Eoghan O'Connell
{{Short description|Irish footballer (born 1995)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Eoghan O'Connell
| image = File:Eoghan O'Connell 26102024 (1).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Eoghan O'Connell in 2024.
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|8|13|df=y}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague/season=2014/clubs/player=250064551/profile/index.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140329193400/http://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague/season=2014/clubs/player=250064551/profile/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 March 2014|title=UEFA Youth League - Eoghan O'Connell|publisher=UEFA|date=29 March 2014|access-date=29 March 2014}}
| birth_place = Cork, Ireland
| position = Centre-back
| currentclub = Wrexham
| clubnumber = 5
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = College Corinthians
| youthyears2 =
| youthclubs2 = Avondale United
| youthyears3 = 2011–2014
| youthclubs3 = Celtic
| years1 = 2014–2017
| clubs1 = Celtic
| caps1 = 7
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2015
| clubs2 = → Oldham Athletic (loan)
| caps2 = 2
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2016
| clubs3 = → Cork City (loan)
| caps3 = 7
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2017
| clubs4 = → Walsall (loan)
| caps4 = 17
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2017–2019
| clubs5 = Bury
| caps5 = 43
| goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2019–2022
| clubs6 = Rochdale
| caps6 = 115
| goals6 = 2
| years7 = 2022–2023
| clubs7 = Charlton Athletic
| caps7 = 19
| goals7 = 1
| years8 = 2023–
| clubs8 = Wrexham
| caps8 = 84
| goals8 = 2
| nationalyears1 = 2013
| nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U19
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2016
| nationalteam2 = Republic of Ireland U21
| nationalcaps2 = 2
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| club-update = 17:10, 3 May 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 23:59, 31 January 2023 (UTC)
}}
Eoghan O'Connell (born 13 August 1995) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for {{English football updater|Wrexham}} club Wrexham. He began his youth playing career in the Republic of Ireland, joined the academy of Scottish club Celtic in 2011 and made his first-team debut three years later. While at the club he was loaned to Oldham Athletic, Cork City and Walsall. In 2017, he signed with English third-tier club Bury and after two seasons with The Shakers, he moved in the summer of 2019 to Rochdale before moving to Charlton Athletic in 2022. On 31 January 2023, Deadline Day, he moved to Wrexham.
O'Connell is a cousin of former Irish rugby captain Paul O'Connell and has been capped at youth international level.
Club career
=Celtic=
O'Connell played for the College Corinthians and Avondale United Irish academy teams, before switching to the Celtic Academy in 2011.{{cite web|author1=Emmet Malone|title=Cork City sign Celtic's Eoghan O'Connell on loan|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/national-league/cork-city-sign-celtic-s-eoghan-o-connell-on-loan-1.2537221?mode=amp|publisher=The Irish Times|access-date=12 March 2018|date=16 February 2016}}{{cite web|author1=PJ Browne|title=Cousin Of Irish Rugby International Rewarded For His Progress At Celtic|url=https://www.balls.ie/football/271416-eoghan-oconnell-celtic-271416|publisher=Balls|access-date=12 March 2018|date=26 April 2015}} On 9 January 2014, he made his first-team debut in a 3–1 victory over Turkish club Trabzonspor in the Turkish Airlines Antalya Cup.{{cite web|author=Fintan O'Toole|title=Cork youngster Eoghan O'Connell made his debut for Celtic tonight in Turkey|url=http://www.the42.ie/eoghan-oconnell-celtic-soccer-1257255-Jan2014/|publisher=The 42|access-date=12 March 2018|date=9 January 2014}} In March, he made his competitive debut against Ross County in a 1–1 draw in the Scottish Premiership.{{cite web|author1=Gavin Berry|title=Celtic starlet Eoghan O'Connell watched rugby hero cousin's rise to top... now he hopes to follow in his footsteps after making Parkhead debut|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/celtic-starlet-eoghan-oconnell-watched-3303494|publisher=Daily Record|access-date=12 March 2018|date=31 March 2014}} Speaking in April 2015 about his debut, he said, "Making my debut at the end of last season was a good thing as it gave me a good platform coming into the next season and show what I could do".
