ireland followed before he turned his attention to coaching.

“The club speaks for itself in terms of the size, stature and fanbase,” O’Carroll told NewcastleUnited.com. “It's a really exciting time now as well with the ownership and everything that is planned going forward.

“The opportunity to come in is something I would've never expected, but when it came across my desk, it was a really exciting one and a quick process.”

The former St Brendan’s College student said he will be placing an emphasis on player development and helping the club’s talented youngsters break through to Eddie Howe’s first team.

“People think it’s all about results but I’m extremely development focused. I always have been. That’s the element of the work that I enjoy. Of course we have to win games, of course we have to strive to be successful, but ultimately I’ll be judged on the development of the players. Trying to get players into the first team and trying to give them a lifelong career in the game. That’s something I’ve prided myself on and hopefully I can keep it going here.”

Newcastle United’s academy director, ex-goalkeeper Steve Harper, said he is “delighted” to have O’Carroll on board.

“He’s a young, progressive and ambitious coach, and will play a key role in supporting our talent pathway into the first team.

“We have gone through a rigorous process and in Diarmuid we have an exceptional coach and person joining us. I’d like to welcome him to the Newcastle United family.”

O’Carroll’s tenure as Newcastle U21 boss begins with a fixture against Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League 2 tonight (Friday) at 7pm.