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culloty82
02/07/2009, 4:36 PM
I was reading the book Green Devils and it mentioned Patrick O'Connell, who was the first Irish captain of Man United. Then, almost as a throwaway line, it said that he won La Liga managing Real Betis and he was also in charge of Barcelona! I'd be curious if anyone has any more info on him, he sounds like a fascinating character, I'll have to admit I hadn't heard of him before now.
SkStu
02/07/2009, 4:39 PM
remember hearing about him quite alot a few years ago and as far as i know there is a book written about him and his time in Spain.

Will see if i can locate the info for you.
Dodge
02/07/2009, 4:42 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_O'Connell_(Irish_footballer)

I first read about him in Jimmy Burns' book "Barca"
MariborKev
02/07/2009, 4:44 PM
His grand daughter was writing a book about him, as she contacted me about some research I had done on him.

This was a couple of years ago, no sign of a book yet.
SkStu
02/07/2009, 4:46 PM
http://www.irlandeses.org/0803burns1.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_O%27Connell_(Irish_footballer)
DeLorean
02/07/2009, 5:01 PM
Sounds like a bit of a gangster, no wonder he's gone under the radar
John83
02/07/2009, 5:08 PM
I first read about him in Jimmy Burns' book "Barca"
Yeah, that's the only place I've come across him. I don't recall that it had all that much information on him. I expect anything interesting has already made it onto the wikipedia page.
SkStu
02/07/2009, 5:18 PM
check out the first link in my post above. Pretty detailed reading on the guy.
Dodge
02/07/2009, 5:29 PM
Sounds like a bit of a gangster, no wonder he's gone under the radar

jaysus, can't see where you'd get that
Thommo
03/07/2009, 7:39 AM
Surely somebody should be writing a book on this fella there's not many Irish managers who have won La Liga.
Someone should get his story down on print this is as interesting as the Brother Walfrid story at Celtic.
DeLorean
03/07/2009, 9:41 AM
jaysus, can't see where you'd get that

Not sure if your being sarcastic?
culloty82
03/07/2009, 1:23 PM
Thanks for all the info, after looking at the wikipedia entry, surprising he isn't at least as well known as Liam Whelan or Johnny Carey.
as_i_say
03/07/2009, 2:24 PM
interesting article about the Ireland team of that era here too

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland_national_football_team_(1882%E2%80%931950)
lopez
03/07/2009, 9:42 PM
Sounds like a bit of a gangster, no wonder he's gone under the radarLooks like one in page two of the article by Burns. Shades of Buggsy Moran with that big hat.
ArdeeBhoy
04/10/2014, 1:21 AM
Bit of an update...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-29426450?SThisFB

https://www.facebook.com/POConnellmemorial/photos/a.544544672328878.1073741828.544368719013140/625022257614452/?type=1&theater

https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/10402710_625022257614452_641666269003530022_n.jpg? oh=a017c03cbd7ab52f970d454bfcf466a9&oe=54C7F58B

Note to Mods, two other threads on him, you might like to link, years old. One in World Football and the other in 'Off Topic'.