O'Connell started the 2014–15 season by scoring an own goal in a 1–0 league defeat against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.{{cite web|author1=Andy Campbell|title=Inverness CT 1 - 0 Celtic|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/28816279|publisher=BBC|access-date=13 March 2018|date=23 August 2014}} After making four appearances for the club in the season and captaining the youth team in a friendly against Sparta Prague, on 2 February 2015 he signed a contract extension that would keep him at Celtic until mid-2017.{{cite web|title=Defender's delight after penning new deal|url=http://www.celticfc.net/news/7585|publisher=Celtiic F.C.|access-date=13 March 2018|date=2 February 2015}} Commenting about the new contract, he said, "I'm delighted and just happy to get it done".{{cite web|title=Eoghan O'Connell signs new Celtic contract until 2017|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/31105402|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=13 March 2018|date=2 February 2015}} At the end of the season, he was named as the club's Academy Player of the Year. Irish newspaper TheJournal.ie included Connell in their list of "10 most promising young Irish footballers".{{cite web|author=Paul Fennessy|title=Power ranking the 10 most promising young Irish footballers|url=http://www.the42.ie/power-ranking-10-most-promising-young-irish-footballers-2190367-Jun2015/|publisher=The Journal|access-date=13 March 2018|date=30 June 2015}}
O'Connell played his first match of the 2015–16 season, a 3–1 victory over Dundee United, in August. He moved to English League One club Oldham Athletic on a six-month loan deal on 1 September.{{cite web|title=Eoghan O'Connell joins Latics on loan|url=http://www.celticfc.net/news/8985|publisher=Celtic F.C.|access-date=13 March 2018|date=1 September 2015}} Five days later, he made his first-team debut, playing the entirety of a 2–1 victory over Bradford City.{{cite news|author1=Robert Gledhill|title=Oldham 1 Bradford City 2: Cole nets Bantams winner|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/bradford-city/oldham-1-bradford-city-2-cole-nets-bantams-winner-1-7445886|newspaper=Yorkshire Post|access-date=13 March 2018|date=5 September 2015|archive-date=25 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625164359/https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/bradford-city/oldham-1-bradford-city-2-cole-nets-bantams-winner-1-7445886|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Eoghan O'Connell set for Oldham debut against Bradford|url=https://www.eurosport.com/football/eoghan-o-connell-set-for-oldham-debut-against-bradford_sto4894909/story.shtml|publisher=Euro Sport|access-date=13 March 2018|date=4 September 2015}} He was injured after featuring in another match for Oldham,{{cite web|author1=Sheldan Keay|title=Oldham Athletic look set to lose Celtic loanee Eoghan O'Connell|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/oldham-athletic-look-set-lose-10129242|publisher=Manchester Evening News|access-date=13 March 2018|date=24 September 2015}} and returned to his parent club in November.{{cite web|author=Ruari Daly|title=Eoghan O'Connell returns to Celtic from loan spell|url=http://readceltic.com/2015/11/08/eoghan-oconnell-returns-from-loan-spell/|publisher=Read Celtic|access-date=13 March 2018|date=8 September 2011}}
In February 2016, O'Connell went on-loan to his home-town club, League of Ireland side Cork City.{{cite news|last=Malone|first=Emmet|title=Cork City sign Celtic's Eothan O'Connell on loan|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/national-league/cork-city-sign-celtic-s-eothan-o-connell-on-loan-1.2537221|access-date=16 February 2016|work=Irish Times|date=16 February 2016}} Manager John Caulfield said O'Connell's signing "injects extra competition into the squad".{{cite web|author1=Ryan Kelly|title=Cork City boss hails on-loan Celtic starlet Eoghan O'Connell|url=http://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/3909/airtricity-premier-division/2016/02/24/20645342/cork-city-boss-hails-on-loan-celtic-starlet-eoghan-oconnell|publisher=Goal|access-date=13 March 2018|date=24 February 2016}} He made his debut on 27 February, playing the whole match, in which Cork defeated Dundalk 2–0 in the President's Cup.