Corey O'Keeffe

O'Keeffe was born in Birmingham, where he attended Stirchley Primary School{{cite news |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A201852559/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=5290a1e0 |title=Young Stirchley stars rise to the Challenge |first=Rob |last=Tanner |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=16 June 2009 |page=75 |via=Gale OneFile: News |url-access=subscription}} and Baverstock School in the Druids Heath area. He was noticed by representatives of Birmingham City when playing for Cadbury Athletic, and joined their Academy in 2008. He took up a scholarship with the club in July 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/~/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/july-2014.ashx |format=PDF |title=List of Players Registered as Scholars in Accordance with Rule C.3 Between 01/07/2014 and 31/07/2014 |publisher=The Football Association |page=45 |access-date=10 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006071145/http://www.thefa.com/~/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/july-2014.ashx |archive-date=6 October 2014}} Interviewed later that year, he assessed his strengths as attacking and heading, and felt he needed to improve his weaker foot.{{cite web |url=http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/20141022-blue-kid-on-the-block-corey-okeeffe-2030250.aspx |title=Blue kid on the block – Corey O'Keeffe |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=22 October 2014 |access-date=10 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220192343/http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/20141022-blue-kid-on-the-block-corey-okeeffe-2030250.aspx |archive-date=20 December 2016}} O'Keeffe signed his first professional contract, of two years, in May 2016,{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/archive/corey-okeeffe-pens-professional-contract |title=Corey O'Keeffe pens professional contract |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=18 April 2016 |access-date=3 September 2020}} and was an unused substitute for the Birmingham reserve team that lost the 2016 Birmingham Senior Cup final to National League North champions Solihull Moors.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-senior-cup-final-birmingham-11291593 |title=Birmingham Senior Cup final: Birmingham City U21s 1 Solihull Moors 2 |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=5 May 2016 |access-date=31 October 2019}}

After impressing both for Birmingham's under-23 side and when training with the first team, O'Keeffe was given squad number 30 in December 2016.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-manager-gary-rowett-12218341 |title=Birmingham City manager Gary Rowett admits rookie Corey O'Keeffe is 'coming through the pack' |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=23 November 2016 |access-date=31 October 2019}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/archive/blues-youngster-gets-squad-number |title=Blues youngster gets squad number |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=7 December 2016 |access-date=3 September 2022}} He made his senior debut in the Championship visit to Newcastle United on 10 December, as a 74th-minute substitute in a 4–0 defeat.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38193496 |title=Newcastle United 3–0 Birmingham City |website=BBC Sport |date=10 December 2016 |access-date=10 December 2016}} That was his only first-team appearance in 2016–17.

O'Keeffe signed a new three-year contract in August 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/archive/new-deal-for-blues-youngster-corey-okeeffe |title=New deal for Blues youngster Corey O'Keeffe |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=30 August 2017 |access-date=3 September 2022}} Having made no first-team appearances in 2017–18, he joined National League club Solihull Moors on loan until 17 February 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/archive/okeeffe-makes-moors-move |title=O'Keeffe makes Moors move |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=17 August 2018 |access-date=3 September 2022}} He went straight into the starting eleven for the following day's match, playing the whole of a 2–2 draw at home to Sutton United, but was not a regular selection, and was recalled in December having made only eight starts in National League matches.{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/archive/corey-okeeffe-back-at-blues |title=Corey O'Keeffe back at Blues |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=24 December 2018 |access-date=3 September 2022}}

