Darren O'Dea

For the baseball pitcher, see Darren O'Day.

Darren O'Dea

Darren O'Dea with Ireland before the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group B game against Russia in Moscow, 6 September 2011
Personal information
Full name Darren O'Dea[1]
Date of birth (1987-02-04) 4 February 1987[1]
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1]
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current team
 Dundee
Number 21
Youth career
Home Farm
2005–2006 Celtic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2006–2012 Celtic 49 (4)
2009 → Reading (loan) 8 (0)
2010–2011 → Ipswich Town (loan) 20 (0)
2011–2012 → Leeds United (loan) 35 (2)
2012–2013 Toronto FC 26 (1)
2013–2014 Metalurh Donetsk 16 (2)
2014–2015 Blackpool 19 (0)
2015 Mumbai City 9 (0)
2016– Dundee 13 (0)
National team
000?-2007 Republic of Ireland U19
2007–2008 Republic of Ireland U21 10 (1)
2009– Republic of Ireland 20 (1)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 May 2016 (UTC).

† Appearances (goals)

Darren O'Dea (born 4 February 1987) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Scottish Premiership club Dundee.

O'Dea began his career on the youth team of Celtic, with whom he played from 2006 to 2012. During his time on Celtic, he was loaned to Reading, Ipswich Town and Leeds United. While playing for Leeds, O'Dea won the Ireland Young International Player of the Year Award. For more first-team opportunities he switched clubs and countries, joining Toronto FC of Major League Soccer for a year until 2013. The following season, he represented FC Metalurh Donetsk in Ukraine. O'Dea's stint was cut short due to the Ukrainian political situation, and he returned to England with Blackpool. In July 2015, he signed with Indian Super League club Mumbai City FC.

After being capped by the youth national teams of the Republic of Ireland, O'Dea made his senior-team debut in 2009 and has been capped 20 times. He represented Ireland at the 2012 UEFA European Championship.

Club career

Celtic

Born in Dublin, O'Dea played for Home Farm before he was signed by Celtic as a teenager.[1] After making his way through the reserves and academy side, he made his first-team debut for Celtic in the Scottish League Cup against St Mirren in September 2006.[2] A month later, O'Dea made his league debut against Inverness Caledonian Thistle, where he played the last thirty minutes after substituting for Gary Caldwell.[3] His UEFA Champions League debut was on 6 December against Danish club F.C. Copenhagen as a substitute for the injured Stephen McManus.[4][5] O'Dea made his first league starting appearance against Dunfermline Athletic four days after his Champions League debut. Later that month he scored his first goal in a match against Dundee United, with his rebound of a 78th-minute free kick by Shunsuke Nakamura tying the match 2–2.[6] O'Dea's first season saw Celtic win the 2007 Scottish Cup Final,[7] where he scored a goal against Livingston.[5]

After playing 16 times for Celtic, O'Dea signed a three-year contract in March 2007 and considered it a "reward for the hard work" he had done.[8] In his second season he incorporated Celtic win the league championship, although he did not feature in the final against Dundee.[9] After O'Dea did not play for two months (since his last Champions League match against FC Spartak Moscow), the BBC reported in October that he would be recalled to the injury-plagued team as a replacement for Gary Caldwell,[10] and he played the entire league match against Rangers on 20 October 2007.[11] That season, he primarily played centre-back.[12]

During the 2008–09 season O'Dea made a total of sixteen appearances, scoring twice.[13] His extra-time goal in the 2009 Scottish League Cup Final gave Celtic the trophy.[14] After playing fifty times for the club, O'Dea was loaned to championship club Reading in September 2009 for more first-team experience and he called it a "massive chance" to represent Celtic.[15] He made his debut in a 0–0 draw against Doncaster Rovers, with his second-half shot saved by Doncaster goalkeeper Neil Sullivan.[16] In a September interview, O'Dea was reluctant to return to Celtic's few match opportunities.[17]