{{soccerway|eoghan-oconnell/279247|access-date=3 April 2016}}{{cite news|last1=O'Shea|first1=John|title=President's Cup Report: Cork City 2 - 0 Dundalk|url=http://www.extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/15880/presidents-cup-report-cork-city-2---0-dundalk/|access-date=28 March 2016|work=Extre Time|date=27 February 2016|location=Ireland}} He played five times for Cork, scoring once in a 2–2 draw with Galway United, before being recalled to Celtic at the end of April 2016 after sustaining a groin injury.{{cite news|last=Cuddihy|first=Colm|title=Celtic recall Eoghan O'Connell from Cork|url=http://extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/16439/celtic-recall-eoghan-oconnell-from-cork/|access-date=4 May 2016|work=Extra Time|date=27 April 2016|archive-date=1 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501222034/http://www.extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/16439/celtic-recall-eoghan-oconnell-from-cork/|url-status=dead}}
{{Quote box | width=30% | align=right | quote= "I've been particularly impressed by young Eoghan. He's a good size, wants to do well and he's good in the air. He has been around the first team for a few years and had some loan experience." |source= Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers on O'Connell.{{cite web|author=Ben Blake|title='He has a real brain for football' - Rodgers impressed by Celtic's Irish defender O'Connell|url=http://www.the42.ie/eoghan-oconnell-celtic-brendan-rodgers-praise-2896490-Jul2016/|publisher=The Journal|access-date=13 March 2018|date=26 July 2016}}}}
On 27 July 2016, O'Connell made his UEFA Champions League debut, playing the whole ninety minutes of a 1–1 draw against Kazakh club FC Astana in the qualifiers. Speaking about his debut, manager Brendan Rodgers said O'Connell was "outstanding" and added; "For a young player, he has been on the fringes for a few years, coming into that environment, under pressure, he had very few mistakes in the game".{{cite web|author1=Jamie Casey|title=Nine things we know about Celtic's young Irish starlet Eoghan O'Connell|url=https://www.irishpost.co.uk/sport/nine-things-know-celtics-young-irish-starlet-eoghan-oconnell-95843|publisher=Irish Post|access-date=13 March 2018|date=28 July 2016}} He featured for the club in the return leg and again earned the praise of Rodgers.
After playing six matches for Celtic during the 2016–17 season, on 12 January 2017, O'Connell was loaned to English League One club Walsall for the rest of the season.{{cite web|title=Eoghan O'Connell: Celtic defender joins Walsall on loan|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38596320|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=13 March 2018|date=12 January 2017}} He debuted in a 4–1 victory over Sheffield United; Walsall manager Jon Whitney said O'Connell "grew into the game and showed why we brought him in."{{Cite web|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/walsall-fc/2017/01/17/jon-whitney-backs-eoghan-oconnell-to-shine-for-walsall/|title = Jon Whitney backs Eoghan O'Connell to shine for Walsall| date=17 January 2017 }} On 21 January, he scored his first goal in a 3–1 victory over Bristol Rovers.{{cite web|author1=Jonny Boyle|title=Walsall Fans Rave About Eoghan O'Connell After He Scores and Gets MotM|url=http://www.talkingbaws.com/2017/01/walsall-fans-rave-about-eoghan-oconnell-after-he-scores-and-gets-motm/|publisher=Talking Bows|access-date=13 March 2018|date=21 January 2017|archive-date=14 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314042414/http://www.talkingbaws.com/2017/01/walsall-fans-rave-about-eoghan-oconnell-after-he-scores-and-gets-motm/|url-status=dead}} He made 17 appearances for the club.{{cite web|author1=Matt Maher|title=Walsall miss out on Celtic defender Eoghan O'Connell|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/walsall-fc/2017/06/08/saddlers-miss-out-on-celtic-defender-eoghan-oconnell/|publisher=Express and Star|access-date=13 March 2018|date=8 June 2017}}
=Bury=
