Fabián O'Neill

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Fabián O'Neill

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname = Fabián Alberto O'Neill Domínguez

| birth_date = {{birth date |df=yes|1973|10|14}}

| birth_place = Paso de los Toros, Uruguay

| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|12|25|1973|10|14|df=yes}}

| death_place = Montevideo, Uruguay

| height = 1.86 m

| position = Attacking midfielder

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1992–1995

| clubs1 = Nacional

| caps1 = 63

| goals1 = 15

| years2 = 1996–2000

| clubs2 = Cagliari

| caps2 = 120

| goals2 = 12

| years3 = 2000–2001

| clubs3 = Juventus

| caps3 = 14

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2002

| clubs4 = Perugia

| caps4 = 9

| goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2002

| clubs5 = Cagliari

| caps5 = 0

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2003

| clubs6 = Nacional

| caps6 = 5

| goals6 = 0

| totalcaps = 211

| totalgoals = 28

| nationalyears1 = 1993–2002

| nationalteam1 = Uruguay

| nationalcaps1 = 19

| nationalgoals1 = 2

}}

Fabián Alberto O'Neill Domínguez (14 October 1973 – 25 December 2022) was a Uruguayan professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

He began and finished his career at Nacional, where he won the Uruguayan Primera División in his debut season in 1992. He spent most of his career in Italy, mainly with Cagliari and also with Juventus and Perugia. He earned 19 caps for Uruguay, starting at the 1993 Copa América and ending at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Nicknamed "El Mago" ('The Wizard'), O'Neill was described by Zinedine Zidane as the most talented teammate of his career.{{cite news |last1=Carrasco |first1=Eloy |title=Zizou, el mejor era Fabián O'Neill|trans-title=Zizou, the best was Fabián O'Neill|url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/opinion/20161214/zizou-el-mejor-era-fabian-oneill-5692035 |access-date=25 December 2022 |work=El Periódico de Catalunya |date=14 December 2016 |language=Spanish}} He lost his fortune to gambling, and suffered from alcoholism during and after his career, retiring at 29 and dying 20 years later.

Early life

O'Neill was the oldest of five children born to Luis Alberto O'Neill and Mercedes Domínguez. He was the great-great-grandson of Michael O'Neill, an Irishman from County Cork who arrived in Uruguay in 1837.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishargentine.org/0803kennedye1.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804042239/http://www.irishargentine.org/0803kennedye1.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=4 August 2012|title=Fabián O'Neill, football player|last=Malcolm|first=Conrad O'Neill |publisher=Society for Irish Latin American Studies|access-date=6 May 2010}}

Abandoned by his parents, O'Neill was raised by his grandmother, with whom he had to share a bed until the age of 14. He began working at age nine, selling sausages outside a brothel, and was already drinking at that age.{{cite news |last1=Montaño |first1=Pablo |title=Qué fue de Fabián O'Neill, el mejor con el que jugó Zidane|trans-title=What happened to Fabián O'Neill, the best player Zidane played with |url=https://as.com/futbol/que-fue-de-fabian-oneill-el-mejor-con-el-que-jugo-zidane-n/ |access-date=25 December 2022 |work=Diario AS |date=1 November 2022 |language=Spanish}}

Club career

O'Neill began his professional career at Nacional in the Uruguayan Primera División playing in the first team between 1992 and 1995. In his debut season, at the age of 18, his team won the league.{{cite news |title=Muere Fabián O'Neill, exjugador de la selección uruguaya y la Juventus |trans-title=Fabián O'Neill, former Uruguay national team and Juventus player, dies|url=https://www.rfi.fr/es/m%C3%A1s-noticias/20221225-muere-fabi%C3%A1n-o-neill-exjugador-de-la-selecci%C3%B3n-uruguaya-y-la-juventus |access-date=25 December 2022 |publisher=Radio France Internationale |date=25 December 2022 |language=Spanish}} In 1996, he moved to Italy to play with Serie A club Cagliari, one of several Uruguayans to join the club through agent Paco Casal.{{cite news |last1=Díaz |first1=Juan José |title=La vida de Fabián O'Neill, el mago del fútbol que se desapereció a sí mismo|trans-title=The life of Fabián O'Neill, the wizard of football who made himself disappear |url=https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/quien-fue-fabian-o-neill-el-mago-que-se-desaparecio-a-si-mismo--20221225135812 |access-date=25 December 2022 |work=El Observador |date=25 December 2022}} The club was relegated to Serie B in 1997, but promoted again in 1998. In 1999, during a game against Salernitana, he performed three nutmegs against the future World Cup winner, Gennaro Gattuso.

