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Joey O'Brien

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Joey O'Brien
O'Brien playing against Birkirkara in 2015
Personal information
Full name Joseph Martin O'Brien
Date of birth (1986-02-17) 17 February 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Full-back / Defensive midfield
Team information
Current team
 Shelbourne (assistant manager)
Youth career
2002–2004 Bolton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2011 Bolton Wanderers 50 (0)
2004–2005 → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 15 (2)
2011 → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 4 (0)
2011–2016 West Ham United 91 (3)
2018–2021 Shamrock Rovers 63 (4)
Total 223 (9)
International career‡
Republic of Ireland U19
2005–2006 Republic of Ireland U21 6 (0)
2006–2012 Republic of Ireland 5 (0)
Managerial career
2021– Shelbourne (assistant manager)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 November 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 September 2012

Joseph Martin O'Brien (born 17 February 1986) is a retired Irish professional footballer who played as a full-back and defensive midfielder for Bolton Wanderers, Sheffield Wednesday, West Ham United and Shamrock Rovers. He was capped five times by the Republic of Ireland at senior level between 2006 and 2012. In the year 2016, O'Brien was among 13 people to be named as a victim of fraud and he testified in court for the trial. In 2021 he became the assistant manager of Shelbourne.

Playing career

[edit]

Bolton Wanderers

[edit]

O'Brien started his career with Bolton Wanderers in 2004 after starting out his first year scholarships in 2002.[2]

To gain further experience, O'Brien was loaned out to League One team Sheffield Wednesday for the most part of the 2004–05 season,[3] making 15 appearances and scoring two goals, including one on his debut.[4][5] After extending his loan spell at the club twice times,[6][7] O'Brien was named as captain for the last game of his loan spell in honour of his contribution.[8]

Upon returning to Bolton Wanderers from a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday, O'Brien made his Premier League debut on 15 May 2005 against Everton when coming on as a late substitute in place of Fernando Hierro.[9] He was given his first start in Bolton's colours in their away UEFA Cup 1st Round tie with PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv in September 2005.[10] In the 2005–06 season, O'Brien was called up by the first team following a defensive crisis of injuries[11] and that moment on, he became a first team regular, making thirty-three appearances in all competition.[12] Initially playing as a centre-midfielder, O'Brien changed to a right-back role and made an impression, leading to Manager Sam Allardyce described him as a "dominant force at right back in the Premiership".[13]

O'Brien missed most of the 2006–07 season due to a knee injury.[14] By October, O'Brien was expected to return from a pitch in a months time,[15] with a help from an American doctor Dr Frank Jarrell, a pioneer in the field of spinal reflex analysis.[16] However, his recovery was delayed for another 3–4 months, causing him to miss the rest of the season.[17] Having regained his fitness,[18] it wasn't until on 23 September 2007 when he made his return for Bolton, making his first start and playing the whole game, in a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur.[19] Since making his return from injury, he played most of the 2007–08 season in his natural midfield role as opposed to the right back position which he had been in two years previous. Despite further injury concerns,[20][21][22] O'Brien went on to make 26 appearances in all competition.

In July 2008 he was given the number 8 shirt previously worn by Iván Campo and started well when he provided two assists against Stoke City[23] and Arsenal.[24] However, injuries restricted his appearances throughout the 2008–09 season.[25][26][27] O'Brien finished the season, making eight appearances in all competitions.

In the 2009-10 season, O'Brien appeared as an unused substitute three times to the first ten league matches to the season. However, he suffered a knee injury that required an operation for the second time in twelve months and made no appearances this season.[28] Despite this, he signed a one-year extension to his contract keeping him at Bolton Wanderers until the summer of 2011.[29] After making a recovery, O'Brien made his return in a pre-season friendly match against Charleston Battery and after the match, O'Brien stated when he returned to the first team, he determined to make up the lost time.[30] However, this never happened and it has been reported that O'Brien may need to be loaned out to gain first team football.[31]

On 24 March 2011, O'Brien joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan for a second time until the end of the season,[32] and made his debut two days later in a 1–1 draw at Dagenham & Redbridge.[33] After making four appearances for the club, O'Brien made four appearances for the club on his second return.[34] At the end of the season, he was released by Bolton Wanderers, ending his six years association with the club.[35]

West Ham United

[edit]
O'Brien warming-up for West Ham United, February 2012.

In July 2011, O'Brien was handed a trial by West Ham United. He featured in pre-season friendlies against BSC Young Boys and Basel before being signed on 30 July on a free transfer, after penning a two-year contract.[36]

O'Brien made his competitive debut on 7 August 2011 in 1–0 home defeat to Cardiff City.[37] He scored his first goal for West Ham in a 4–0 away win against Watford on 16 August 2011,[38] his first goal since January 2005.[39] He was sent off for the first time in his career in the away match against Reading on 10 December 2011.[40][41][42] Having suffered from injuries during the season, O'Brien went on to make 33 appearances in all competition and the club was promoted back to the Premier League.