O'Connell signed a three-year contract with English League One club Bury on 8 June 2017.{{cite web |title=Eoghan O'Connell: Bury sign Celtic defender on three-year contract |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40201553 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=13 March 2018 |date=8 June 2017}} He said about his move; "I have come to the stage in my career where I just want to play football all the time. The manager made it clear that he had a big interest in me and wanted me to come to the club." He added that he was happy with the move and he wanted to start playing.{{cite web |title=CONFIRMED: Eoghan O'Connell signs for the Shakers |url=https://www.buryfc.co.uk/news/2017/june/confirmed-eoghan-oconnell-signs-for-the-shakers/ |publisher=Bury F.C. |access-date=13 March 2018 |date=8 June 2017 |archive-date=14 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314042344/https://www.buryfc.co.uk/news/2017/june/confirmed-eoghan-oconnell-signs-for-the-shakers/ |url-status=dead }} O'Connell was injured during the pre-season and was ruled out of play for up to ten weeks.{{cite web |title=Injury Update: 10 weeks for Eoghan O'Connell |url=https://www.buryfc.co.uk/news/2017/july/injury-update-10-weeks-for-eoghan-oconnell/ |publisher=Bury F.C. |access-date=13 March 2018 |date=27 July 2017 |archive-date=14 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314042417/https://www.buryfc.co.uk/news/2017/july/injury-update-10-weeks-for-eoghan-oconnell/ |url-status=dead }} In October he made his first-team debut in a 1–0 victory over Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Trophy.{{cite web |author1=Mikael McKenzie |title=SHAKERS MATCH VERDICT: Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Bury |url=http://www.burytimes.co.uk/sport/15573904.SHAKERS_MATCH_VERDICT__Blackburn_Rovers_0_1_Bury/ |publisher=Bury Times |access-date=13 March 2018 |date=4 October 2017}} Wearing the number six shirt, he has become a first team regular in 2018–19 under manager Ryan Lowe.
=Rochdale=
On 4 July 2019, O'Connell signed a two-year contract with Rochdale.{{cite web |title=Eoghan O'Connell Joins Rochdale|url=https://www.rochdaleafc.co.uk/news/2019/july/eoghan-oconnell-joins-rochdale/|publisher=Rochdale AFC|access-date=4 July 2019|date=4 July 2019}}
On 22 June 2021, O'Connell signed a new one-year contract.{{cite web |title=Eoghan O'Connell Signs New Deal|url=https://www.rochdaleafc.co.uk/news/2021/june/oconnellsigning/|publisher=Rochdale AFC|access-date=26 June 2021|date=22 June 2021}}
=Charlton Athletic=
On 20 June 2022, O'Connell signed a three-year contract with Charlton Athletic on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract at Rochdale.{{Cite news |title=DONE DEAL: Ball-playing defender Eoghan O'Connell joins the Addicks |url=https://www.charltonafc.com/news/done-deal-ball-playing-defender-eoghan-oconnell-joins-addicks |publisher=Charlton Athletic |access-date=20 June 2022}}
=Wrexham=
On 31 January 2023, O'Connell signed for Wrexham.{{Cite news |title=EOGHAN O'CONNELL JOINS WREXHAM |url=https://www.charltonafc.com/news/eoghan-oconnell-joins-wrexham |publisher=Charlton Athletic |access-date=31 January 2023}} He started Wrexham's 3-1 win over Boreham Wood on 22 April 2023, which secured the club's return to the English Football League after 15 years in the National League.{{cite news |date=22 April 2023 |title=Hollywood ending for Cork's Eoghan O'Connell as Wrexham promoted with Ryan Reynolds and Paul Rudd watching |last=O'Connell |first=Dylan |url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41122732.html |access-date=23 April 2023 |website=Echo Live |language=en}}
International career
O'Connell made his Republic of Ireland under-19 debut against Norway in August 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.fai.ie/international/under-19/103447-ireland-u19s-lose-friendly-game-by-a-single-goal.html|title=Ireland U19s lose friendly game by a single goal|publisher=Football Association of Ireland|date=13 August 2013|access-date=31 March 2014}} In September 2016, he was called to the Republic of Ireland under-21 national football team by manager Noel King for 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers against Slovenia and Serbia.{{cite web|title=Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad named for European qualifiers|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2016/0826/812235-republic-of-ireland-under-21/|publisher=RTE|access-date=13 March 2018|date=26 August 2016}} On 2 September, he made his under-21 international debut in a 2–0 win against Slovenia.{{cite web|title=Ireland U21s leave it late to seal important European Championship qualifying win|url=http://www.the42.ie/ireland-u21-slovenia-report-2962207-Sep2016/|publisher=The Journal|access-date=13 March 2018|date=2 September 2016}}