An unused substitute in Birmingham's EFL Cup defeat on 6 August 2019, O'Keeffe joined League Two club Macclesfield Town three days later on loan for the rest of the season.{{cite web |url=https://www.mtfc.co.uk/news/2019/august/corey-okeeffe-joins-on-loan/ |title=Corey O'Keeffe joins on loan from Birmingham City |publisher=Macclesfield Town F.C. |date=9 August 2019 |access-date=9 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809171912/https://www.mtfc.co.uk/news/2019/august/corey-okeeffe-joins-on-loan/ |archive-date=9 August 2019}} He was a first-team regular throughout his stay, and had made 36 appearances in all competitions by the time the League Two season was first suspended and then ended early because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52679614 |title=League Two clubs vote to end season, but League One teams fail to decide |first1=Dan |last1=Roan |first2=Simon |last2=Stone |website=BBC Sport |date=15 May 2020 |access-date=19 May 2020}} He was released by Birmingham when his contract expired at the end of June 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/archive/blues-announce-under-23s-departures |title=Blues announce Under-23s departures |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=19 May 2020 |access-date=3 September 2022}}

O'Keeffe signed a two-year contract with League Two club Mansfield Town on 13 August 2020.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53771124 |title=Corey O'Keeffe: Mansfield Town sign former Birmingham City youngster |website=BBC Sport |date=13 August 2020 |access-date=13 August 2020}} He was in the starting eleven for their opening fixture, an EFL Cup tie away to Preston North End on 29 August, and played the whole of the 4–0 defeat.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53871847 |title=Mansfield Town 4–0 Preston North End |website=BBC Sport |date=29 August 2020 |access-date=29 August 2020}} Playing at wing-back, he was voted man of the match in the first league match, a goalless draw with Tranmere Rovers in which he "was a constant threat down the right-hand side of the pitch with his tricky footwork and dangerous deliveries".{{cite web |url=https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2020/september/wing-back-voted-man-of-the-match-from-tranmere-clash/ |title=Wing-back voted man of the match from Tranmere clash |publisher=Mansfield Town F.C. |date=14 September 2020 |access-date=4 August 2021}} He started the first seven league matches of the season, before having to self-isolate because of contact with a team-mate who tested positive for COVID-19.{{cite web |url=https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2020/october/team-news-for-cheltenham-a/ |title=Stags' boss makes one change for Robins clash |publisher=Mansfield Town F.C. |date=24 October 2020 |access-date=4 August 2021}} By the time he returned, Graham Coughlan, the manager who signed him, had left;{{cite news |url=https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/richard-cooper-aiming-restore-confidence-mansfield-towns-players-3019737 |title=Richard Cooper aiming to restore confidence in Mansfield Town's players |first=Stephen |last=Thirkill |newspaper=Mansfield and Ashfield Chad |date=30 October 2020 |access-date=4 August 2021}} his successor, Nigel Clough, switched to a flat back four, the results improved,{{cite web |url=https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2020/november/perch-pre-dag-and-red/ |title=Centre-back position is natural to me, says Perch |publisher=Mansfield Town F.C. |date=27 November 2020 |access-date=4 August 2021}} and O'Keeffe remained a regular in the matchday squad but did not start another league game. His last appearance of the season in any competition was in the FA Cup third round defeat to Cheltenham Town, in which he played the whole 120 minutes.{{cite web |url=https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2021/january/nigel-clough-post-oldham/ |title=Boss left thrilled with attacking display |publisher=Mansfield Town F.C. |date=13 January 2021 |access-date=4 August 2021}}