O'Brien suffered a hamstring injury on 5 October 2012.[43] He returned to the squad for a match against Wigan Athletic three weeks later.[44] He set up the only goal for Kevin Nolan in the game two weeks after making his return, in a 1–0 win over Newcastle United.[45] This was followed by scoring his first ever Premier League goal on 19 November 2012, which also earned his team a point against Stoke.[46] He then scored the winning goal in the New Year's Day fixture against Norwich City.[47] However, O'Brien suffered a hamstring injury.[48] While on sidelined, O'Brien signed a new contract with West Ham United on 13 January 2013, keeping him until 2013.[49] Soon after signing the contract, he made his first appearance since returning from injury on 19 January 2013, in a 1–1 draw against Queens Park Rangers.[50] O'Brien finished the 2012–13 season with 34 appearances in all competitions.

In the 2013–14 season, O'Brien's was restricted to 17 appearances. After missing out two matches between 11 January 2014 and 18 January 2014 due to injury[51] O'Brien made his return on 29 January 2014, making his first start and playing the whole game, in a 0–0 draw against Chelsea.[52] In the same match he suffered a dislocated shoulder after he "fell awkwardly following an off-the-ball push from Chelsea defender Gary Cahill" and was sidelined for three months.[53] After returning from injury in late April, O'Brien made his return in the last game of the season, playing as a right-back, in a 2–0 loss against Manchester City.[54]

In the 2014–15 season, O'Brien appeared in the first three matches to the start of the season until he suffered a knee injury during an international break.[55] After making his return from injury as an unused substitute against Burnley on 18 October 2014,[56] he struggled to regain his first team place and spent most of the season on the substitute bench, due to good performance from Carl Jenkinson.

O'Brien walks out on the pitch before the game against Birkirkara in a Europa League.

Ahead of the 2015–16 season, O'Brien was expected to fight for his first team place under the new management of Slaven Bilić following the departure of Allardyce.[57] After appearing five times in the Europa League matches for West Ham United campaign, he suffered a calf injury at the start of the season.[58][59] After returning from injury in late-October,[60] O'Brien made his first appearance on 30 January 2016, in the fourth round of the FA Cup, in a 0–0 against Liverpool.[61] He then made another appearance in the fourth round of the FA Cup replay against Liverpool, which saw West Ham United win 2–1.[62] Following a game with a win over Liverpool O'Brien once again suffered a hamstring injury that kept him out for weeks and even after making his return, he never made an appearance throughout the 2015–16 season.[63]

He was released by West Ham at the end of his contract in June 2016.[64]

In August 2017, he was back in Bolton, training with Bolton Wanderers fitness coach Nick Allamby in order to keep fit.[65]

Shamrock Rovers

[edit]

On 27 January 2018, O'Brien signed for League of Ireland team and boyhood club Shamrock Rovers after spending 18 months without a club.[66]

International career

[edit]

In 2003, O'Brien was called by Republic of Ireland U17 and was involved in the tournament, resulting being awarded Player of the Tournament, due to his performance.[2] Two years later, O'Brien was called up by Republic of Ireland U21 and appeared in the squad six times.[67] Later in the year, he won FAI Under 19 International Player of the Year.

In February 2006, O'Brien was called up to the Republic of Ireland squad for the first time[68] and made his debut for his country on 1 March 2006,[69] against Sweden during Steve Staunton's first game in charge. Following a new appointment of Giovanni Trapattoni, O'Brien expressed frustration of being omitted by him that he was considered early retirement from international football.[70]

On 3 August 2012, O'Brien was called up to the Republic of Ireland squad for 15 August friendly against Serbia, as a replacement for the injured Sean St Ledger. This was O'Brien's first call up in over four years, after overcoming a succession of long-term injuries.[71]

Coaching career

[edit]

In November 2021, it was announced that O'Brien had joined Shelbourne as assistant manager under newly appointed manager Damien Duff, a former Republic of Ireland teammate of O'Brien's.[72]

Personal life

[edit]

In May 2014, O'Brien married Joanne Martin, an Irish model, at St Augustine's Church on Thomas Street, Dublin.[73]