Style of play
O'Connell plays as a centre back. During his time with Celtic, the Herald Scotland described him as "an assured ball-playing centre-half with an air of calmness around him which has belied his lack of experience."{{cite web |author1=Neil Cameon |title=Eoghan O'Connell told to show he is good enough to be offered a new deal at Celtic |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/14671954.Eoghan_O___Connell_told_to_show_he_is_good_enough_to_be_offered_a_new_deal_at_Celtic/ |work=Herald Scotland |access-date=13 March 2018 |date=10 August 2016}} His manager at Celtic, Brendan Rodgers, said O'Connell had an "in-built brain for the game."{{cite web|title=Rodgers hails Irish youngster O'Connell after Celtic triumph|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2016/0804/806885-rodgers-hails-irish-youngster-oconnell-after-celt/|work=RTÉ Sport|access-date=13 March 2018|date=4 August 2016}}
Personal life
O'Connell hails from Cork and is a supporter of local side Cork City. He is a cousin of former Irish rugby captain Paul O'Connell.{{cite news|url=http://www.balls.ie/football/271416-eoghan-oconnell-celtic/271416|title=Paul O'Connell's Cousin Named Celtic Academy Player Of The Year|publisher=Balls.ie|date=26 April 2015|access-date=16 July 2015}} Both his father Damo O'Connell and brother Andy O'Connell have played for Cork City.{{cite news|author=Ben Blake|url= http://www.the42.ie/eoghan-oconnell-cork-city-celtic-loan-2607978-Feb2016/|title=Celtic defender O'Connell joins Cork City on loan|publisher=The Journal|date=16 February 2016|access-date=17 February 2016}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 3 May 2025}}
{{notelist}}
Honours
Cork City
Bury
- League Two runner-up: 2018–19{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=1646 |title=League Two: 2018/19: Current table |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=6 May 2019}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=394&teamTabs=stats&season_id=151 |title=Bury: Squad details: 2018/19 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=6 May 2019}}
Wrexham
- National League: 2022–23{{Cite news |date=22 April 2023 |title=Mullin the hero as Wrexham win to earn promotion |language= |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65283910 |access-date=22 April 2023}}
- EFL League Two runner-up: 2023–24{{Cite web | title=END-OF-SEASON GALLERY {{!}} Relive the Red Dragons’ memorable season - News - Wrexham AFC | url=https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2024/april/end-of-season-gallery--relive-the-red-dragons-memorable-season/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429172954/https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/2024/april/end-of-season-gallery--relive-the-red-dragons-memorable-season/ | access-date=2025-04-26 | archive-date=2024-04-29}}
- EFL League One runner-up: 2024–25
Individual
- Rochdale Player of the Season: 2019–20,{{cite news|url=https://www.rochdaleafc.co.uk/news/2020/july/eocpots/#:~:text=Eoghan%20O'Connell%20has%20been,with%20Luke%20Matheson%20in%20third. |title=Eoghan O'Connell Named Supporters' Player Of The Year |website=Rochdale AFC |date=14 July 2020 |access-date=26 February 2023}} 2021–22{{Cite web |date=2 May 2022 |title=2021/22 Award Winners |url=https://www.rochdaleafc.co.uk/news/2022/may/202122-awardswinners/ |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=rochdaleafc.co.uk |language=en-gb}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Rochdale A.F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{Wrexham A.F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:OConnell, Eoghan}}
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland
Category:Republic of Ireland expatriate men's association footballers
Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in Scotland
Category:Association footballers from County Cork
Category:Oldham Athletic A.F.C. players
Category:Cork City F.C. players
Category:Scottish Professional Football League players
Category:Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers
Category:College Corinthians A.F.C. players
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Rochdale A.F.C. players
Category:Charlton Athletic F.C. players