Jack O'Connell (footballer)

Jack O'Connell

O'Connell playing for Brentford in 2015
Personal information
Full name Jack William O'Connell[1]
Date of birth (1994-03-29) 29 March 1994[1]
Place of birth Liverpool, England
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2]
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current team
 Sheffield United
Number 5
Youth career
2010–2011 Litherland REMYCA
2011–2012 Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2015 Blackburn Rovers 0 (0)
2012–2013 → Rotherham United (loan) 3 (0)
2013 → York City (loan) 18 (0)
2013–2014 → Rochdale (loan) 38 (0)
2014–2015 → Rochdale (loan) 17 (3)
2015–2016 Brentford 16 (1)
2015 → Rochdale (loan) 12 (2)
2016– Sheffield United 17 (0)
National team
2012 England U18 1 (0)
2012–2013 England U19 8 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:29, 27 November 2016 (UTC).


Jack William O'Connell (born 29 March 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for League One club Sheffield United.

O'Connell began his career at Blackburn Rovers and came to prominence after captaining Rochdale to promotion from League Two in the 2013–14 season. He joined Championship club Brentford in February 2015, and remained there until July 2016 when signing for Sheffield United of League One. O'Connell was capped by England at under-18 and under-19 level, captaining the latter team.

Club career

Early years

Born in Liverpool, Merseyside,[1] O'Connell began his career with the youth team at Liverpool County Premier League Premier Division club REMYCA United at the age of 16.[3] He made seven appearances in the first team before being named their Youth Player of the Year for the 2010–11 season.[4][5]

Blackburn Rovers

After having trials with Premier League clubs Blackburn Rovers and Everton, O'Connell was signed by the academy of the latter on a two-year contract in the summer of 2011.[6][7] A left-sided centre-back and left-back,[8] he made 35 appearances and scored three goals for the academy and reserve teams during 2011–12 and was part of the academy team which reach the finals of the FA Youth Cup and the Premier Academy League.[9] O'Connell signed a two-year professional contract with Rovers in May 2012.[8]

After impressing on loan away from Ewood Park during the 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons, O'Connell signed a new two-year deal in the summer of 2014.[10] O'Connell received his maiden call into the first team squad on 12 August 2014, being named in the starting lineup for a League Cup first round match versus Scunthorpe United.[11] He played the full 90 minutes of the 1–0 defeat.[12] He was called into the squad for the club's next two Championship matches, before departing on loan.[11] After his return,[13] O'Connell's final involvement with the first team came on 3 January 2015, when he remained an unused substitute for a 2–1 FA Cup third round victory over Charlton Athletic.[11] He departed Rovers on 2 February 2015,[14] after making just one first team appearance in three-and-a-half years at Ewood Park.[15] He made 49 appearances and scored three goals for the club's reserve and academy teams.[9]

Rotherham United (loan)

On 22 November 2012, O'Connell signed on loan for League Two club Rotherham United until 5 January 2013.[16] O'Connell made the first senior appearance of his career on 24 November 2012, replacing Courtney Cameron in the 89th minute of a 1–0 away win against Exeter City.[17] He made five appearances for Rotherham before returning to Blackburn.[17]

York City (loan)

O'Connell playing for York City in 2013

O'Connell joined another League Two team, York City, on a one-month loan on 24 January 2013.[18] He made his debut two days later in a 1–1 draw away at Gillingham.[17] The loan was extended until the end of 2012–13 on 25 February 2013.[19] O'Connell made 18 appearances for York before returning to Blackburn after his loan expired.[17]

Rochdale (loans)

O'Connell signed for League Two team Rochdale on a six-month loan on 22 July 2013.[20] Consistently good displays saw manager Keith Hill extend O'Connell's loan until the end of 2013–14 in December 2013.[21] He was also named captain by Hill.[22] O'Connell made 45 appearances as Rochdale earned automatic promotion to League One after finishing third in League Two.[23]

On 1 September 2014, O'Connell rejoined Rochdale on a loan running until 3 January 2015.[24] He scored the first senior goal of his career with a header in a 3–0 win over Yeovil Town on 25 October 2014.[25][26] O'Connell returned to Blackburn Rovers after his loan expired,[13] having made 19 appearances and scored three goals during his spell with Rochdale.[25] Across his two spells at Spotland, O'Connell made 64 appearances and scored three goals.[15]

Brentford

On 2 February 2015, O'Connell signed for Championship club Brentford on a three-and-a-half year contract.[14] After a spell away on loan, he was an unused substitute on four occasions before the end of 2014–15.[11] O'Connell made his long-awaited debut with a start at left-back in Brentford's second match of 2015–16, a 4–0 League Cup first round defeat to Oxford United.[27] A suspension to Harlee Dean in late November saw O'Connell come into the team and his headed his first Brentford goal to level the score at 2–2 in a West London derby with Fulham on 12 December.[28] Despite the departure of first-choice centre back James Tarkowski in January 2016,[29] O'Connell remained as third-choice centre back after being usurped by Yoann Barbet.[30] He made sporadic appearances through to the end of the season and finished with 18 appearances and one goal.[27]

Return to Rochdale (loan)

O'Connell playing for Rochdale in 2015

On 10 February 2015, O'Connell returned to League One team Rochdale on loan until the end of 2014–15.[31] He made his third debut for the club in a 2–1 defeat to Peterborough United four days later.[25] He made 12 appearances and scored two goals before being recalled by Brentford on 28 March.[25][32] Earlier in the day he had celebrated the 100th professional appearance of his career with the winner in a 2–1 victory over Yeovil Town.[33][34] Over the course of his three spells with Rochdale, O'Connell made 76 appearances and scored five goals.[15]

