McArdle clinched victories in his first two matches as Northern Ireland boss during April’s double-header against Malta.
Northern Ireland head coach Michael McArdle has stressed that “individual context” is vital when determining whether his players are better served by regular domestic action or by testing themselves at a higher level across the water—even if it means less consistent game time.
Cliftonville announced on Tuesday that Northern Ireland internationals Danielle Maxwell and Louise McDaniel have returned to the club after a stint with third-tier English side Burnley. Both players had previously played in England and opted to come back home, with regular minutes at the Reds helping them stay in the international frame.
While McArdle encourages players to push themselves and seek more professional environments, he insists he must remain open-minded to each individual’s situation and is willing to select players who are performing well in the Women’s Premiership.
“I spoke to both Louise and Danielle, as well as other players in camp, and I referenced that there are many factors to consider as a head coach,” McArdle said. “That was a key discussion with players whose contracts were ending, those who had been getting good minutes, and others who found it harder to break through and needed immediate exposure. My approach is always to put the person first—it’s about individual context.
“For some players, it’s about asking, ‘What do you specifically need right now?’ Sometimes it’s about self-esteem—needing to find yourself again and regain confidence. For others, a particular club and environment might be perfect, whether that’s domestically, abroad, or elsewhere in the UK.
“There are also players who need a challenge, to stretch themselves and go to another level. That’s a slightly different context. There’s no one-size-fits-all template; it’s all about individual context, and I’m big on that. There’s no right or wrong, no linear path. We can’t be too black-and-white—that’s our approach.”
McArdle made these comments while visiting Northern Ireland to watch the Under-17 Women’s Euros being held in the country. He added that he has “sneaked into” a few Women’s Premiership matches to get familiar with domestic talent and widen his selection pool—something he believes is essential moving forward.
“It’s important that players at all levels know there is an opportunity,” he said. “Visiting some games, I’ve seen unseen talent. You can pick up certain things on screen, but we don’t have enough data covering the domestic game, so it’s hard to compare players with those in the WSL or SWPL. Seeing players in person is crucial—it could be the missing piece that opens up opportunities for them.”
McArdle’s side will likely need to navigate two two-legged play-offs to qualify for their first-ever World Cup in 2027.
McArdle will lead Northern Ireland into their final two World Cup qualifiers in June against Turkey and Switzerland. After winning both matches against Malta in his first two games, his team sits third in Group B2, one point behind Turkey in second. A third-place finish would secure a play-off spot, though the route to Brazil will be tough: Northern Ireland are unseeded and must get through two rounds of two-legged ties.
While McArdle believes the new qualifying format—linked to a nation’s Nations League performance—can be “fruitful” if you win your group, he acknowledged it is harder for smaller nations like Northern Ireland to reach major tournaments.