Patrick O'Connell (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Patrick Joseph O'Connell | ||
| Date of birth | 8 March 1887 | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Date of death | 27 February 1959 (aged 71) | ||
| Place of death | St Pancras, London, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Wing half | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Frankfort | |||
| Stranville Rovers | |||
| Liffey Wanderers | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1905–1909 | Belfast Celtic | ||
| 1909–1912 | Sheffield Wednesday | 18 | (0) |
| 1912–1914 | Hull City | 58 | (1) |
| 1914–1919 | Manchester United | 34 | (2) |
| 1915 | → Clapton Orient (guest) | ||
| 1918–1919 | → Rochdale (guest) | ||
| ? | → Chesterfield (guest) | ||
| 1919–1920 | Dumbarton | 31 | (0) |
| 1920–1922 | Ashington | 19 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 1912–1919 | Ireland | 6 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1921–1922 | Ashington | ||
| 1922–1929 | Racing Santander | ||
| 1929–1931 | Real Oviedo | ||
| 1932–1935 | Real Betis | ||
| 1935–1940 | Barcelona | ||
| 1940–1942 | Real Betis | ||
| 1942–1945 | Sevilla | ||
| 1947–1949 | Racing Santander | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Patrick Joseph O'Connell (8 March 1887 – 27 February 1959), also known as Paddy O'Connell or Patricio O'Connell, was an Irish football player and manager. A wing half, he played for Belfast Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday, Hull City and Manchester United. He has the distinction of being the first player from what is now the Republic of Ireland to play for and captain 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 first La Liga title, and during the Spanish Civil War he took Barcelona on a tour of North America. Despite these successes, he died destitute in London in 1959 and was initially buried in an unmarked grave at St Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Green, London NW6.