After Cagliari was relegated again in 2000, O'Neill was transferred to Juventus for a fee of 20 billion lire (€10 million).

In January 2002 he moved to Perugia as part of a deal involving the transfer of Davide Baiocco to Juventus.{{cite web|url=http://www.juventus.com/site/filesite/finance/bilanci_relazioni/22_apr_2002_eng_.pdf |title=Significant Events After The Closure of the First Months of 2001/2002 |work=Six-Monthly Report at 21 December 2001 |publisher=Juventus FC |pages=22 |access-date=7 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207045543/http://www.juventus.com/site/filesite/finance/bilanci_relazioni/22_apr_2002_eng_.pdf |archive-date=7 December 2008 }} He terminated his contract in the summer to return to Cagliari, now in Serie B, although he did not take to the field during his brief stay. In 2012, O'Neill admitted to twice having fixed Serie A games in order to win bets.{{cite news |url=http://www.montevideo.com.uy/auc.aspx?169076 |title=Talento y pico |language=es |trans-title=Talent and then some (at Q.33) |first=Gerardo |last=Tagliaferro |website=Montevideo.com.uy |date=4 April 2012 |access-date=2 September 2014}}{{cite news |url=http://www.football-italia.net/36032/oneill-i-fixed-serie-games |title=O'Neill: 'I fixed Serie A games' |website=Football Italia |date=3 July 2013 |access-date=2 September 2014}}

In January 2003, O'Neill returned to Nacional but played only five times. He retired later that year at the age of 29, due to the effects of alcoholism, and returned to his cattle ranch. He later played and managed semiprofessional football in the Uruguayan lower leagues.

International career

O'Neill played 19 times for Uruguay. He played his first match for the national team on 16 June 1993 in a Copa América group match won 1–0 against the United States.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/uru-intres1995.html |title=Uruguay – International Matches 1991–1995 |access-date=6 May 2010 |url-status=live |website=RSSSF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723133440/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesu/uru-intres1995.html |archive-date=23 July 2010 }} He came on as a substitute for Adrián Paz with seven minutes remaining, but took no further part in the tournament due to injury. The last of his 19 caps was in May 2002 against China in Shenyang. He was a member of the Uruguay squad at the 2002 FIFA World Cup but did not play.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/uru-recintlp.html |title=Appearances for Uruguay National Team |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=6 May 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605163643/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/uru-recintlp.html |archive-date=5 June 2009 }}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/team_pages/uruguay/squad/newsid_1997000/1997975.stm |title=Squad Profiles – Uruguay – Fabian O'Neill |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=7 May 2010 |date=31 May 2002}}

Personal life and death

O'Neill had two daughters and a son,{{cite news |title=El mensaje de los hijos de Fabián O'Neill tras su muerte|trans-title=The message from Fabián O'Neill's children after his death |url=https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/el-mensaje-de-los-hijos-de-fabian-o-neill-tras-su-muerte-20221225135218 |access-date=25 December 2022 |work=El Observador |date=25 December 2022 |language=Spanish}} each of whom was born to a different mother.{{cite news |title=Martina, la hija de Fabián O'Neill: "El problema va ser grave si mi papá sigue tomando" |trans-title=Martina, Fabián O'Neill's daughter: "The problem will be very serious if my dad keeps on drinking"|url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/tvshow/personajes/martina-la-hija-de-fabian-oneill-el-problema-va-ser-grave-si-mi-papa-sigue-tomando |access-date=25 December 2022 |work=El País |date=30 June 2020 |language=Spanish}} As of December 2021, his son Favio was playing as a defensive midfielder for the under-19 team of Peñarol, Nacional's rivals;{{cite news |title=Favio O'Neill, el hijo de Fabián que se entrena en Peñarol: "Cuando me hablaron de esta posibilidad enseguida dije que sí"|trans-title=Favio O'Neill, Fabián's son who trains at Peñarol: "When they spoke to me about this opportunity I immediately said yes" |url=https://espndeportes.espn.com/futbol/uruguay/nota/_/id/9608925/penarol-favio-o-neill-futbol-uruguayo |access-date=25 December 2022 |publisher=ESPN |date=2 December 2021 |language=Spanish}} as of June 2020, his middle child Martina was a field hockey player. His cousin Jairo (born 2001) also played for Peñarol.{{cite news |title=Jairo O'Neill, el primo de Fabián que debutó en Peñarol y jugó como para no salir del once|trans-title=Jairo O'Neill, Fabián's cousin who debuted for Peñarol and played as if he didn't want to lose his place|url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/ovacion/futbol/equipo/penarol/jairo-oneill-el-primo-de-fabian-que-debuto-en-penarol-y-jugo-como-para-no-salir-del-once |access-date=17 January 2023 |work=El Observador |date=21 May 2022 |language=Spanish}}

In 2013, O'Neill wrote an autobiography, Hasta la última gota (Until the Last Drop). He had a gallbladder operation in June 2016 and was told to abstain from alcohol for three years, but began drinking a month later.