In February 2016, O'Brien was among thirteen people to be named as a victim of fraud, committed by Stephen Ackerman.[74] A month after leaving West Ham United, O'Brien testified in court in Ackerman's trial.[75]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of 22 November 2021[76][77]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bolton Wanderers 2004–05 Premier League 1 0 0 0 1 0 — — 2 0
2005–06 23 0 3 0 2 0 6[c] 0 — 34 0
2006–07 0 0 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
2007–08 19 0 1 0 1 0 5[c] 0 — 26 0
2008–09 7 0 0 0 1 0 — — 8 0
2009–10 0 0 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
2010–11 0 0 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
Total 50 0 4 0 5 0 11 0 — 70 0
Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 2004–05 League One 15 2 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 15 2
2010–11 4 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 4 0
Total 19 2 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 19 2
West Ham United 2011–12 Championship 32 1 1 0 0 0 — 0 0 33 1
2012–13 Premier League 33 2 0 0 1 0 — — 34 2
2013–14 17 0 0 0 3 0 — — 20 0
2014–15 9 0 2 0 0 0 — — 11 0
2015–16 0 0 2 0 0 0 5[d] 0 — 7 0
Total 91 3 5 0 4 0 5 0 — 105 3
Shamrock Rovers 2018 League of Ireland Premier Division 13 0 1 0 1 0 2[d] 0 0 0 17 0
2019 24 2 2 0 0 0 4[d] 0 0 0 30 2
2020 14 1 4 0 — 2[d] 0 — 20 1
2021 12 1 2 0 — 5[e] 0 1[f] 0 20 1
Total 63 4 9 0 1 0 13 0 1 0 87 4
Career total 223 9 18 0 10 0 29 0 1 0 281 9
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup, FAI Cup
  2. ^ Includes Football League Cup, League of Ireland Cup
  3. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Cup
  4. ^ a b c d Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ One appearance in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  6. ^ Appearance in President of Ireland's Cup

Honours

[edit]

