Alex O'Hanlon

**Bungle** · 15/05/2011, 5:40 PM

Lads, is there anybody here who knows anything about these two lads, who are apparently going to Liverpool. Both play with St Kevin's and the Ireland u15s. Seemingly, Real Madrid and every big club in England were scouting O'Hanlon and Byrne was very much sought after as well.

**tetsujin1979** · 16/05/2011, 3:27 PM

saw this today on the football365 forum:

Liverpool Football Club today completed the signing of Irish starlet Alex O'Hanlon. The signature of the 15-year-old left-sided player probably won't excite many fans but it should.

Reds boss Kenny Dalglish has been tracking O'Hanlon ever since he was at the Academy and within days of his appointment as Liverpool's permanent manager, he has overseen a huge coup.

Numerous clubs were desperate to land the youngster, including Spanish giants Real Madrid. They, along with Chelsea, Arsenal and even Everton (as recent as 3 weeks ago), laid on the full works for O'Hanlon and his family but he has turned them all down in favour of Kenny Dalglish's new regime at Anfield.

A source told: "He's a Manchester United fan but he wanted to play for Liverpool. All the major clubs in England wanted him, plus he enjoyed a couple of weeks with Real Madrid, but he chose Liverpool because he wanted to work under Dalglish and because 'the club felt more right than any of the others'.

"He spent time with Chelsea but on the plane on the way home he said he'd never go there.

"Liverpool showed him and his family the most respect. He's come here because he believes Liverpool are a massive club on the verge of great things."

We understand that Liverpool have invested a tidy sum in the player who was at Melwood this afternoon with his father and representatives to complete the signing of his 3-year contract.

The source added: "He's got a long way to go. He's still a young lad but Kenny is absolutely delighted to have secured this transfer. They have spent a lot of money to make it happen."

Arsenal tried to hijack the deal as recently as last week but failed.

**SkStu** · 16/05/2011, 4:11 PM

its hard to know with players so young and these sorts of reports but it sounds promising.

**tricky_colour** · 16/05/2011, 5:45 PM

And here is Liverpool's latest big prospect!!
Rumour has it Maxi Rodríguez's days are numbered!!

**SkStu** · 16/05/2011, 5:50 PM

Originally Posted by tricky_colour

And here is Liverpool's latest big prospect!!
Rumour has it Maxi Rodríguez's days are numbered!!

the lovechild of Andy Reid and Lee Carsley!

**paul_oshea** · 16/05/2011, 6:01 PM

aren't all babies fat

**BonnieShels** · 16/05/2011, 8:50 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

its hard to know with players so young and these sorts of reports but it sounds promising.

Great, they'll be over there in England for the next few years and the FA will swoop in and try to steal them on us as always. Typical.

I hope the IFA will back us in our fight against perfidious Albion.

On a serious note though, as you say you're right it's hard to know how these lads will turn out however it's quite the sign if that's the amount of teams that were after them.
Savage.

**tetsujin1979** · 16/05/2011, 9:41 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

aren't all babies fat

he's just stocky

**BonnieShels** · 16/05/2011, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

he's just stocky

I wanna think that that is subtle genius and coming from you Tets that is quite conceivable... however I will give you the benefit of the doubt in this case.

**Fixer82** · 17/05/2011, 2:11 AM

Well proportioned I'd say

**elroy** · 17/05/2011, 8:32 AM

A part of me would like to see these lads stay in Ireland for another year or two either continuing at the club they are with or training with a LOI team. Going over at 15 years of age is very young and difficult.

**Bungle** · 17/05/2011, 5:20 PM

At least they're going to a club whose model under their owners is very much about bringing young players into the team. It's also good that Liverpool is so similar to Dublin and so near, so homesickness will be reduced. Word is that another highly rated lad from Lourdes Celtic (another u15 player) is going over as well to Liverpool. That's good having a few Irish lads in the one club.

**Bungle** · 21/05/2011, 10:08 AM

The word is that Man City have signed Jack Byrne and they paid a big fee for him.

**Junior** · 23/05/2011, 2:42 PM

Big Fees are mentioned here on both fronts. What sort of sums are we talking and who is getting the cash, St. Kevins? Were the players 'contracted' to St. Kevins? Just out of interest, I'm ignorant of the how this would work with them being so young and I am presuming without existing professional contracts.

Good luck to them both anyway - every young boys dream.

**Dublink5** · 30/04/2012, 12:22 PM

Both these young lads played for my dad's team in St. Kevins. Jack joined when he was 7 and is signing for Man City today as he was 16 last tuesday. My dad is gone over to watch it. They will also get to go the city/united game. He is one talented young lad and is one to be watch the older he gets

**liamoo11** · 01/02/2013, 10:22 PM

Liverpool under 17s are playing in some cup on eurosport against inter cleary is playin centre half and o hanlon left mid. U know eurosport it wil be repeated all weekend!

**Crosby87** · 01/02/2013, 11:06 PM

He looks earnest.

**Bungle** · 02/02/2013, 11:58 AM

How did the two lads get on?

**tetsujin1979** · 02/02/2013, 3:44 PM

Liverpool lost 1-0: http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/late...d-out-by-inter

**liamoo11** · 04/02/2013, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by Bungle

How did the two lads get on?

Cleary played well thought was the best of the liverpool defenders I thought tidy on ball as well. O hanlon looked to be very slight and frail and didnt show much pace/acceleration. Lovely left foot though and seemed to be lovely passer. Hard to see him long term as a left winger without that pace or "tricks" maybe more centrl player? When you think liverpool at under 17 have Ibe who is a few months younger and ojo who is nearly a year younger as wide players who are physically far superior and seem to have far more pace then wide positions will be tough for him. In saying that he looked like a lovely footballer reminded me bit of stephen bradley