Sammy McIlroy has been confirmed as Stockport County's new boss just hours after stepping down as manager of Northern Ireland.
McIlroy, who guided Macclesfield from the Conference to the Second Division before becoming an international manager, believes he could not have taken Northern Ireland any further.
"Everything has happened in whirl. It was a big, big decision to leave Northern Ireland. I was very proud and honoured to manage my country," said McIlroy.
"But I have always missed the day-to-day involvement with club football. That has always been on my mind since I left Macclesfield."You train an international team for a few days and then they go home and you do not see them again for three months.
"That was the big decision I had to make. Do I keep on with that and be frustrated - and then the next squad I might pick there would be five or six players missing.
"I wanted day-to-day football. That was the decision I had to make and what I could do further with the Irish side. I think I have taken them as far as I can.
A spokesman for the Irish Football Association said McIlroy, who had been Northern Ireland boss since January 2000, had informed the association this morning of his decision to leave.
Under McIlroy Northern Ireland failed to qualify for Euro 2004 and Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Greece extended their European international record of consecutive games without scoring to 13.
IFA president Jim Boyce said he was dismayed at the way the matter had been handled.
"I have not been contacted by Sammy and it is fair to say I am annoyed. No-one has given him more backing over the years than me and it has always been 100 percent," Boyce said.
"There was no indication on the way back from Athens on Sunday that this kind of thing was going to happen. In fact we talked about a number of matters which we hoped would take us forward, including possibly arranging some B internationals to bridge the gap from under-21 to senior team.
"I started getting calls saying Sammy is going to be installed as Stockport's manager. But I am in the dark as he has not spoken to me. I went out on Tuesday evening and when I came home I had 18 messages.
"I thought one would have been from Sammy but he's not been in touch with me and I am hurt."
Four months ago, after a memorable scoreless draw at home to Spain, McIlroy was handed a two-year extension to his Northern Ireland contract.