O'Keeffe was transfer-listed at the end of the season,{{cite news |url=https://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/ryan-sweeney-to-leave-as-mansfield-announce-retained-list-3232136 |title=Ryan Sweeney to leave as Mansfield announce retained list |first=John |last=Lomas |newspaper=Mansfield and Ashfield Chad |date=11 May 2021 |access-date=4 August 2021}} and on 3 August 2021, he joined divisional rivals Rochdale on loan until January 2022.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58072697 |title=George Broadbent and Corey O'Keeffe: Rochdale sign duo on loan |website=BBC Sport |date=3 August 2021 |access-date=4 August 2021}} He made his debut in the starting eleven for the opening-day visit to Harrogate Town, which Rochdale lost 3–2 to a stoppage-time goal,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58036223 |title=Harrogate Town 3–2 Rochdale |website=BBC Sport |date=7 August 2021 |access-date=8 August 2021}} and continued as a regular. O'Keeffe scored his first senior goal on 31 August in the group stage of the 2021–22 EFL Trophy after he was fouled in the penalty area and converted the kick himself; 22 minutes later, he scored his second, this time from open play, as Rochdale went on to beat Liverpool U21 4–0.{{cite news |url=https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/4/sport-news/142691/rochdale-4-0-liverpool-u21s |title=Rochdale 4–0 Liverpool U21s |website=Rochdale Online |date=1 September 2021 |access-date=4 September 2021}} Four days later, he scored a 78th-minute winner in a 3–2 league victory away to Port Vale. O'Keeffe started every match of his loan spell, apart from the fixture against his parent club for which he was ineligible, before returning to Mansfield.{{cite web |url=https://www.rochdaleafc.co.uk/news/2021/september/previewmansfieldtownaway/ |title=Preview: Mansfield Town (A) |publisher=Rochdale A.F.C. |date=17 September 2021 |access-date=8 June 2022}}

Clough's opinion was that "if we're not going to play the three centre halves then Corey may well move on",{{cite news |url=https://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/sport/football/clough-unlikely-to-recall-on-loan-defender-okeeffe-3514310 |title=Corey O'Keeffe looks set to leave Mansfield Town |first=John |last=Lomas |newspaper=Hucknall Dispatch |date=4 January 2022 |access-date=8 June 2022}} and on 28 January 2022, O'Keeffe did so, returning to Rochdale on a short-term contract until the end of the season.{{cite news |url=https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/144671/corey-o%E2%80%99keeffe-returns-to-rochdale-on-a-permanent-deal |title=Corey O'Keeffe returns to Rochdale on a permanent deal |website=Rochdale Online |date=28 January 2022 |access-date=8 June 2022}} He played in every remaining match, although not always a starter, making 51 appearances over the season in all competitions, scoring five goals and finishing well up the League Two assists table,{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/league-two/top-scorers/assists |title=League Two top scorers: Top assists |website=BBC Sport |access-date=8 June 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220608093750/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/league-two/top-scorers/assists |archive-date=8 June 2022}} and Rochdale confirmed that they would be offering him a new contract.{{cite news |url=https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/4/sport-news/145886/football-rochdale-afc-confirms-released-players |title=Football: Rochdale AFC confirms released players |website=Rochdale Online |date=9 May 2022 |access-date=8 June 2022}}

On 7 June 2022, O'Keeffe became the first summer signing for Forest Green Rovers, newly promoted to League One as 2021–22 League Two champions.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61725832 |title=Corey O'Keeffe: Full-back joins Forest Green Rovers for League One campaign |website=BBC Sport |date=7 June 2022 |access-date=8 June 2022}}{{cite news |url=https://stroudtimes.com/new-forest-green-boss-makes-his-first-signing-of-the-summer-by-landing-highly-rated-former-birmingham-city-winger-corey-okeeffe/ |title=New Forest Green boss makes his first signing of the summer by landing highly-rated former Birmingham City winger Corey O'Keeffe |first=Ashley |last=Loveridge |newspaper=Stroud Times |date=7 June 2022 |access-date=8 June 2022}} He was a regular in the side, playing 50 matches in all competitions as the team were relegated at the end of the season.

O'Keeffe signed a four-year contract with League One club Barnsley in July 2023.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66307863 |title=Corey O'Keeffe: Barnsley sign Irish full-back from Forest Green |website=BBC Sport |date=25 July 2023 |access-date=25 July 2023}} Despite not being fully fit, he started the opening fixture, at home to Port Vale, because Barnsley were short of players. His interception, run and cross set up the opening goal for Devante Cole in what finished as a 7–0 win, but he went off injured after 33 minutes.{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/barnsley-fc-boss-neill-collins-on-fitness-of-corey-okeeffe-and-jon-russell-following-port-vale-win-4245022 |title=Barnsley FC boss Neill Collins on fitness of Corey O'Keeffe and Jon Russell following Port Vale win |first=Tom |last=Coates |newspaper=Yorkshire Post |date=5 August 2023 |access-date=16 August 2023}}

