James O'Connor (footballer, born 1979)

James Kevin Matthew O'Connor (born 1 September 1979) is an Irish former professional footballer who is the President of Soccer Holdings, which is the holding company of USL Louisville City Football Club and NWSL Louisville Racing. He oversees all of the Soccer Holdings operations including all business aspects and soccer operations.[3][4]

James O'Connor
O'Connor coaching Louisville City in 2017
Personal information
Full name James Kevin Matthew O'Connor[1]
Date of birth (1979-09-01) 1 September 1979[2]
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1994–1996 Stoke City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2003 Stoke City 176 (16)
2003–2005 West Bromwich Albion 30 (0)
2004–2005 → Burnley (loan) 13 (0)
2005–2008 Burnley 126 (11)
2008–2011 Sheffield Wednesday 139 (6)
2012–2014 Orlando City 41 (0)
Total 525 (33)
International career
Republic of Ireland U21
Managerial career
2013–2014 Orlando City (assistant)
2015–2018 Louisville City
2018–2019 Orlando City
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

O'Connor began his career with Stoke City and after progressing their youth team he helped them to victory in the 2000 Football League Trophy Final and 2002 Football League Second Division play-off final. After making over 200 appearances for the Potters, he left to join Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion in the summer of 2003. He spent one season at The Hawthorns before moving on to Burnley. O'Connor became a regular at Turf Moor making 149 appearances in four seasons at the club. In June 2008 he joined Sheffield Wednesday where he had spent four years making over 150 appearances. In January 2012 he moved to the United States to play for Orlando City. At international level, he played for the Republic of Ireland Under-21s.[5]

He retired from playing in the summer of 2014 to become head coach of Louisville City.

Club career

O'Connor was born in Dublin and joined English club Stoke City in 1996 after being spotted by the club's Irish base scouts. He made his debut in the 1998–99 season before becoming a regular in the team in 1999–2000. He scored eight goals in 55 appearances as Stoke reached the play-offs where they lost to Gillingham although he did play in the 2000 Football League Trophy Final where Stoke beat Bristol City 2–1 and his performances during the season earn him the player of the year award. He played 54 times in 2000–01 for Stoke scoring ten goals as they again failed in the play-offs losing to Walsall. He played in 50 matches in 2001–02 as Stoke finally won promotion via the play-offs, beating Brentford 2–0 in the 2002 Football League Second Division play-off final. He played 47 times in 2002–03 helping Stoke avoid relegation before he turned down the offer of a new contract.[6]

He moved to West Bromwich Albion in summer 2003 for a fee of £250,000 and made his debut in the 4–1 defeat to Walsall. He spent a successful three-month loan spell with Burnley in 2004–05. That season he made only two substitute appearances for West Bromwich Albion and moved to Burnley permanently to pursue first-team football, signing on transfer deadline day in 2005 for a £175,000 fee where he became a popular player with the fans.[7]

O'Connor playing for Sheffield Wednesday in 2009

His form at the start of the 2006–07 season at Burnley was among the best of his career. However, by the start of the 2007–08 season he seemed to be relegated to a squad player's role. The departure of Steve Cotterill as Burnley manager brought Owen Coyle in and he immediately restored O'Connor to the starting eleven. O'Connor responded by resuming his previous good form as the team's results improved. He was offered a new contract at the end of the 2007–08 season but when O'Connor asked for more time to consider his options, Coyle withdrew the offer and released him. O'Connor confirmed in an interview on BBC Radio Lancashire on 23 May that he was about to start a coaching course before deciding on his future.[7][8]

O'Connor confirmed his move to Championship side Sheffield Wednesday on 27 June 2008 following a month of speculation surrounding the move in the press.[9][10] He joined the club on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling after turning down the offer to extend his stay at Turf Moor.[11]

International career

O'Connor played for the Ireland at Under-21 level.[5]

Coaching career

On 10 January 2012, O'Connor signed with American third-tier side Orlando City of USL Pro.[12] He became a player-coach in 2013 with the team. He then became manager of Louisville City (Orlando City sold their rights to a USL Pro team to an investor group in Louisville, Kentucky). In March 2017, O'Connor extended his contract with Louisville City through the 2020 season.[13]

On 29 June 2018, Louisville City announced that O'Connor would depart the club after its match against New York Red Bulls II the next day to become head coach of Orlando City SC in MLS,[14] replacing Jason Kreis, who was sacked two weeks earlier. A trio of players – George Davis IV, Paolo DelPiccolo and Luke Spencer – would serve as player-coaches on an interim basis until a replacement was announced. He was sacked at the end of the 2019 season with the team having missed out on playoffs again and remaining 11th in the Eastern Conference.[15]

Personal life

O'Connor's two brothers, Danny and Kevin both played for Bray Wanderers.

