Jump to content

Michele O'Brien

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Michele O'Brien
Personal information
Date of birth (1980-06-28) 28 June 1980 (age 44)
Place of birth Plainview, New York, United States
Height 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Northport/Cow Harbor Soccer Club
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2001 FIU Golden Panthers 74 (58)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2007 Long Island Lady Riders
2003 Arsenal (1)
2007 QBIK
2008 Watford
2008 Jersey Sky Blue[1] 11 (3)
2009–2010 Chicago Red Eleven 14 (5)
International career
2003–2012 Republic of Ireland 65 (13)
Managerial career
2021– DePaul
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Michele O'Brien (born 28 June 1980) is a soccer coach and former striker, who played for the W-League club Chicago Red Eleven. Since making her debut for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team in 2003, she gained over 50 caps.

College career

[edit]

O'Brien played varsity soccer during four seasons at Florida International University. She remains the program's all–time record goalscorer.[2]

Club career

[edit]

In 2000 O'Brien started playing for the Long Island Lady Riders.[3] She remained with them until 2007, with a spell at Arsenal in 2003.[4] During her time at the English club, O'Brien played in the Women's Premier League[5] and the semi–final of the UEFA Women's Cup.[6]

In 2007 O'Brien joined the Damallsvenskan club QBIK.[4] She then spent time back in England with Watford Ladies, before joining Jersey Sky Blue for the 2008 W-League season.[4] The following season O'Brien moved to Chicago Red Eleven and scored four goals in 11 games in 2009.[7] In 2010, she scored one goal in three games for the Red Eleven.[8]

International career

[edit]

O'Brien debuted for the Republic of Ireland in 2003 and went on to accumulate more than 50 caps.[4] In 2005 O'Brien was named the FAI Player of the Year.[9]

Coaching career

[edit]

O'Brien coached soccer at New York University (2004–2005) and Columbia University (2005–2007).[2] She was named assistant soccer coach at DePaul University in February 2009.[2] She was promoted to head coach at DePaul in June 2021.[10]

Personal life

[edit]

Born with a congenital heart defect, in 1995 O'Brien suffered a heart attack after a High School P.E. lesson and required open heart surgery. She refused to quit soccer, reportedly telling her concerned parent: "Mom, I might as well die doing something I like".[11]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues". USLsoccer.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  2. ^ a b c "NEW COACH". Chicagoland Soccer News. 21 February 2009. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  3. ^ "#5 – Michele O'Brien". USLsoccer.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d "#10 – Michele O'Brien". USLsoccer.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  5. ^ David Shannon (20 August 2003). "England (Women) 2002/03". RSSSF. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  6. ^ "Michelle O'Brien". UEFA. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  7. ^ "2009 Statistics". USLsoccer.com. Archived from the original on 6 January 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  8. ^ "Chicago Red Eleven". USLsoccer.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  9. ^ "Senior Women Player Profiles". Football Association of Ireland. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  10. ^ "Michele O'Brien Named DePaul Women's Soccer Head Coach". Big East Conference. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  11. ^ Rubin, Roger (19 October 1997). "Frightening Odds Can't Stop . . . Heart of Courage". Daily News (New York). Retrieved 25 September 2012.[dead link‍]
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michele_O%27Brien&oldid=1265053078"