O'Keeffe played six matches for the Republic of Ireland U17 in qualification for the 2015 UEFA Under-17 Championship, scoring once, and started two matches in the tournament proper as his country were eliminated at the group stage.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/under17/teams/players/250077764--corey-o-keeffe/ |title=Corey O'Keeffe: Under-17 |publisher=UEFA |date=15 May 2015 |access-date=10 December 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014080454/http://www.uefa.com/under17/season=2015/teams/player=250077764/index.html |archive-date=14 October 2017}}

O'Keeffe played two Ireland under-18 friendlies, against the Czech Republic in November 2015 and England in March 2016,{{cite web |url=http://www.fai.ie/ireland/match/55505/2016/999942392 |title=Ireland go down to U18 friendly loss to Czechs |publisher=Football Association of Ireland (FAI) |date=30 November 2015 |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223042239/https://www.fai.ie/ireland/match/55505/2016/999942392 |archive-date=23 December 2016}}
{{cite web |url=http://www.fai.ie/ireland/match/55505/2016/999942662 |title=Ireland U18s go down to England defeat |publisher=FAI |date=27 March 2016 |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223040647/https://www.fai.ie/ireland/match/55505/2016/999942662 |archive-date=23 December 2016}} and played alongside Birmingham teammate Ronan Hale in a 2–2 draw with Germany U18 in May.{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/archive/young-blues-duo-named-in-republic-of-ireland-under-18s-squad |title=Young Blues duo named in Republic of Ireland Under-18s squad |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=5 May 2016 |access-date=3 September 2022}}
{{cite web |url=http://www.fai.ie/ireland/match/55505/2016/999942784 |title=Ireland U18s draw with Germany in friendly |publisher=FAI |date=11 May 2016 |access-date=10 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223034428/https://www.fai.ie/ireland/match/55505/2016/999942784 |archive-date=23 December 2016}} He appeared in both of Ireland under-19s' friendlies against Austria U19 in September, captaining the side in the second match,{{cite web |url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/u19-report-ireland-1-0-austria-oconnor-strike-seals-win |title=U19 report: Ireland 1–0 Austria – O'Connor strike seals win |publisher=FAI |date=4 September 2016 |access-date=31 October 2019}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/report-ireland-u19-3-1-austria-u19 |title=Report: Ireland U19 3–1 Austria U19 |publisher=FAI |date=6 September 2016 |access-date=31 October 2019}} and played in two of their three 2017 UEFA Under-19 qualifying-round matches in October. The following March, he played in all three of their elite-round matches; Ireland finished second in their group so failed to qualify.{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/under17/season=2015/teams/player=250077764/profile/index.html |title=Corey O'Keeffe: Profile |publisher=UEFA |date=12 October 2016 |access-date=10 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915100024/http://www.uefa.com/under17/season=2015/teams/player=250077764/profile/index.html |archive-date=15 September 2017}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/match/24/2017/2021336 |title=Ireland U19s miss out on UEFA Finals despite Belgium win |publisher=FAI |date=28 March 2017 |access-date=31 October 2019}}

{{updated|match played 12 April 2025}}

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{{Barnsley F.C. squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:OKeeffe, Corey}}

Category:1998 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Birmingham, West Midlands

Category:English men's footballers

Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers

Category:Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers

Category:Men's association football defenders

Category:Men's association football midfielders

Category:Birmingham City F.C. players

Category:Solihull Moors F.C. players

Category:Macclesfield Town F.C. players

Category:Mansfield Town F.C. players

Category:Rochdale A.F.C. players

Category:Forest Green Rovers F.C. players

Category:Barnsley F.C. players

Category:English Football League players

Category:National League (English football) players

Category:21st-century English sportsmen

Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen