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Patrick O'Connell (1887-1959)
Encyclopedia
Patrick Joseph O'Connell (8 March 1887 – 27 February 1959), also known as Paddy O'Connell or Patricio O'Connell, was an Irish footballer
and manager. He played as a defender, most notably, for Belfast Celtic
, Sheffield Wednesday
, Hull City
and Manchester United
. As an international he captained Ireland and was a member of the team that won the 1914 British Home Championship
. However O'Connell is probably best remembered for managing several clubs in La Liga
. In 1935
he led Real Betis
to their one and only La Liga title and during the Spanish Civil War
he took FC Barcelona
on a tour of North America
. Despite these successes, he died destitute in London
in 1959.
, and Stranville Rovers, before joining Belfast Celtic. In March 1909, together with left-back Peter Warren, he was transferred from Celtic to Sheffield Wednesday
for a combined fee of £50.
debut for Sheffield Wednesday
against Bury
on the last day of the 1908-09
season. However in subsequent seasons he was unable to establish himself as a regular in the Wednesday first team due to competition from English McConnell, Jimmy Spoors and Bob McSkimming. As a result he made just 21 senior appearances, 18 in the league and 3 in the FA Cup
. However while with Wednesday, O'Connell made two of his six international appearances for Ireland.
for Hull City
in March 1912 and subsequently made 58 Second Division
appearances for City during the 1912-13
and 1913-14
seasons. While with City he also made a further three appearances for Ireland.
who he signed for in May 1914 for a fee of £1,000. During the 1914-15
season he served as United team captain, made 34 First Division
appearances and scored twice. He also played one further game for the club in the FA Cup
. He made his league debut and scored his first goal for the club on 2 September 1914 in a 3-1 home defeat against Oldham Athletic. He scored his second goal on 10 April 1915 in a 2-2 home draw with Middlesbrough
and made his final English League appearance for the club on 26 April in a 1-0 home win against Aston Villa
.
O'Connell's time at United saw the club finish third from bottom in the First Division, narrowly avoiding relegation by a single point. He also became embroiled in the infamous 1915 British football betting scandal
. On 2 April 1915 relegation threatened United defeated mid-table Liverpool
2-0 in a home league game. It subsequently emerged that the game was fixed by a small group of players from both sides. David Goldblatt argues that the players concern was not who went up or down the league, but due to the First World War, that there would be no league at all the following season. Believing they would soon be unemployed, the players arranged a betting pool and backed United to win 2-0. This was the score when O'Connell took a penalty which went well wide O'Connell escaped punishment but three of his team mates - Sandy Turnbull
, Arthur Whalley
and Enoch West
- and four Liverpool players later received lifetime suspensions from the Football Association. During the war, O'Connell remained a United player and also guested for Clapton Orient, Rochdale
and Chesterfield
.
He had the distinction of being the first player from the south of Ireland
(now the Republic of Ireland) to play for Manchester United.
and during the 1919-20
season made 31 league appearances and played twice in the Scottish Cup
. He made his Scottish League
debut as a right-half in a 1-1 draw with Ayr United
on 16 August 1919, the opening day of the season. His first three appearances for Dumbarton were at right-half while all the rest were at centre-half, with the exception of the home game against Hamilton Academical
on 27 September 1919 when he again played at right-half. He made his final appearance for Dumbarton in a 4-3 away defeat against Aberdeen
on 24 April 1920.
. During his first season with the club, 1920–21, they played in the North Eastern League
and finished ninth out of twenty teams. The 1921-22
season saw O'Connell appointed player-coach and Ashington playing in the English Division Three North. O'Connell saw massive changes at Ashington with the clubs league status having changed. Their home ground was upgraded from a typical non-league venue containing no more than a simple seated and covered stand to a stadium designed for 20,000. O'Connell played in the clubs first ever English League fixture, a 1-0 win against Grimsby Town
in front of 9,000 supporters. Ashington eventually finished the season in a respectable tenth position with O'Connell making his last appearance for the club in a 2-2 home draw against Southport
. In January 1921, while with Ashington, O'Connell also represented the North Eastern League
against the Central League
.
in a 6-1 defeat against England
at Dalymount Park
. His team mates on the day included, among others, Billy Scott, Val Harris
and Bill Lacey. On 16 March 1912 he also played in the 4-l defeat against Scotland
at Windsor Park
. In 1914 together with Harris, Lacey, Louis Bookman
and Billy Gillespie
, he was a member of the Irish team that won the 1914 British Home Championship
. After beating Wales
2-1 away on January 19 , Ireland then beat England 3-0 at Ayresome Park
on 14 February. O'Connell then captained the team, while playing with a broken arm, as a ten man Ireland clinched the title with a 1-1 draw against Scotland at Windsor Park
on 14 March. He made his last appearance for Ireland in a 1919 Victory international against Scotland.
as the manager of Racing de Santander
. He subsequently guided the team to five regional titles and in 1928 they became founding members of La Liga
. He would later return to Racing for a second spell as manager between 1948
and 1949
.
in the Segunda División
, at the time known as Betis Balompie. After leading them to the Segunda División
title in 1932
he then guided Betis, with a team that included Lecue, to their one and only La Liga
title in 1935
. Betis won the title on 28 April 1935 with a 5-0 win against O'Connell's former team Racing de Santander
. The night before the game, which was played in Santander, O'Connell visited the Racing squad at a hotel where they were staying and allegedly tried to persuade them to lose the game. Betis had to beat Racing to overtake their rivals Real Madrid
.
attracted the interest of FC Barcelona
who appointed him as successor to Franz Platko
for the 1935-36
season. With a squad that included Josep Escolà
, Domènec Balmanya
, Joan Josep Nogués and Enrique Fernández
, O'Connell guided Barça to the Campionat de Catalunya and the Copa de España final. In the final they played Real Madrid
and with Real leading 2-1, Escolà was denied a late equalizer after a spectacular save by Ricardo Zamora
.
During the 1936-37 season La Liga
was suspended because of the Spanish Civil War
. However clubs in the Republican
area of Spain competed in the Mediterranean League
and, under O'Connell, FC Barcelona won this title. During the summer of 1937 O'Connell took the club on tour to North America
. In Mexico
they played against, among others, Club América
, Atlante F.C.
, Necaxa
and a Mexican XI
. In the United States
, they played against Brooklyn Hispano
, Brooklyn St. Mary's Celtic
and an American Soccer League XI. They finished the tour with a game against a Hebrew XI.
In financial terms this tour saved the club, but O'Connell returned to Spain
with only four players after the others chose to go into exile in Mexico
and France
. By the 1937-38 season the Republican area was reduced in size and a second Mediterranean League was impossible to organise. However a Lliga Catalana
, featuring just Catalan teams, was organised. Despite a depleted squad, O'Connell and FC Barcelona won both the Lliga Catalana and the Campionat de Catalunya.
between 1942 and 1945. During his first season in charge, 1942-43
, he guided the club to second place in La Liga
.
Ireland
Manager
Racing Santander
Real Betis
FC Barcelona
Sevilla FC
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and manager. He played as a defender, most notably, for Belfast Celtic
Belfast Celtic
Belfast Celtic Football Club was a football club in Northern Ireland that was founded in 1891, and was one of the most successful teams in Ireland until forced to withdraw from the Irish League in 1949.-History:...
, Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
and Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. As an international he captained Ireland and was a member of the team that won the 1914 British Home Championship
1914 British Home Championship
The 1914 British Home Championship was the last British Home Championship played before the First World War. The competition was played between January and April 1914 and won by Ireland with a team that included Patrick O’Connell, Billy Gillespie, Val Harris, Louis Bookman, Samuel Young and Bill...
. However O'Connell is probably best remembered for managing several clubs in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
. In 1935
La Liga 1934-35
La Liga 1934-35 season started December 2, 1934 and finished April 28, 1935.La Liga 1934–35 season was composed of the following clubs:-Final table:-Results table:...
he led Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
to their one and only La Liga title and during the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
he took FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
on a tour of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Despite these successes, he died destitute in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1959.
Early years
O'Connell played junior football in his home city of Dublin with several clubs, including Frankfort, later to become founder members of the League of IrelandLeague of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
, and Stranville Rovers, before joining Belfast Celtic. In March 1909, together with left-back Peter Warren, he was transferred from Celtic to Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
for a combined fee of £50.
