Alex O'Hanlon

A native of Blanchardstown, County Dublin, O'Hanlon played with top Dublin youth football clubs St Kevin's Boys, the club that produced Republic of Ireland internationals Liam Brady, Damien Duff, Stephen Carr, Ian Harte, Robbie Brady and Jeff Hendrick among others. O'Hanlon excelled at underage level playing at left back and in May 2011, at the age of 15, he was snapped up by Premier League club Liverpool, despite interest from Premier League rivals Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, as well as Spanish giants Real Madrid, with comparisons in playing style being made with Wales international Gareth Bale.{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-beat-man-utd-3375290|title=Liverpool FC beat Man Utd to signature of Irish teenager Alex O'Hanlon|first=James|last=Pearce|date=19 May 2011|website=liverpoolecho.co.uk|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520051147/http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-beat-man-utd-3375290|archive-date=20 May 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=https://www.joe.ie/uncategorized/liverpool-sign-irish-teen-dubbed-the-new-gareth-bale-24225|title=Liverpool sign Irish teen dubbed the new Gareth Bale - JOE.ie|website=joe.ie|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520052454/https://www.joe.ie/uncategorized/liverpool-sign-irish-teen-dubbed-the-new-gareth-bale-24225|archive-date=20 May 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} After playing at left-back, O'Hanlon moved into midfield and his performances in the centre midfield earned him his first professional contract at the end of the 2012–13 season. He followed that up with seven goals in 28 games in 2013–14 season, helping him break into Alex Inglethorpe's U21s setup. O'Hanlon made 5 appearances in his side's 2014–15 UEFA Youth League campaign.{{Cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague/clubs/players/250066182--alex-o-hanlon/ |title=Alex O'Hanlan|work=UEFA|access-date=3 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427135337/http://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague/season=2015/clubs/player=250066182/ |archive-date=27 April 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} During his time as first team manager, Brendan Rodgers

included him in his first team squad for Premier League games against Swansea City and Newcastle United.{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/liverpool/dont-join-top-english-clubs-ohanlon-tells-irish-hopefuls-35385628.html|title=Don't join top English clubs, O'Hanlon tells Irish hopefuls - Independent.ie|website=independent.ie|accessdate=18 July 2018}} In March 2016, first team manager Jürgen Klopp included him in the first team squad on their training camp in La Manga Club, Spain. In April 2016, O'Hanlon was offered a new contract with the club but opted to turn down the offer as he looked elsewhere for first team football. During this spell he went on trial with Sheffield Wednesday in search of a contract{{Cite web |url=https://thenextgenkopites.wordpress.com/2016/04/25/liverpool-u21-midfielder-alex-ohanlon-set-to-leave-at-the-end-of-the-season/ |title=Liverpool U21 Midfielder Alex O'Hanlon Set To Leave At The End Of The Season |work=thenextgencopites |access-date=3 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403112414/https://thenextgenkopites.wordpress.com/2016/04/25/liverpool-u21-midfielder-alex-ohanlon-set-to-leave-at-the-end-of-the-season/ |archive-date=3 April 2017 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} After he left Liverpool, he went on trial at Huddersfield Town, where he strangely went on to play over 10 games as a trialist and still didn't sign a full professional contract with the club.{{cite web|url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/sport/football/news/huddersfield-town-give-trial-former-11907403|title=Huddersfield Town give trial to former Liverpool player|first=Doug|last=Thomson|date=19 September 2016|website=examiner.co.uk|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520114154/http://www.examiner.co.uk/sport/football/news/huddersfield-town-give-trial-former-11907403|archive-date=20 May 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

O'Hanlon returned home to Dublin and signed for League of Ireland Premier Division side St Patrick's Athletic on 9 January 2017 on a 2-year contract ahead of the 2017 season, alongside Barry Murphy and Kurtis Byrne.{{cite web|url=http://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=7424|title=Club News : Saints Sign Barry Murphy, Alex O'hanlon & Kurtis Byrne|website=www.stpatsfc.com|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628044510/https://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=7424|archive-date=28 June 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/from-anfield-to-inchicore-for-alex-35354804.html|title=From Anfield to Inchicore for Alex - Herald.ie|website=herald.ie|accessdate=18 July 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/st-pats-add-former-liverpool-prospect-to-their-squad-ahead-of-2017-season-35353140.html|title=St Pat's add former Liverpool prospect to their squad ahead of 2017 season - Independent.ie|website=independent.ie|accessdate=18 July 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.the42.ie/st-pats-three-new-signings-9-january-2016-3177569-Jan2017/|title=Former Liverpool youngster one of three significant additions for St Pat's|first=Paul|last=Dollery|website=the42.ie|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008163750/http://www.the42.ie/st-pats-three-new-signings-9-january-2016-3177569-Jan2017/|archive-date=8 October 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/3909/airtricity-premier-division/2017/01/09/31307232/st-patricks-athletic-sign-former-liverpool-youth-alex|title=Irish football news: St Patrick's Athletic sign former Liverpool youth Alex O'Hanlon - Goal.com|website=www.goal.com|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520045759/http://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/3909/airtricity-premier-division/2017/01/09/31307232/st-patricks-athletic-sign-former-liverpool-youth-alex|archive-date=20 May 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} On 31 January 2017 O'Hanlon made his Pats debut away to Bray Wanderers in the Leinster Senior Cup, scoring the fourth goal in a 4–0 win for the Saints at the Carlisle Grounds.{{cite web|url=http://stpatsfc.com/report.php?report=1099|title=Bray Wanderers (0) - St Patrick's Athletic (4)|website=stpatsfc.com|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918041743/http://www.stpatsfc.com/report.php?report=1099|archive-date=18 September 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.extratime.ie/matches/detail/30504/2/|title=Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2017 Leinster Senior Cup Fourth Round - Bray Wanderers -v- St. Patrick's Athletic|website=www.extratime.ie|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815180603/http://www.extratime.ie/matches/detail/30504/2/|archive-date=15 August 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} He began the season alternating between left wing and attacking midfield roles, impressing Pats supporters and media in the Dublin derby wins over Shamrock Rovers{{cite web|url=http://www.extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/30201/2/|title=Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2017 League of Ireland Premier Division - St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Shamrock Rovers|website=www.extratime.ie|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917032924/http://www.extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/30201/2/|archive-date=17 September 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} and Bohemians.

{{cite web|url=http://www.extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/30202/2/|title=Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2017 League of Ireland Premier Division - Bohemians -v- St. Patrick's Athletic|website=www.extratime.ie|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829203730/http://www.extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/30202/2/|archive-date=29 August 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} On 17 April, O'Hanlon scored a penalty in a 5–3 shootout win over Bray Wanderers in the League Cup following a 0–0 draw after extra time.{{cite web|url=http://www.extratime.ie/matches/detail/31049/2/|title=Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2017 League Cup Second Round - St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Bray Wanderers|website=www.extratime.ie|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829203725/http://www.extratime.ie/matches/detail/31049/2/|archive-date=29 August 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} O'Hanlon scored his first league goal at senior level on 16 June 2017 when he opened the scoring in a 3–1 Dublin derby defeat at home to Bohemians.{{cite web|url=http://www.extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/30271/2/|title=Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2017 League of Ireland Premier Division - St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Bohemians|website=www.extratime.ie|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829203832/http://www.extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/30271/2/|archive-date=29 August 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} In the months after that, with the team struggling in a relegation battle, O'Hanlon lost his place in the starting 11 and was limited to the occasional substitute appearance. He scored his third goal of the season against Firhouse Clover amongst an experimental lineup in a 2–1 Leinster Senior Cup Quarter-final win, looping a shot over the goalkeeper from 25 yards.{{cite web|url=http://stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=7606|title=Club News : Result: Saints 2 - Firhouse 1|website=stpatsfc.com|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810172810/http://stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=7606|archive-date=10 August 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

Despite having another year left on his contract with Pat's, O'Hanlon and the club came to the decision to terminate his contract by mutual consent after he failed to nail down a spot in the starting team or even the bench in the second half of the season. He went on trial with newly promoted Waterford for pre-season, playing in a friendly vs Wexford but he was not offered a contract by the club. On 31 January 2018, O'Hanlon signed for Belfast club Glentoran, of the NIFL Premiership.{{cite web|url=https://www.glentoran.com/news/welcome-alex|title=Welcome Alex - Glentoran FC|website=www.glentoran.com|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201075308/https://www.glentoran.com/news/welcome-alex|archive-date=1 February 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

On 17 July 2018, O'Hanlon played for Grimsby Town on trial in their pre-season game with Sunderland.{{cite web|url=https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/how-grimsby-town-trialists-alex-1797786|title=How Grimsby Town's trialists fared against Sunderland|first=James|last=Findlater|date=18 July 2018|access-date=18 July 2018|website=www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718113129/https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/how-grimsby-town-trialists-alex-1797786|archive-date=18 July 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

On 18 December 2018, it was announced that O'Hanlon had signed for League of Ireland First Division club Shelbourne ahead of their 2019 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.the42.ie/alex-ohanlon-shelbourne-liverpool-league-of-ireland-sse-airtricity-league-signing-4398605-Dec2018/|title=Former Liverpool midfielder Alex O'Hanlon agrees deal to join Shelbourne|first=Aaron|last=Gallagher|website=The42|accessdate=18 December 2018}} He made 9 appearances over the season as his side won the league, gaining promotion to the League of Ireland Premier Division.{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/alex-ohanlon/318684/|title=Republic of Ireland - A. O'Hanlon - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway}} 2020 saw O'Hanlon play in all but one of Shels' 18 league games, as well as the League of Ireland promotion/relegation play-off as his side were relegated back to the League of Ireland First Division in what was a shortened season due to COVID-19.{{cite web |url=https://www.buzz.ie/sport/longford-town-shelbourne-playoff-400199 |title=Longford Town promoted after beating Shelbourne in relegation playoff {{!}} Buzz.ie |website=www.buzz.ie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115162425/https://www.buzz.ie/sport/longford-town-shelbourne-playoff-400199 |archive-date=2020-11-15}}