Returning from Reading in January 2010, he started all five games that month. O'Dea was appointed stand-in captain after Stephen McManus went on loan to Middlesbrough and Gary Caldwell left for Wigan.[18] Again superfluous on Celtic, he was loaned to Ipswich Town on 18 August 2010 until January 2011[19] and made his Ipswich debut against Crystal Palace on 21 August.[20] In January O'Dea said he was uncertain if his loan would be extended because of the sacking of Ipswich manager Roy Keane, expressing his desire to stay.[21] New manager Paul Jewell unexpectedly extended his loan to the end of the season.[22] Vital Football praised O'Dea's performance in a league cup match against Arsenal, with Jewell calling it "tremendous and crucial in the result".[23] Two months later, he expressed a desire to return to Celtic instead of signing permanently with Ipswich.[24] O'Dea said he would play for another club if he did not have first-team opportunities at Celtic, since he felt that playing was "not about sitting on a bench".[25]

In May 2011, he said he "may quit Celtic" to play regularly and represent the national team at the 2012 UEFA Euro qualifiers.[26] The following month Leeds United signed him on loan until the end of the season, and he said his objective on his new club was to win promotion to Premier League.[27] O'Dea made his Leeds debut in a 3–1 loss to Southampton.[28] He scored his first goal for the club against Coventry City,[29] an "angled shot" for a 1–1 draw.[30] O'Dea again found the net in the next game, against Peterborough United, in the 95th minute for a 3–2 win.[31] Against Cardiff City, according to the BBC Leeds conceded a goal due to O'Dea's "indecision" which "opened the door for Joe Mason".[32] In a January 2012 interview he expressed his desire to sign permanently with Leeds,[33] although he received a red card in a loss to Blackpool.[34] O'Dea played 38 times for Leeds, scoring twice.[35] Due to his form with Leeds and Ireland, O'Dea and teammate Aidy White were nominated for the Young International Player of the Year at the Football Association of Ireland International Football Awards.[36] He won the award in a ceremony held in February 2012.[37]

After spending the previous two seasons out on loan, O'Dea was released by Celtic at the end of his contract on 1 June 2012 despite a one-year contract-extension option. He said he "had a great time at Celtic and have a lot of friends there so it was important for me that I left properly".[38]

Toronto FC

O'Dea signed with Major League Soccer club Toronto FC on 3 August 2012,[39] and made his club debut on 18 August in a 1–0 home loss to Sporting Kansas City. According to CBC News, he looked "lively" in his first match with the team.[40] In a match against Houston Dynamo he passed to Terry Dunfield, who scored, and at the end of the game said he was "delighted" with the result.[41] Manager Paul Mariner named O'Dea team captain in September, succeeding the injured Torsten Frings.[42] The following month, he was unable to play a match against Montreal Impact due to a thigh injury sustained during World Cup qualifying play for Ireland.[43] In O'Dea's first season for Toronto, he played nine times[44] as Toronto finished tenth in the Eastern Conference.[45] O'Dea was employed at left back for the 2013 season after the regular player at that position was injured. According to him, it had been two years since he had previously played left back.[46] O'Dea scored his first goal for Toronto on 3 July 2013 in a 3–3 home draw with Canadian rivals Montreal Impact.[47] Because of his "keen sense of positioning and timing" against Sporting Kansas City, he was named to the Team of the Week for 12 March.[48] Originally part of a transfer (a "win-win for both parties", according to head coach Ryan Nelsen, since O'Dea was the highest-paid player in the league), he was released by Toronto on 18 July 2013 to sign with FC Metalurh Donetsk.[49] Club president Kevin Payne wished him luck and hoped he would return in the future. O'Dea played a total of 26 times for Toronto, scoring one goal and setting up three,[50] and was succeeded as team captain by Steven Caldwell.[51]