Sheffield Wednesday
A terrific performer in the heart of the defence, O'Connell made his English First DivisionFootball League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
debut for Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
against Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
on the last day of the 1908-09
1908-09 in English football
The 1908–09 season was the 38th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Tottenham Hotspur played their first ever season in the Football League, gaining promotion to the First Division in the process...
season. However in subsequent seasons he was unable to establish himself as a regular in the Wednesday first team due to competition from English McConnell, Jimmy Spoors and Bob McSkimming. As a result he made just 21 senior appearances, 18 in the league and 3 in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
. However while with Wednesday, O'Connell made two of his six international appearances for Ireland.
Hull City
O'Connell left Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
for Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
in March 1912 and subsequently made 58 Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
appearances for City during the 1912-13
1912-13 in English football
The 1912–13 season was the 42nd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Sunderland won the First Division for the fifth time, with a record of 25–4–9; Aston Villa, finishing second, had fewer defeats, but a lot more draws: 19–12–7....
and 1913-14
1913-14 in English football
The 1913–14 season was the 43rd season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition-First Division:-Second Division:...
seasons. While with City he also made a further three appearances for Ireland.
Manchester United
O'Connell's impressive performances with Ireland attracted the attention of Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
who he signed for in May 1914 for a fee of £1,000. During the 1914-15
1914-15 in English football
The 1914–15 season was the 44th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The 1914 Charity Shield was not contested due to suspension of football during World War I-Events:...
season he served as United team captain, made 34 First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
appearances and scored twice. He also played one further game for the club in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
. He made his league debut and scored his first goal for the club on 2 September 1914 in a 3-1 home defeat against Oldham Athletic. He scored his second goal on 10 April 1915 in a 2-2 home draw with Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
and made his final English League appearance for the club on 26 April in a 1-0 home win against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
.
O'Connell's time at United saw the club finish third from bottom in the First Division, narrowly avoiding relegation by a single point. He also became embroiled in the infamous 1915 British football betting scandal
1915 British football betting scandal
The 1915 British football betting scandal occurred when a Football League First Division match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on 2 April 1915 was fixed in United's favour, with players from both sides benefiting from bets placed upon the result.At the time, Manchester...
. On 2 April 1915 relegation threatened United defeated mid-table Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
2-0 in a home league game. It subsequently emerged that the game was fixed by a small group of players from both sides. David Goldblatt argues that the players concern was not who went up or down the league, but due to the First World War, that there would be no league at all the following season. Believing they would soon be unemployed, the players arranged a betting pool and backed United to win 2-0. This was the score when O'Connell took a penalty which went well wide O'Connell escaped punishment but three of his team mates - Sandy Turnbull
Sandy Turnbull
Alexander "Sandy" Turnbull was a Scottish football player who played as a forward for both Manchester City and Manchester United in the early 20th century....
, Arthur Whalley
Arthur Whalley
Arthur Whalley was an English football player. He played as a half back.Arthur Whalley was one of eight players to be banned for life by the FA after a match-fixing scandal during 1914-15 season. Whalley made 106 appearances for Manchester United between 1909–20, scoring 6 goals.-See also:* 1915...
and Enoch West
Enoch West
Enoch James "Knocker" West was an English football player.Born in Hucknall Torkard, Nottinghamshire, West started his career for Sheffield United. He was not a success at Bramall Lane, and in 1905 a fee of £5 was enough to convince the Blades to sell him to Nottingham Forest. In 1910, he...
- and four Liverpool players later received lifetime suspensions from the Football Association. During the war, O'Connell remained a United player and also guested for Clapton Orient, Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
and Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
.
He had the distinction of being the first player from the south of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
(now the Republic of Ireland) to play for Manchester United.
Dumbarton
In August 1919 O'Connell moved to DumbartonDumbarton F.C.
Dumbarton Football Club is Scotland's 4th oldest football club – founded in 1872, just after Queen's Park , Kilmarnock and Stranraer...
and during the 1919-20
1919-20 in Scottish football
The 1919–20 season was the 30th season of competitive football in Scotland. The number of teams in the Scottish League was increased from 18 to 22...
season made 31 league appearances and played twice in the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
. He made his Scottish League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
debut as a right-half in a 1-1 draw with Ayr United
Ayr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
on 16 August 1919, the opening day of the season. His first three appearances for Dumbarton were at right-half while all the rest were at centre-half, with the exception of the home game against Hamilton Academical
Hamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
on 27 September 1919 when he again played at right-half. He made his final appearance for Dumbarton in a 4-3 away defeat against Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
on 24 April 1920.
Ashington
O'Connell finished his playing career with AshingtonAshington A.F.C.
Ashington A.F.C. is an English non-league football club from Ashington, Northumberland, currently playing in the Northern League Division One. The team, nicknamed "The Colliers", play their home matches at Woodhorn Lane....
. During his first season with the club, 1920–21, they played in the North Eastern League
North Eastern League
The North Eastern League was a football league for teams in the North East of England.The league was founded in 1906 and was initially successful, with teams defecting from the rival Northern Football Alliance to play...
and finished ninth out of twenty teams. The 1921-22
1921-22 in English football
The 1921–22 season was the 47th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The league underwent a major expansion for the second consecutive season, adding 20 teams from the Midlands and Northern England. They were placed in the new Third Division North, and the existing southern-based...
season saw O'Connell appointed player-coach and Ashington playing in the English Division Three North. O'Connell saw massive changes at Ashington with the clubs league status having changed. Their home ground was upgraded from a typical non-league venue containing no more than a simple seated and covered stand to a stadium designed for 20,000. O'Connell played in the clubs first ever English League fixture, a 1-0 win against Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
in front of 9,000 supporters. Ashington eventually finished the season in a respectable tenth position with O'Connell making his last appearance for the club in a 2-2 home draw against Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
. In January 1921, while with Ashington, O'Connell also represented the North Eastern League
North Eastern League
The North Eastern League was a football league for teams in the North East of England.The league was founded in 1906 and was initially successful, with teams defecting from the rival Northern Football Alliance to play...
against the Central League
Central League (football)
The Central League , is a football league in England for reserve teams primarily of Football League clubs in the Midlands and North of England....
.
Ireland international
Between 1912 and 1919 O'Connell played 6 times for Ireland. He made his international debut on February 10 19121912 British Home Championship
The 1912 British Home Championship was a football competition played between the British Home Nations during the second half of the 1911–12 season. England and Scotland shared the trophy after both beat Wales and Ireland and then drew the deciding match at Hampden Park. Ireland took third...
in a 6-1 defeat against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
at Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...
. His team mates on the day included, among others, Billy Scott, Val Harris
Val Harris
Valentine Harris , commonly referred to as Val Harris, was an Irish footballer who played Gaelic football for Dublin and soccer for, among others Shelbourne, Everton and Ireland...
and Bill Lacey. On 16 March 1912 he also played in the 4-l defeat against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
at Windsor Park
Windsor Park
Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...
. In 1914 together with Harris, Lacey, Louis Bookman
Louis Bookman
Louis Bookman , also known as Louis Buckhalter or Louis Buchalter, was a Lithuanian Jewish footballer and cricketer who represented his adopted country, Ireland, at both sports...
and Billy Gillespie
Billy Gillespie
Billy Gillespie was a football player for Sheffield United over a twenty year period from 1913 to 1932, scoring over 137 League and Cup goals in 492 games for the South Yorkshire side....
, he was a member of the Irish team that won the 1914 British Home Championship
1914 British Home Championship
The 1914 British Home Championship was the last British Home Championship played before the First World War. The competition was played between January and April 1914 and won by Ireland with a team that included Patrick O’Connell, Billy Gillespie, Val Harris, Louis Bookman, Samuel Young and Bill...
. After beating Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
2-1 away on January 19 , Ireland then beat England 3-0 at Ayresome Park
Ayresome Park
-External links:**-References:...
on 14 February. O'Connell then captained the team, while playing with a broken arm, as a ten man Ireland clinched the title with a 1-1 draw against Scotland at Windsor Park
Windsor Park
Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...
on 14 March. He made his last appearance for Ireland in a 1919 Victory international against Scotland.
Racing de Santander
In 1922 O'Connell succeeded Fred PentlandFred Pentland
Frederick Beaconsfield Pentland was an English footballer and manager. He played as a forward for, among others, Blackburn Rovers, Queens Park Rangers, Middlesbrough and England. However he is best remembered for his career as a manager in Spain where he coached several clubs including Athletic...
as the manager of Racing de Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
. He subsequently guided the team to five regional titles and in 1928 they became founding members of La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
. He would later return to Racing for a second spell as manager between 1948
La Liga 1947-48
Statistics of La Liga in season 1947/1948.La Liga 1947-48 season was composed of the following clubs:- Final table :-References:...
and 1949
La Liga 1948-49
Statistics of La Liga in season 1948/1949.La Liga 1948-49 season was composed of the following clubs:- Final table :-References:...
