Declan O'Brien (footballer)

Declan O'Brien

Personal information
Full name	Declan O'Brien
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Athlone Town FC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2008	Drogheda United	188	(76)
2009	Dundalk	15	(2)
2009	→ St Patrick's Athletic (loan)	12	(2)
2009–2010	Valletta	7	(6)
2010–	Athlone Town FC	6	(4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Declan 'Fabio' O'Brien, (born June 16, 1980 in Dublin, Republic of Ireland), is a professional footballer who is currently playing for Dalkey United AFC.

Playing career

Drogheda United

During his time with Drogheda United he was the club captain and talisman and he became the clubs all time leading goalscorer with 90 goals in 184 games, 76 in domestic league and the rest in domestic cups (Setanta Cup, FAI Cup and League of Ireland Cup).

Scored in the 2005 FAI Cup Final [1].

Dundalk

On 15 January 2009, O'Brien signed up with newly promoted Dundalk to compete in the League of Ireland Premier Division. He played out of position as a left winger and left in transfer window in July. He managed 4 goals in 15 appearances.

St Patrick's Athletic

He signed for St Patrick's Athletic for the rest of the 2009 season on loan. He scored on his debut in the Europa League against Valletta [2] and repeated the trick in the second leg [3] to send St Patrick's Athletic into the next round.

O'Brien then scored in both rounds again against FC Krylia Sovetov Samara to become St Patrick's Athletic all time record scorer in European competition [4][5]. He finished the season as joint top scorer with St Patricks and was only there for four months.

Valletta F.C.

In December 2009, O'Brien joined Maltese football club Valletta (the same team that he eliminated in the Europa League qualifiers) on a free transfer, after his loan contract with St Patrick's Athletic expired the previous month. O'Brien holds the Irish record for consecutive goals in European ties (4).

In his debut with Valletta (in a Triangular tournament against Parma FC and Hibernians), Declan managed to score with a low flying header against Serie A's side Parma F.C..

On the 15th of February 2010 making his 6th league appearance for Valletta , O'Brien scored his first league goals in a 6-0 victory over Dingli Swallows. O'Brien scored 4 goals in the match.

Then on the 27th of February, on his 7th league appearance Declan managed to score 2 goals in just 15 mins when he was substitute in the 75th minute against Tarxien Rainbows with the score finish 6-2 for Valletta. He followed this up with another brace in the Gozo cup against Gozo a week later. He also scored 2 weeks later in the U*BET F.A Trophy Cup against Birkarkara in a 3-1 win.

He won his first piece of silverware with Valletta F.C. , when winning the 100th League Anniversary Cup against bitter rivals Floriana on 13 April 2010. After the end of the 2009-2010 sesson he was released by Valletta. He received a medal for the trophy but was not involved in the final as he agreed to be released beforehand.

Athlone Town FC

In July 2010 he signed for Athlone Town FC.He scored his first goal in his 3rd appearance against derry city in a 2-2 draw at brandywell.{11/sep/10}He follwd that up with 3 goals in his next two games the brace coming against finn harps {1-10-10}He scored again the last game of the season after a few game suspension in a defeat to Limerick. He signed for Monaghan united in Dec 2010 on a two year deal.

Honours

Drogheda United

Winner

• 2002 League of Ireland First Division
• 2005 FAI Cup
• 2006, 2007 Setanta Cup
• 2007 League of Ireland Premier Division

Valletta F.C.

Winner

• 2010 100th League Anniversary Cup
• 2010 Maltese Cup