In February 2017, O'Neill said that he lost his fortune of US$14 million on "slow horses, fast women and gambling", but that he did not regret becoming poor.{{cite news |title=La historia de Fabián O'Neill, el futbolista uruguayo que más admiraba Zidane: "Tuve 14 millones de dólares y los perdí, pero a mí no me molesta ser pobre"|trans-title=The story of Fabián O'Neill, the Uruguayan footballer who Zidane admired more than any other: "I had 14 million dollars and I lost it all, but being poor doesn't bother me" |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/deportes/futbol/la-historia-de-fabian-oneill-el-futbolista-uruguayo-que-mas-admiraba-zidane-tuve-14-millones-de-dolares-y-los-perdi-pero-a-mi-no-me-molesta-ser-pobre-nid1986277/ |access-date=25 December 2022 |work=La Nación |date=20 February 2017 |language=Spanish}} In his autobiography, he said that he once spent US$250,000 on 1,104 cows, having attended a cattle auction while drunk.{{cite news |title=Cinco perlas de la vida de Fabián O'Neill: la compra de las 1.000 vacas, la defensa a Forlán y la amenaza de Gattuso|trans-title=Five pearls from the life of Fabián O'Neill: the purchase of 1,000 cows, the defence of Forlán and the threat from Gattuso|url=https://www.elpais.com.uy/ovacion/futbol/cinco-perlas-de-la-vida-de-fabian-oneill-la-compra-de-las-1-000-vacas-la-defensa-a-forlan-y-la-amenaza-de-gattuso |access-date=25 December 2022 |work=El País |date=25 December 2022 |language=Spanish}}

O'Neill was hospitalised in June 2020 with cirrhosis. He was advised that if he abstained from alcohol for a year, he could have a liver transplant and live to old age.

O'Neill died on 25 December 2022, at age 49, in a Montevideo hospital, where he had been in intensive care with bleeding due to chronic liver disease.{{cite web|title=È morto Fabian O'Neill: l'ex Juve e Cagliari aveva 49 anni|trans-title=Fabián O'Neill dead: ex Juve and Cagliari player was 49 years old|url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/2022/12/25/fabian-oneill-morto|publisher=Sky Sport|language=it|date=25 December 2022|access-date=25 December 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Pathak |first1=Manasi |title=Former Uruguay midfielder O'Neill dies at 49 |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/former-uruguay-midfielder-oneill-dies-49-2022-12-25/ |access-date=25 December 2022 |work=Reuters |date=25 December 2022}} He was cremated and his ashes were scattered in Paso de los Toros on 28 December.{{cite news |title=El último adiós: esparcieron las cenizas de Fabián O'Neill en Paso de los Toros|trans-title=The final goodbye: Fabián O'Neill's ashes scattered in Paso de los Toros|url=https://www.futbol.com.uy/Deportes/El-ultimo-adios-esparcieron-las-cenizas-de-Fabian-O-Neill-en-Paso-de-los-Toros-uc841690 |access-date=2 January 2023 |publisher=Fútbol.com.uy |date=28 December 2022 |language=Spanish}}

Career statistics

National team	Year	Apps
class=wikitable style=text-align:center \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{NFT player\|14470}}
rowspan="10"\|Uruguay \|1993	1	0
1994	0	0
1995	2	0
1996	1	0
1997	2	0
1998	0	0
1999	2	1
2000	6	0
2001	1	0
2002	4	1
colspan="2"\|Total	19	2

:Scores and results list Uruguay's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each O'Neill goal.

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ List of international goals scored by Fabián O'Neill
scope="col"\|No. !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Venue !scope="col"\|Opponent !scope="col"\|Score !scope="col"\|Result !scope="col"\|Competition
style="text-align:center"\|1	18 August 1999	Estadio Luis Tróccoli, Montevideo, Uruguay	{{fb\|CRC}}	style="text-align:center"\|3–1	style="text-align:center"\|5–4	Friendly
style="text-align:center"\|2	27 March 2002	Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam, Saudi Arabia	{{fb\|SAU}}	style="text-align:center"\|2–3	style="text-align:center"\|2–3	Friendly

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Fabián O'Neill

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

style="text-align:center"|1

18 August 1999

Estadio Luis Tróccoli, Montevideo, Uruguay