Patrick O'Connell

Club

Sheffield Wednesday

A terrific performer in the heart of the defence, O'Connell made his English First Division 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 three in the FA Cup. However, while with Wednesday, O'Connell made two of his six international appearances for Ireland.

Hull City

O'Connell left Sheffield Wednesday 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.

Manchester United

O'Connell's impressive performances with Ireland attracted the attention of Manchester United, for whom he signed 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…

Racing de Santander

In 1922, O'Connell succeeded Fred Pentland as the manager of Racing 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.

Real Oviedo

From September 1929 until May 1931, O'Connell managed Real Oviedo in the Segunda División.

Real Betis

Between 1931 and 1935, O'Connell managed Real Betis, 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 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.

FC Barcelona

O'Connell's success with Real Betis attracted the interest of 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 equaliser after a…

O'Connell was born in 11 Jones Terrace, Dublin. From the age of 14, he worked at Boland's Mill and became a foreman at the age of 15. He also played junior football with several local Dublin clubs, including Frankfort, Stranville Rovers and Liffey Wanderers, before joining Belfast Celtic. In March 1909, O'Connell and left-back Peter Warren were transferred to Sheffield Wednesday for a combined fee of £50.

A bust commemorating O'Connell's league title achievement with Real Betis was installed at the club's Estadio Benito Villamarín in 2017. It was organised by the Patrick O'Connell Memorial Fund, Alan McLean, Fergus Dowd and Simon Needham. A documentary about O'Connell and the Fund, by Michael Andersen was released in May 2018, with the support of the Memorial Fund. O'Connell's new memorial was installed by the fund in April 2016. The memorial fund also unveiled a Dublin City Council plaque at 87 Fitzroy Avenue, Dublin where O'Connell lived in later years. A blue plaque was also unveiled by the group on Albert Street off the Falls Road in Belfast where he lived as a Belfast Celtic player. A mural was also commissioned by the POCMF on the Whiterock Road; painted by Belfast artists Danny Devenney and Marty Lyons. A monument in Seville commemorates Real Betis's only La Liga title.