.
Real Oviedo
From September 1929 until May 1931 O'Connell managed Real OviedoReal Oviedo
Real Oviedo is a Spanish football club based in Oviedo, in the autonomous community of Asturias. Founded on 26 March 1926, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 2....
in the Segunda División
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
Real Betis
Between 1931 and 1935 O'Connell managed Real BetisReal Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
, at the time known as Betis Balompie. After leading them to the Segunda División
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
title in 1932
Segunda División 1931-32
The 1931–32 Segunda División season saw 10 teams participate in the second flight Spanish league. Betis was promoted to Primera División. Catalunya was relegated to Tercera División.-Final table:...
he then guided Betis, with a team that included Lecue, to their one and only La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
title in 1935
La Liga 1934-35
La Liga 1934-35 season started December 2, 1934 and finished April 28, 1935.La Liga 1934–35 season was composed of the following clubs:-Final table:-Results table:...
. Betis won the title on 28 April 1935 with a 5-0 win against O'Connell's former team Racing de Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
. The night before the game, which was played in Santander, O'Connell visited the Racing squad at a hotel where they were staying and allegedly tried to persuade them to lose the game. Betis had to beat Racing to overtake their rivals Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
.
FC Barcelona
O'Connell's success with Real BetisReal Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
attracted the interest of FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
who appointed him as successor to Franz Platko
Franz Platko
Ferenc Plattkó also known Franz Platko Kopiletz, Francisco Platko , also known as Ferenc Platko or Francisco Platko, was a Hungarian footballer and manager...
for the 1935-36
La Liga 1935-36
La Liga 1935-36 season started November 10, 1935 and finished April 19, 1936.La Liga 1935–36 season was composed of the following clubs:-Final table:-Results table:...
season. With a squad that included Josep Escolà
Josep Escolà
Josep Escolà Segalés , also referred to as José Escolà, was a Spanish Catalan footballer who spent most of his career at FC Barcelona. Escolà also played for both Spain and the Catalan XI...
, Domènec Balmanya
Domènec Balmanya
Domènec Balmanya Perera , also referred to as Domingo Balmanya, is a former Spanish footballer and manager who spent most of his playing career at FC Barcelona. As a manager he guided CF Barcelona to the a Copa del Generalísimo win in 1957 and to victory in the first ever Fairs Cup in 1958...
, Joan Josep Nogués and Enrique Fernández
Enrique Fernández Viola
Enrique Fernández Viola, commonly referred to as Enrique Fernández, was a Uruguayan footballer and manager who played for Nacional, FC Barcelona, Uruguay and the Catalan XI. As a manager he won two Uruguayan championships with Nacional and La Liga titles with both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid...
, O'Connell guided Barça to the Campionat de Catalunya and the Copa de España final. In the final they played Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
and with Real leading 2-1, Escolà was denied a late equalizer after a spectacular save by Ricardo Zamora
Ricardo Zamora
Ricard Zamora i Martínez was a Spanish footballer and manager. He played as a goalkeeper for, among others, RCD Espanyol, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. As an international he played for both the Catalan XI and Spain...
.
During the 1936-37 season La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
was suspended because of the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. However clubs in the Republican
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
area of Spain competed in the Mediterranean League
Mediterranean League
The Mediterranean League, also referred to as the Lliga Mediterrània , the Liga Mediterránea or La Liga del Mediterráneo, was a football league played in the Republican area of Spain during the Spanish Civil War. The league, played out in early 1937, was won by FC Barcelona...
and, under O'Connell, FC Barcelona won this title. During the summer of 1937 O'Connell took the club on tour to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. In Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
they played against, among others, Club América
Club América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
, Atlante F.C.
Atlante F.C.
Club de Fútbol Atlante, is a Mexican professional football club, currently playing in the Mexican First Division League. The club is based in Cancún, Mexico as of the start of the 2007-08 season, when they relocated from Mexico City, and plays its home games in Estadio Andrés Quintana Roo.-Domestic...