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[16]
Club Season League National cup League cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City 1998–99[17] Second Division 4000001[lower-alpha 1]050
1999–2000[18] Second Division 42510319[lower-alpha 2]2558
2000–01[19] Second Division 44810524[lower-alpha 3]05410
2001–02[20] Second Division 43240003[lower-alpha 4]1503
2002–03[21] First Division 4303010—470
Total 17616909217421122
West Bromwich Albion 2003–04[22] First Division 3001050—360
2004–05[23] Premier League 001010—20
Total 3002060—380
Burnley 2004–05[23] Championship 2121010—232
2005–06[24] Championship 4531030—493
2006–07[25] Championship 4231010—443
2007–08[26] Championship 2931030—333
Total 137114080—4911
Sheffield Wednesday 2008–09[27] Championship 4101010—430
2009–10[28] Championship 4431010—463
2010–11[29] League One 36240203[lower-alpha 1]2454
2011–12[30] League One 18110201[lower-alpha 1]0221
Total 13967060421568
Orlando City 2012 USL Pro 210100000220
2013 USL Pro 19030003[lower-alpha 5]0250
2014 USL Pro 1000000010
Total 410400030480
Career total 5233326029224660241
  1. Appearances in Football League Trophy
  2. Seven Appearances and two goals in Football League Trophy and two appearances in Second Division play-offs
  3. Two Appearances in Football League Trophy and two appearances in Second Division play-offs
  4. Appearances in Second Division play-offs
  5. Appearances in USL Pro Playoffs

Managerial statistics

All competitive games (league and domestic cups) are included.

As of 7 October 2019
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
P W D L GF GA GD Win %
Louisville City 4 June 2014 30 June 2018 125 71 28 26 225 119 +106 056.80
Orlando City 2 July 2018 7 October 2019 56 13 14 29 69 95 −26 023.21
Career total 181 84 42 55 294 214 +80 046.41

Honours

Stoke City

Orlando City

Louisville City FC

References
  1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/07/2011 and 31/07/2011" (PDF). The Football Association. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  2. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.
  3. "Soccer Holdings hires James O'Connor to develop Academy, NWSL". LouCity. 13 January 2020.
  4. Poe, Julia (13 January 2020). "Former Orlando City coach James O'Connor joins Louisville City front office". Pro Soccer USA.
  5. "Nominees announced for eircom/FAI International Soccer Awards 2000" (Press release). eircom. 26 October 2000. Retrieved 27 May 2008.
  6. "O'Connor rejects new deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  7. "Burnley withdraw O'Connor offer". BBC Sport. 23 May 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2008.
  8. "Sports Show". BBC Radio Lancashire. 23 May 2008.
  9. "Owls capture midfielder O'Connor". BBC Sport. 27 June 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2008.
  10. Ian Appleyard (28 May 2008). "O'Connor set to sign for Owls". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 27 June 2008.
  11. "O'Connor can't wait to get started". SWFC.co.uk. 27 June 2008. Archived from the original on 27 September 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2008.
  12. http://www.orlandocitysoccer.com/news/teamnews/index.html?article_id=626%5B%5D
  13. Daniel Karell (22 March 2017). "Louisville City FC coach James O'Connor signs new contract". Louisville Courier-Journal.
  14. "BREAKING: Louisville City Football Club agrees deal in principle with Orlando City SC". Louisvillecityfc.com. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  15. "Orlando City SC Parts Ways With James O'Connor". www.orlandocitysc.com.
  16. James O'Connor at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  17. "Games played by James O'Connor in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  18. "Games played by James O'Connor in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  19. "Games played by James O'Connor in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  20. "Games played by James O'Connor in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  21. "Games played by James O'Connor in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  22. "Games played by James O'Connor in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  23. "Games played by James O'Connor in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  24. "Games played by James O'Connor in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  25. "Games played by James O'Connor in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  26. "Games played by James O'Connor in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  27. "Games played by James O'Connor in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  28. "Games played by James O'Connor in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  29. "Games played by James O'Connor in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  30. "Games played by James O'Connor in 20011/20012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
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