Sheffield United

On 8 July 2016, O'Connell signed for League One club Sheffield United on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[35] He scored his first goal for Sheffield United in an EFL Trophy tie against Grimsby Town on 9 November 2016.[36]

International career

O'Connell was capped once by the England under-18 team, playing the full 90 minutes of a 3–0 friendly victory over Poland on 7 March 2012.[37] He made his debut for the under-19s in a 3–0 2013 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification win over Estonia on 26 September 2012.[37] O'Connell won four further caps during the qualifying round,[38] including three as captain.[39] He won eight caps at under-19 level.[37]

Personal life

In 2014, O'Connell was in a relationship with fellow professional footballer Alex Greenwood.[40]

Career statistics

As of match played 30 August 2016
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Blackburn Rovers 2012–13[17] Championship 00—00—00
2014–15[25] Championship 000010—10
Total 000010—10
Rotherham United (loan) 2012–13[17] League Two 3020——50
York City (loan) 2012–13[17] League Two 180———180
Rochdale (loan) 2013–14[23] League Two 38040102[lower-alpha 1]0450
2014–15[25] League One 295——2[lower-alpha 1]0315
Total 675401040765
Brentford 2014–15[25] Championship 00——0000
2015–16[27] Championship 1611010—181
Total 161101000181
Sheffield United 2016–17[41] League One 5000101[lower-alpha 2]070
Career total 10967040501246
  1. 1 2 Appearances in Football League Trophy
  2. ↑ Appearance in EFL Trophy

Honours

Rochdale

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Jack O'Connell". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  2. ↑ "Jack O'Connell". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 2 June 2014.
  3. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Scott (22 July 2013). "Former player joins Rochdale". Pitchero. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  4. ↑ "Remyca Utd youth product captains England U19s". Pitchero. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  5. ↑ Evans, David (13 February 2012). "Jack gets England call!!". Pitchero. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  6. ↑ Evans, David (13 May 2011). "Jack of the Rovers". Pitchero. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "Rovers pair land England call". Lancashire Telegraph. Blackburn. 30 October 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  8. 1 2 "Rovers reward O'Connell". Sky Sports. 29 May 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  9. 1 2 "Jack O'Connell". Blackburn Rovers F.C. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015.
  10. ↑ Wheelock, Paul (1 July 2014). "Jack O'Connell signs two-year contract with Blackburn Rovers". Lancashire Telegraph. Blackburn. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Jack O'Connell". ESPN FC. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  12. ↑ "Blackburn Rovers 0–1 Scunthorpe United". BBC Sport. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  13. 1 2 "Cywka & O'Connell leave Spotland". Vital Dale. 6 January 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  14. 1 2 Wickham, Chris (2 February 2015). "Brentford sign Jack O'Connell from Blackburn Rovers". Brentford F.C. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  15. 1 2 3 "Jack O'Connell". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  16. ↑ "Rotherham sign Liam Ridehalgh and Jack O'Connell on loan". BBC Sport. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Games played by Jack O'Connell in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  18. ↑ "York City sign Blackburn Rovers defender Jack O'Connell". BBC Sport. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  19. ↑ Flett, Dave (25 February 2013). "York City extend loan deal for Blackburn defender Jack O'Connell". The Press. York. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  20. ↑ "Rochdale: Jack O'Connell joins on loan from Blackburn Rovers". BBC Sport. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  21. ↑ "Rochdale: Jack O'Connell and Graham Cummins extend loans". BBC Sport. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  22. ↑ "Sky Sports Scout, in association with Wyscout, reports on young defender Jack O'Connell". Sky Sports. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  23. 1 2 3 "Games played by Jack O'Connell in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  24. ↑ "Defender returns to Dale". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Games played by Jack O'Connell in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  26. ↑ "Yeovil Town 0–3 Rochdale". BBC Sport. 25 October 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  27. 1 2 3 "Games played by Jack O'Connell in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  28. ↑ Street, Tim (14 December 2015). "Brentford defender hoping Fulham strike will help cement his place ahead of Cardiff trip". Get West London. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  29. ↑ Moore, Tom (12 March 2016). "Brentford defender Yoann Barbet pumped up for QPR trip". Get West London. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  30. ↑ Brett, Ciaran (19 February 2016). "Jack O'Connell: "When I get my chance I need to take it"". Brentford F.C. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  31. ↑ Wickham, Chris (10 February 2015). "Brentford defender Jack O'Connell joins Rochdale on loan". Brentford F.C. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  32. ↑ "Jack O'Connell recalled by Brentford". Rochdale A.F.C. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  33. ↑ O'Keeffe, Greg (27 March 2015). "Liverpool-born footballer Jack O'Connell makes 100 league appearances before 21st birthday". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  34. ↑ "Rochdale 2–1 Yeovil Town". BBC Sport. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  35. ↑ "Sheffield United sign Jack O'Connell and John Fleck". BBC Sport. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  36. ↑ "Grimsby Town 2 Sheffield United 4: Blades go out of Checkatrade Trophy with a bang". thestar.co.uk. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  37. 1 2 3 "Jack O'Connell". The Football Association. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  38. ↑ "J. O'Connell". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  39. ↑ Wheelock, Paul (17 May 2014). "Blackburn Rovers starlet Jack O'Connell tipped for first-team breakthrough". Lancashire Telegraph. Blackburn. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  40. ↑ "Alex and Jack prove to be the perfect match". Liverpool Echo. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  41. ↑ "Games played by Jack O'Connell in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
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