O'Hanlon signed for fellow League of Ireland First Division club Wexford on a season long loan on 25 February 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://wexfordfc.ie/latest-news/1083-alex-o-hanlon|title=Alex O Hanlon joins on season-long loan deal from Shelbourne}} After making just 7 appearances for the club, he departed Wexford and left Shelbourne, opting to play amateur football.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/alex-ohanlon/318684/|title=Republic of Ireland – A. O'Hanlon|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=2017-04-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713140955/http://int.soccerway.com/players/alex-ohanlon/318684/|archive-date=13 July 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

O'Hanlon signed for Leinster Senior League side St Mochta's in July 2021 during their pre-season. He appeared in their 2021 FAI Cup campaign, setting up an extra-time winner for Alan Byrne in a 2–1 win over Ulster Senior League side Cockhill Celtic in the Qualifying Round on 10 July 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/soccer/648258/cockhill-celtic-s-fai-cup-dream-ends-after-extra-time-defeat.html|title=Cockhill Celtic's FAI Cup dream ends after extra-time defeat}} On 25 July he played the full 90 minutes as his side reached the Second Round of the FAI Cup, beating fellow Leinster Senior League side Crumlin United 2–1 away from home.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-40345163.html|title = St Mochta's survive scare to progress against Crumlin|date = 25 July 2021}}

O'Hanlon has played international football for the Republic of Ireland all the way up from Under 15s level to Under 21s.{{Cite web |url=https://thenextgenkopites.wordpress.com/2015/03/27/in-depth-liverpool-under-21-midfielder-alex-ohanlon/ |title=In Depth: Liverpool Under-21 midfielder Alex O'Hanlon |work=thenextgencopites |access-date=3 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011120047/https://thenextgenkopites.wordpress.com/2015/03/27/in-depth-liverpool-under-21-midfielder-alex-ohanlon/ |archive-date=11 October 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} He made his Under 21 debut on 11 February 2017 against the Ireland Amateurs squad.{{cite web|url=http://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/ireland-u21s-home-based-squad-draw-with-irish-amateurs|title=Ireland U21s Home-based squad draw with Irish Amateurs - Football Association of Ireland|website=www.fai.ie|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712022005/http://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/ireland-u21s-home-based-squad-draw-with-irish-amateurs|archive-date=12 July 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

Professional appearances – correct as of 31 August 2021.

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite web|url=http://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/player-profile/alex-ohanlon/id-01UV2EKLQ4000004VV0AG13IVURGAA5H

|title=ALEX O'HANLON|accessdate=2017-04-03}}

• {{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/alex-ohanlon/318684/|title=Republic of Ireland - A. O'Hanlon|accessdate=2017-04-03}}
• {{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague/clubs/players/250066182--alex-o-hanlon/|title=UEFA Youth League - Alex O'Hanlon|publisher=UEFA|access-date=2017-04-03}}
• {{cite web|url=http://stpatsfc.com/profile.php?id=213|title=Profile:Alex O'Hanlon|publisher=stpatsfc.com|accessdate=2017-04-03}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.extratime.ie/player/11117128/alex_ohanlon/|title=Alex O'Hanlon - St. Patrick's Athletic|publisher=extratime.ie|accessdate=2017-04-03}}
• {{cite web|url=https://thenextgenkopites.wordpress.com/2015/03/27/in-depth-liverpool-under-21-midfielder-alex-ohanlon/|title=In Depth: Liverpool Under-21 midfielder Alex O'Hanlon|publisher=thenextgenkopites.wordpress.com|access-date=2017-04-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011120047/https://thenextgenkopites.wordpress.com/2015/03/27/in-depth-liverpool-under-21-midfielder-alex-ohanlon/|archive-date=11 October 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:OHanlon, Alex O'Hanlon}}

Category:1996 births

Category:Living people

Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers

Category:Republic of Ireland men's under-21 international footballers

Category:Liverpool F.C. players

Category:St Patrick's Athletic F.C. players

Category:League of Ireland players

Category:Men's association football midfielders

Category:Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers

Category:Glentoran F.C. players

Category:NIFL Premiership players

Category:Shelbourne F.C. players

Category:Wexford F.C. players

Category:Republic of Ireland expatriate men's association footballers

Category:Leinster Senior League (association football) players

Category:Association footballers from County Dublin

Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen