Stephen O'Donnell

Arsenal

O'Donnell played youth football for Newcastle in County Galway before joining Arsenal as a trainee in the summer of 2002 after completing his Junior Certificate exams. He signed a professional contract at the club in January 2003 but left again in July 2005 without making an appearance for the first team. While he credits the coaching he received during this time with giving him greater confidence on the ball, he has expressed regret at moving to Arsenal at such a young age, feeling that if given the choice again he would have stayed at home, completed his Leaving Certificate exams and joined a team in the League of Ireland.

Falkirk

O'Donnell signed for Falkirk in August 2005 in search of more first-team opportunities and became a regular in their team, mostly playing on the left-side of midfield. He had a greater desire to be played centrally in his natural position, and after receiving no assurances about this from manager John Hughes, O'Donnell rejected a new contract in summer 2007.

Return to Ireland

O'Donnell was signed by Sean Connor on an 18-month deal for Bohemians in August 2007. He became a regular starter in the first team, which included scoring against Rhyl in the 2008 UEFA Intertoto Cup, but decided to move on after one season at Dalymount Park. Having rejected a new contract offer, he signed a two-year deal with Cork City on 21 February 2009. He signed for his local club, Galway United, in the weeks leading up to the 2010…

After retiring in January 2019, O'Donnell was immediately hired as a Senior Opposition Analyst & Scout at Dundalk. O'Donnell was announced as the head coach of St Patrick's Athletic on a two-year contract on 31 August 2019, his first job in senior management, following the resignation of Harry Kenny. He brought in his former Arsenal and Falkirk teammate Pat Cregg as his assistant. His first game in management came on 6 September 2019 as his Pat's side came from behind to win 2−1 away to Finn Harps thanks to goals from Darragh Markey and substitute Rhys McCabe. On 28 November 2021, O'Donnell led his side to victory in the 2021 FAI Cup Final, defeating rivals Bohemians 4–3 on penalties following a 1–1 draw after extra time in front of a record FAI Cup Final crowd of 37,126 at the Aviva Stadium. O'Donnell left the club in controversial circumstances in December 2021, returning to his former club Dundalk as head coach on a 2-year contract. A High Court action was filed against him by the holding company behind Pat's. On 8 April 2024, O'Donnell was sacked by Dundalk, with his side bottom of the table and without a win from their first 8 games of the season, having scored just 3 goals and conceding 15 in the process. On 8 May 2024, O'Donnell was announced as assistant manager of Bohemians, under recently appointed manager Alan Reynolds.

Player

Bohemians

League of Ireland Premier Division: 2008 FAI Cup: 2008 Shamrock Rovers

League of Ireland Premier Division: 2011 Setanta Sports Cup: 2011 Dundalk

League of Ireland Premier Division: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 FAI Cup: 2015, 2018 EA Sports Cup: 2014, 2017 Leinster Senior Cup: 2014–15 Individual

PFAI Team of the Year: 2015, 2016

Manager

St Patrick's Athletic

FAI Cup: 2021 Leinster Senior Cup: 2019