Metalurh Donetsk

After his release from Toronto O'Dea signed a three-year contract with Ukraine's FC Metalurh Donetsk.[52] He debuted for the team in a July 20, 2013 1–1 draw with FC Karpaty Lviv, playing 46 minutes before being substituted.[53] O'Dea scored his first goal for Metalurh in his second game, a 2–1 away win over Vorskla Poltava.[54] He left the club in August 2014, terminating his contract two years early due to the unrest in Ukraine. O'Dea described the situation in the country as "hostile and intense, but also surreal".[55]

Blackpool

O'Dea then signed with championship club Blackpool in December 2014,[56] making his debut in a 6–1 loss to Bournemouth. Bournemouth's fourth goal was scored by Brett Pitman, converting a penalty shot incurred by O'Dea (who fouled Callum Wilson in the penalty area).[57] Against Wolverhampton Wanderers, the BBC reported that he "got into a terrible muddle trying to cut out a pass from Kevin McDonald" and allowed Benik Afobe (in his first game for Wolverhampton) to score the second goal.[58] O'Dea was injured in a match against Nottingham Forest in February 2015, forcing him to miss the game with Blackburn Rovers.[59] Released when his contract expired in May, he said the club had a "disastrous season".[60] O'Dea played 20 times for Blackpool.[44]

Mumbai City

Although the Toronto Sun reported in May 2015 that O'Dea might re-sign with the city's MLS club,[61] he signed a contract until 22 December with Indian Super League club Mumbai City FC, managed by Nicolas Anelka. Calling his signing "a new experience, a new chapter", he said he knew little about the quality of football in the league.[62] O'Dea made his ISL debut on 10 October, starting in a goalless draw at Kerala Blasters.[63] He left the club after making nine appearances.

Dundee

O'Dea signed a short-term contract with Dundee in January 2016.[64]

International career

After playing for the Irish under-19 and under-21 teams, O'Dea was called up to the international squad within a year.[65] Promoted to the Irish under-21 international squad by manager Don Givens on 3 March 2007,[66] he was the team captain. Less than a week later, O'Dea was named to the international squad for Ireland's UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group D matches on 24 and 28 March.[67][68]

On 13 May 2008, he was listed on Giovanni Trapattoni's first squad as Ireland's manager for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 8 matches against Bulgaria and Italy.[69] O'Dea made his senior-team debut on 8 September 2009 in a 1–0 friendly win over South Africa at Thomond Park in Limerick as a 60th-minute substitute for Paul McShane.[70]

After a match against the Czech Republic, O'Dea said he dreamed of being named to the Irish squad for UEFA Euro 2012.[71] Although he was on the roster for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine,[72] he did not appear; the Irish were eliminated from the group stage.[73] O'Dea scored his first senior goal for Ireland, an 88th-minute header, in a World Cup qualifying match against the Faroe Islands on 16 October 2012 which Ireland won 4–1.[74]

Playing style

O'Dea's manager at Toronto FC, Paul Mariner, described him as a "different specimen" with "fantastic habits" and a good leader.[73] According to Miloš Kocić, he is a good defender of set pieces.[75]

Honours

Celtic
International
Individual

Club statistics

As of match played on 5 March 2016
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental[lower-alpha 1] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Celtic 2006–07[76] Scottish Premier League 142311030213
2007–08[77] 60200020100
2008–09[78] 101202120162
2009–10[79] 191300010231
Total 4941013180706
Reading (loan) 2009–10[79] Championship 8000000080
Ipswich Town (loan) 2010–11[80] 2001040—250
Leeds United (loan) 2011–12[81] 3521020—382
Toronto FC 2012[44] Major League Soccer 9000—10100
2013[44] 17000——170
Total 26000—10270
Metalurh Donetsk 2013–14[44] Ukrainian Premier League 16210—10182
Blackpool 2014–15[44] Championship 1901000—200
Mumbai City FC 2015[44] Indian Super League 90———90
Dundee 2015–16 Scottish Premiership 603000—90
Career total 18881719110022410
  1. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League, CONCACAF Champions League and UEFA Europa League

