Joey O'Brien

Bolton Wanderers

O'Brien started his career with Bolton Wanderers in 2004 after starting out his first year scholarships in 2002. To gain further experience, O'Brien was loaned out to League One team Sheffield Wednesday for the most part of the 2004–05 season, making 15 appearances and scoring two goals, including one on his debut. After extending his loan spell at the club twice times, O'Brien was named as captain for the last game of his loan spell in honour of his contribution. Upon returning to Bolton Wanderers from a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday, O'Brien made his Premier League debut on 15 May 2005 against Everton when coming on as a late substitute in place of Fernando Hierro. He was given his first start in Bolton's colours in their away UEFA Cup 1st Round tie with PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv in September 2005. In the 2005–06 season, O'Brien was called up by the first team following a defensive crisis of injuries and that moment on, he became a first team regular, making thirty-three appearances in all competition. Initially playing as a centre-midfielder, O'Brien changed to a right-back role and made an impression, leading to Manager Sam Allardyce described him as a "dominant force at right back in the Premiership". O'Brien missed most of the 2006–07 season due to a knee injury. By October, O'Brien was expected to return from a pitch in a months time, with a help from an American doctor Dr Frank Jarrell, a pioneer in the field of spinal reflex analysis.…

In 2003, O'Brien was called by Republic of Ireland U17 and was involved in the tournament, resulting being awarded Player of the Tournament, due to his performance. Two years later, O'Brien was called up by Republic of Ireland U21 and appeared in the squad six times. Later in the year, he won FAI Under 19 International Player of the Year. In February 2006, O'Brien was called up to the Republic of Ireland squad for the first time and made his debut for his country on 1 March 2006, against Sweden during Steve Staunton's first game in charge. Following a new appointment of Giovanni Trapattoni, O'Brien expressed frustration of being omitted by him that he was considered early retirement from international football. On 3 August 2012, O'Brien was called up to the Republic of Ireland squad for 15 August friendly against Serbia, as a replacement for the injured Sean St Ledger. This was O'Brien's first call up in over four years, after overcoming a succession of long-term injuries.

In November 2021, it was announced that O'Brien had joined Shelbourne as assistant manager under newly appointed manager Damien Duff, a former Republic of Ireland teammate of O'Brien's. On 22 June 2025, it was announced that O'Brien would take interim charge of the team after Duff had stepped down as manager. On 3 July 2025, he was named manager of Shelbourne on a permanent basis on a long-term contract. Within less than two months, O'Brien had taken the Reds to the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League league phase following a 5–1 aggregate win over Linfield, the club's first ever group stage/league phase qualification. On 25 June 2026, O'Brien was sacked 3 days after a 3–0 home defeat to rivals Bohemians, with the club lingering in 5th place, 14 points off the top of the league.

Born in Dublin, O'Brien began playing football for local team Lourdes Celtic.