, Necaxa
Necaxa
Necaxa is a Mexican football club and is based in the city of Aguascalientes. it plays in the Estadio Victoria. Necaxa is ranked seventh overall and 1st in ranking in Mexican football within the IFFHS Central and North America's Clubs of the Century in the CONCACAF behind CD Saprissa San Juan de...
and a Mexican XI
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, they played against Brooklyn Hispano
Brooklyn Hispano
The Brooklyn Hispano was an American soccer club based in Brooklyn, New York that was an inaugural member of the reformed American Soccer League. The club was named the Brooklyn Giants for the 1942/43 season only....
, Brooklyn St. Mary's Celtic
Brooklyn St. Mary's Celtic
Brooklyn Celtic was a name used by at least two U.S. soccer teams. The first was an early twentieth century amateur team which was formed in August 1910 and dominated the New York Amateur Association Football League from 1912 to 1917. The second was a member of the professional American Soccer...
and an American Soccer League XI. They finished the tour with a game against a Hebrew XI.
In financial terms this tour saved the club, but O'Connell returned to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
with only four players after the others chose to go into exile in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. By the 1937-38 season the Republican area was reduced in size and a second Mediterranean League was impossible to organise. However a Lliga Catalana
Mediterranean League
The Mediterranean League, also referred to as the Lliga Mediterrània , the Liga Mediterránea or La Liga del Mediterráneo, was a football league played in the Republican area of Spain during the Spanish Civil War. The league, played out in early 1937, was won by FC Barcelona...
, featuring just Catalan teams, was organised. Despite a depleted squad, O'Connell and FC Barcelona won both the Lliga Catalana and the Campionat de Catalunya.
Sevilla FC
O'Connell went onto manage Sevilla FCSevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
between 1942 and 1945. During his first season in charge, 1942-43
La Liga 1942-43
Statistics of La Liga in season 1942/1943.La Liga 1942-43 season was composed of the following clubs:- Final table :-References:...
, he guided the club to second place in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
.
Honours
PlayerIreland
- British Home ChampionshipBritish Home ChampionshipThe British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84...
- 19141914 British Home ChampionshipThe 1914 British Home Championship was the last British Home Championship played before the First World War. The competition was played between January and April 1914 and won by Ireland with a team that included Patrick O’Connell, Billy Gillespie, Val Harris, Louis Bookman, Samuel Young and Bill...
: 1
- 1914
Manager
Racing Santander
- Cantabrian Champions
- Winners 1923-24, 1924–25, 1925–26, 1926–27, 1928-29: 5
Real Betis
- La LigaLa LigaThe Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
- Winners 1934-35La Liga 1934-35La Liga 1934-35 season started December 2, 1934 and finished April 28, 1935.La Liga 1934–35 season was composed of the following clubs:-Final table:-Results table:...
: 1
- Winners 1934-35
- Segunda DivisiónSegunda DivisiónThe Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
- Winners 1931-32Segunda División 1931-32The 1931–32 Segunda División season saw 10 teams participate in the second flight Spanish league. Betis was promoted to Primera División. Catalunya was relegated to Tercera División.-Final table:...
: 1
- Winners 1931-32
FC Barcelona
- Mediterranean LeagueMediterranean LeagueThe Mediterranean League, also referred to as the Lliga Mediterrània , the Liga Mediterránea or La Liga del Mediterráneo, was a football league played in the Republican area of Spain during the Spanish Civil War. The league, played out in early 1937, was won by FC Barcelona...
- Winners 1937: 1
- Lliga CatalanaMediterranean LeagueThe Mediterranean League, also referred to as the Lliga Mediterrània , the Liga Mediterránea or La Liga del Mediterráneo, was a football league played in the Republican area of Spain during the Spanish Civil War. The league, played out in early 1937, was won by FC Barcelona...
- Winners 1937-38: 1
- Campionat de Catalunya
- Winners 1935-36, 1937-38: 2
- Copa de España
- Runners-Up 1936: 1
Sevilla FC
- La LigaLa LigaThe Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
- Runners Up 1942-43La Liga 1942-43Statistics of La Liga in season 1942/1943.La Liga 1942-43 season was composed of the following clubs:- Final table :-References:...
: 1
- Runners Up 1942-43