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 316. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ↑ "Celtic 2–0 St Mirren". BBC Sport. 19 September 2006. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
  3. ↑ "Celtic 3-0 Inverness CT". BBC. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  4. ↑ "Bright O'Dea is in the zone for Old Firm debut". The Scotsman. 17 December 2006. Retrieved 28 December 2006.
  5. 1 2 "Matches played by Darren O'Dea in 2006/07". Soccerbase. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  6. ↑ "Celtic 2-2 Dundee Utd". BBC. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  7. ↑ "Rangers 2-1 Celtic". BBC. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  8. ↑ "O'Dea signs new deal with Celtic". BBC. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  9. ↑ "Dundee United 0-1 Celtic". BBC. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  10. ↑ "O'Dea poised to start for Celtic". BBC. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  11. ↑ "Rangers 3-0 Celtic". BBC. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  12. ↑ "Celtic confirm trial for Coelho". BBC. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  13. ↑ "Matches played by Darren O'Dea in 2008/09". Soccerbase. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  14. ↑ "Celtic 2-0 Rangers". BBC. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  15. ↑ "Celtic's Darren O'Dea joins Reading on loan". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  16. ↑ "Reading 0 - 0 Doncaster". BBC. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  17. ↑ "Darren O'Dea not ready for Celtic return - yet". STV. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  18. ↑ Murray, Ewan (28 January 2010). "Celtic will allow manager Tony Mowbray to sign striker and defender". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  19. ↑ "O’Dea completes Blues loan move". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  20. ↑ "Matches played by Darren O'Dea in 2010/11". Soccerbase. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  21. ↑ "Uncertain future for O'Dea". Sky Sports. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  22. ↑ "O'Dea extends Town stay". Sky Sports. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  23. ↑ "Loan Report: Darren O'Dea". Vital Football. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  24. ↑ "O'Dea wants Celtic return". Sky Sports. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  25. ↑ "O'Dea waits on Celtic future". Sky Sports. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  26. 1 2 "Darren O'Dea may quit Celtic". STV. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  27. ↑ "Leeds complete Darren O'Dea loan signing from Celtic". BBC. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  28. ↑ "Southampton 3 - 1 Leeds". BBC. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  29. ↑ "Leeds United's Andy Lonergan out injured for six weeks". BBC. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  30. ↑ "Leeds 1 - 1 Coventry". BBC. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  31. ↑ "Leeds stun Peterborough as Darren O'Dea scores dramatic winner". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  32. ↑ "Leeds 1 - 1 Cardiff". BBC. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  33. ↑ "O'Dea keen on Leeds stay". Sky Sports. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  34. ↑ "Blackpool 1 - 0 Leeds". BBC. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  35. ↑ "Matches played by Darren O'Dea in 2011/12". Soccerbase. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  36. ↑ "Irish double act up for awards". LUFC. 22 February 2012.
  37. 1 2 "here are your winners from last night’s FAI Awards". The Score. 27 February 2012.
  38. ↑ "Darren O’Dea thanks Peter Lawwell for allowing him to cut ties with Celtic". STV. 1 June 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  39. ↑ "Toronto Signs Darren O’Dea | Toronto FC". Torontofc.ca. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  40. ↑ "Sporting Kansas City scores late goal to burn Toronto FC". CBC Sports. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  41. ↑ "With O'Dea comes improved set piece defense for TFC". MLS Soccer. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  42. ↑ "Toronto FC captain Torsten Frings to miss rest of season with hip injury". The Star. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  43. ↑ "TFC dealt further blow with O'Dea injury, but Hassli returns". MLS Soccer. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  44. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Darren O'Dea". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  45. ↑ "2012 season". MLS Soccer. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  46. ↑ "Toronto FC captain Darren O'Dea embraces challenging return to left back". MLS Soccer. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  47. ↑ "Impact erase 2-goal deficit to salvage draw with Toronto FC". CBC. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  48. ↑ "Team of the Week (Wk 2): Canadian teams take center stage". MLS Soccer. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  49. ↑ "Toronto FC head coach Ryan Nelsen says looming Darren O'Dea transfer is to free up cap space". MLS Soccer. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  50. ↑ "Toronto FC officially agree to part ways with defender Darren O'Dea". MLS Soccer. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  51. ↑ "Toronto FC announce Darren O'Dea set to transfer as midseason changes to continue". MLS Soccer. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  52. ↑ "Ireland's Darren O'Dea signs with Ukrainian side Metalurh Donetsk". RTE. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  53. ↑ "Metalurh vs Karpaty". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  54. ↑ "Vorskla 1 - 2 Metalurh Donetsk". Soccerway.com. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  55. ↑ Wilson, Richard (4 September 2014). "Darren O'Dea: Ex-Celtic player leaves war-torn Ukraine behind". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  56. ↑ "Blackpool: Darren O'Dea signs until January". BBC. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  57. ↑ "An impressive Bournemouth hit six past lowly Blackpool to move one point clear at the top of the Championship table.". BBC. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  58. ↑ "Late goals from Dave Edwards and Benik Afobe ensured Wolves could celebrate the life of the club's former owner Sir Jack Hayward with a win over Blackpool.". BBC. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  59. ↑ "Darren O'Dea still on sideline for Blackpool". Herald. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  60. ↑ "Darren O’Dea seeks to get career back on track after foreign travails". Irish Times. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  61. ↑ "Could former captain O'Dea return to TFC? 5". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  62. ↑ "Nicolas Anelka's Mumbai City recruit Darren O'Dea". BBC. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  63. ↑ Muralidharan, Ashwin (10 October 2015). "Indian Super League: Kerala Blasters 0-0 Mumbai City FC: Controversial refereeing denies visitors two penalties". Goal.com. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  64. ↑ "Darren O'Dea: Dundee sign former Celtic defender". BBC Sport. BBC. 7 January 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  65. ↑ "Staunton introduces two more newcomers for Croke Park matches". Football Association of Ireland. 15 March 2007. Retrieved 24 March 2007.
  66. ↑ "Darren O'Dea a hit for Celtic and happy to sign an extended contract". Football Association of Ireland. 14 March 2007. Retrieved 24 March 2007.
  67. ↑ "Keogh comes in for injured Folan". BBC Sport. 18 March 2007. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
  68. ↑ "Celtic goal hero Darren O'Dea called into Ireland squad". Evening Times. 16 March 2009.
  69. ↑ "Keeper Kiely in Republic return". BBC Sport. 13 May 2008. Retrieved 15 May 2008.
  70. ↑ "Rep of Ireland 1-0 South Africa - Matchtracker". RTÉ. 8 September 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  71. ↑ "Irish duo hope to fulfil EURO 'dream'". UEFA. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  72. ↑ "McCarthy out as Trapattoni names Ireland squad". UEFA. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  73. 1 2 "O’Dea settling in with Toronto FC". Sports Net. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  74. ↑ "Faroe Islands 1 - 4 Rep of Ireland". BBC. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  75. ↑ "Darren O’Dea’s mission at Toronto FC is to improve ML soccer’s worst defence". The Star. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  76. ↑ "Matches played by Darren O'Dea in 2006/07". Soccerbase. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  77. ↑ "Matches played by Darren O'Dea in 2007/08". Soccerbase. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  78. ↑ "Matches played by Darren O'Dea in 2008/09". Soccerbase. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  79. 1 2 "Matches played by Darren O'Dea in 2009/10". Soccerbase. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  80. ↑ "Matches played by Darren O'Dea in 2010/11". Soccerbase. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  81. ↑ "Matches played by Darren O'Dea in 2011/12". Soccerbase. Retrieved 17 July 2015.

External links

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