West Ham United

Shamrock Rovers

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Premier League Player Profile". Premier League. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Wanderers youngster stars for Ireland". The Bolton News. 20 March 2003. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Owls capture O'Brien in loan deal". BBC Sport. 3 December 2004. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  4. ^ "O'Brien an instant hit with Owls". The Bolton News. 9 December 2004. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  5. ^ "Sheffield Wednesday 2 - 1 Swindonw Town". BBC Sport. 7 January 2005. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  6. ^ "O'Brien's loan at Owls extended". BBC Sport. 4 January 2005. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  7. ^ "O'Brien's loan at Owls extended". BBC Sport. 11 February 2005. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  8. ^ "O'Brien looking the part". The Bolton News. 5 March 2005. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Bolton Wanderers 3 - 2 Everton". BBC Sport. 15 May 2005. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  10. ^ Parkes, Ian (30 September 2005). "Lok Plovdiv 1 Bolton 2Bolton win 4–2 on aggregate — Premier League, Football". The Independent. London. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  11. ^ "Injury shock for Nicky Hunt". The Bolton News. 26 September 2005. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  12. ^ "Joey's fortunes suddenly on the up". The Bolton News. 17 October 2005. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  13. ^ "Joey O'Brien makes the switch in style". The Bolton News. 11 February 2006. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  14. ^ "Whites hit by injury pile-up". The Bolton News. 8 August 2006. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  15. ^ "O'Brien finally set for return". The Bolton News. 6 November 2006. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  16. ^ "USA aid for injured Wanderers ace". The Bolton News. 8 November 2006. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  17. ^ "Unlucky O'Brien 'out for 3-4 months'". The Bolton News. 22 December 2006. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  18. ^ "O'Brien on track for comeback". The Bolton News. 2 June 2007. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  19. ^ "Bolton Wanderers 1 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur". BBC Sport. 23 September 2007. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  20. ^ "O'Brien injury fears eased". The Bolton News. 2 October 2007. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  21. ^ "Anelka could miss trip to Munich". The Bolton News. 3 November 2007. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  22. ^ "Joey's season could be is over". The Bolton News. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  23. ^ "Match Report: Bolton Wanderers 3 - 1 Stoke City". The Bolton News. 17 August 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  24. ^ "Bolton Wanderers 1 - 3 Arsenal". BBC Sport. 20 September 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  25. ^ "Wanderers set to go on the attack". The Bolton News. 29 October 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  26. ^ "O'Brien hit by new injury 'nightmare'". The Bolton News. 6 December 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  27. ^ "Whites bid to save Joey's season". The Bolton News. 18 February 2009. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  28. ^ "More injury woe for Joey O'Brien". The Bolton News. 16 September 2009. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  29. ^ "Bolton Wanderers | News | Latest News | General | O'Brien Signs Contract Extension". Bwfc.co.uk. 20 October 2009. Archived from the original on 1 November 2009. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  30. ^ "Defender is determined to make up for lost time with Bolton Wanderers". The Bolton News. 19 July 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  31. ^ "O'Brien hungry for loan chance". The Bolton News. 14 September 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  32. ^ "Bolton Wanderers | News | Latest News | General | O'Brien Joins Owls on Loan". Bwfc.co.uk. 24 March 2011. Archived from the original on 26 March 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  33. ^ (HT 0 – 1) (26 March 2011). "Match stats | Dagenham & Redbridge v Sheffield Wednesday". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 17 August 2011.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  34. ^ "Injured Joey back at Reebok after loan stint". The Bolton News. 4 May 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  35. ^ "New deal for Blake". The Bolton News. 24 May 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  36. ^ "West Ham sign former Bolton midfielder Joey O'Brien". BBC Sport. 30 July 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  37. ^ Da Silva, Michael (7 August 2011). "West Ham 0 – 1 Cardiff". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  38. ^ Osbourne, Chris (16 August 2011). "Watford 0 – 4 West Ham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  39. ^ "Watford 0–4 West Ham United FT | News | Latest News | News | West Ham United". Whufc.com. 17 August 2011. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  40. ^ "Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Alumnia makes West Ham debut at Crystal Palace". The Guardian Series. 1 October 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  41. ^ "John Carew and Jack Collison back for West Ham United at Hull City". The Guardian Series. 5 November 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  42. ^ "Championship team news round-up". Daily Mirror. 8 April 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  43. ^ "Big Sam welcomes Carroll call-up". FOX Sports. 5 October 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  44. ^ "West Ham welcome back Joey O'Brien for Wigan clash". The Independent. 26 October 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  45. ^ "Newcastle United 0 - 1 West Ham United". BBC Sport. 11 November 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  46. ^ Henson, Mike (19 November 2012). "West Ham United 1 – 1 Stoke". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  47. ^ "West Ham United 2 – 1 Norwich City". BBC Sport. 1 January 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  48. ^ "Allardyce makes case for new defenders". The Guardian Series. 13 January 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  49. ^ "West Ham defender Joey O'Brien signs new contract until 2016". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  50. ^ "West Ham United 1 - 1 Queens Park Rangers". BBC Sport. 19 January 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  51. ^ "West Ham's Kevin Nolan backs Joleon Lescott transfer as two Serie A strikers are eyed on loan". Daily Mirror. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  52. ^ "Chelsea 0 - 0 West Ham United". BBC Sport. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  53. ^ "West Ham United's Joey O'Brien out for three months". TalkSport. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  54. ^ "Manchester City 2 - 0 West Ham United". BBC Sport. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  55. ^ "A knee injury has forced West Ham United defender Joey O'Brien to withdraw from the Republic of Ireland squad". The Guardian Series. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  56. ^ "Burnley 1 - 3 West Ham United". BBC Sport. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  57. ^ "West Ham United youngster Reece Oxford will have to get used to comparisons with Rio Ferdinand, says team mate". The Standard. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  58. ^ "West Ham leave ALL players who could start at Arsenal behind for Europa League decider". Daily Mirror. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  59. ^ "From the Treatment Room". West Ham United F.C. 13 August 2015. Archived from the original on 17 October 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  60. ^ "From the Treatment Room". West Ham United F.C. 28 October 2015. Archived from the original on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  61. ^ "Liverpool 0 - 0 West Ham United". BBC Sport. 30 January 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  62. ^ "West Ham United 2 - 1 (aet) Liverpool". BBC Sport. 9 February 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  63. ^ "West Ham hit with SIX potential injuries in FA Cup victory over Liverpool". TalkSport. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  64. ^ "Hammers issue Retained List". West Ham United Official Website. Archived from the original on 5 August 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  65. ^ "Whites make an ambitious Korea move on deadline day". The Bolton News.
  66. ^ "Former Ireland international signs with Rovers 18 months after leaving West Ham". the42.ie. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  67. ^ "International date for Joey". The Bolton News. 31 May 2005. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  68. ^ "Reward for Joey". The Bolton News. 17 February 2006. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  69. ^ Burt, Jason (1 March 2006). "Keane the 'icon' leads Staunton's new era". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  70. ^ "O'Brien may quit international scene". The Irish Times. 27 October 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  71. ^ "O'Brien to replace St Ledger". irishtimes.com. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  72. ^ "Joey O'Brien joins back room team at Shelbourne". 15 November 2021.
  73. ^ "Tough talk as West Ham player ties knot in Dublin". independent.
  74. ^ "Ex-Bolton boss Sam Allardyce and players named as victims of alleged luxury goods fraud". The Bolton News. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  75. ^ "West Ham hamper fraud trial: Kevin Nolan was unwitting 'middleman'". BBC News. 20 July 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  76. ^ "Joey O'Brien". Soccerbase. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  77. ^ "Republic of Ireland - J. O'Brien - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
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