Ian Baraclough undergoes surgery after swimming accident

June 10, 2025

Former Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough underwent surgery after suffering ‘extensive neck and back injuries’ in a swimming accident.

The 54-year-old sustained the injuries on holiday in Mauritius, suffering broken bones in both his neck and back with a long recovery period ahead of him.

Baraclough is the current sporting director of Scottish Championship side Partick Thistle, appointed in April and has been out of management since 2022.

After leaving his role with Northern Ireland, Baraclough enjoyed spells as assistant manager at League One club Cheltenham Town and Director of Football at AFC Fylde in Scotland.

Thistle said in a statement: “It is expected it will be several weeks before he can return to Scotland and a further period of recovery will be needed before he is able to return to The Wyre Stadium at Firhill.

“The club have been in constant contact with Ian’s family since the accident and have now also been able to thankfully speak to Ian.”

Club chairman Richard Beastall confirmed the fractures in Baraclough’s neck and back, adding the speed in which he was operated on alongside the pre-operation care will pay dividends in his recovery.

Baraclough also released a statement, thanking the surgeons and staff at the Wellkin Hospital for their services as well as everyone at Thistle for their well wishes.

As he continues his journey to a full recovery, Baraclough’s work will be carried on by the club’s Head of Recruitment. Thistle are a 10/1 shot with the best football betting sites to win the Scottish Championship in 2025-26.

Ian Baracloughhttps://t.co/x3D8RdKDsq pic.twitter.com/vv1Qk6lB9f

— Partick Thistle FC (@PartickThistle) June 10, 2025

Following a successful spell as Northern Ireland Under 21s manager starting in 2017, Baraclough was handed the task of succeeding Michael O’Neill as head coach of the senior team in June 2020.

It was always going to be tough to follow one of the country’s greatest ever managers and things didn’t go to plan as Baraclough was sacked two years later, failing to qualify for Euro 2020 and winning just seven of 28 games.

Earlier in his career, Baraclough managed League of Ireland side Sligo Rovers with whom he enjoyed a great deal of success – leading the club to their first Premier Division title in 35 years.

Rovers earned a spot in the 2013-14 UEFA Champions League qualifying stage and Baraclough was the only English manager involved in that season’s competition.

He then led Sligo to their fifth FAI Cup win in history with a 3-2 win over Drogheda United in 2013 at the Aviva Stadium before lifting the All-Ireland Setanta Sports Cup in the 2014 season.

Towards the back end of that campaign with Rovers in fifth place and 17 points behind league leaders Dundalk, Baraclough left the club and went to work as a scout for Huddersfield Town.

In between that period and joining the Northern Irish youth setup, Baraclough managed Motherwell for less than a year – guiding the club to Scottish Premiership safety in a play-off against Rangers.

He also worked as an assistant manager at Oldham Athletic alongside head coach Steve Robinson who he worked with at Motherwell.