Fiona O'Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Fiona O'Sullivan is an Irish American
soccer striker. She represents the Republic of Ireland women's national football team
and the Swedish
club Kvarnsvedens IK
. O'Sullivan is described by the FAI
as a strong, imposing attacker.
, O'Sullivan finished as team top-scorer three times and league top-scorer twice. After moving to the University of San Francisco
in 2004, O'Sullivan scored a total of eight goals in four seasons there. Her most successful varsity campaign was 2006, as she finished team top-scorer with five goals despite missing half the season with a knee injury. This included a hattrick against the San Jose State Spartans
.
Although the Dons generally performed poorly during O'Sullivan's tenure, she was praised by the team coach and identified as someone who could play at a higher level.
in the WPSL
. After graduation she turned out for California Storm
.
In the 2010 WPS Draft
, O'Sullivan was allocated to Chicago Red Stars
. However, after attending their preseason training camp, she was released from the initial 26–player roster in March 2010.
Instead O'Sullivan played the 2010 season at California Storm, alongside soccer legends Brandi Chastain
and Sissi
. Seven goals in ten games saw O'Sullivan named in the all–league second team.
O'Sullivan signed a contract with Damallsvenskan
club AIK Fotboll Dam in July 2010. After scoring two goals in seven games for AIK, O'Sullivan switched to Damallsvenskan newcomers Piteå IF
in January 2011. After scoring one goal in nine games for Piteå IF
, O'Sullivan was sent to Div 1 Kvarnsvedens IK
on loan in June 2011.
. On the advice of her boyfriend, O'Sullivan sent an email to the FAI
advising them of her eligibility for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team
. She made her debut against FC Indiana
during Ireland's summer 2009 training camp in the USA.
Strong performances followed in Ireland's qualifying games for the 2011 World Cup. In August 2010, after O'Sullivan scored a hat–trick against Israel
and took her total to six goals in five games, she was hailed as "a revelation". O'Sullivan was named FAI International Player of the Year in February 2011.
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
soccer striker. She represents the Republic of Ireland women's national football team
Republic of Ireland women's national football team
The Republic of Ireland women's national football team, selects players from both the 350 Women's Football Association of Ireland teams, in 21 affiliate leagues throughout the nation, and the international women's football community. The WFAI was founded in 1973...
and the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
club Kvarnsvedens IK
Kvarnsvedens IK
Kvarnsvedens IK is a Swedish football club located in Borlänge in Dalarna County. -Background:Football was first played in 1907 under the name Kvarnsvedens GOIF and this continued until 1935 when operations were shut down for financial reasons. A new club was started in 1936 called Övermora IS and...
. O'Sullivan is described by the FAI
Football Association of Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...
as a strong, imposing attacker.
College career
In four seasons with Sir Francis Drake High SchoolSir Francis Drake High School
Sir Francis Drake High School is a secondary school located in San Anselmo, California. It was named for English privateer and naval hero Sir Francis Drake, who purportedly landed in the area in 1579. The school's mascot is a pirate named Petey....
, O'Sullivan finished as team top-scorer three times and league top-scorer twice. After moving to the University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
in 2004, O'Sullivan scored a total of eight goals in four seasons there. Her most successful varsity campaign was 2006, as she finished team top-scorer with five goals despite missing half the season with a knee injury. This included a hattrick against the San Jose State Spartans
San José State Spartans
The San Jose State Spartans is the name of the athletic teams representing San Jose State University. SJSU sports teams compete in the Western Athletic Conference at the NCAA Division I level...
.
Although the Dons generally performed poorly during O'Sullivan's tenure, she was praised by the team coach and identified as someone who could play at a higher level.
Club career
While still at University, O'Sullivan featured for Sonoma County SolSonoma County Sol (WPSL)
Sonoma County Sol was an American women’s soccer team, founded in 2005. The team was a member of the Women's Premier Soccer League, the third tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada. The team played in the North Division of the Pacific Conference...
in the WPSL
Women's Premier Soccer League
The Women's Premier Soccer League is a national women's soccer league in the United States and Puerto Rico, and is on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the W-League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
. After graduation she turned out for California Storm
California Storm
California Storm is an American women’s soccer team, founded in 1995 as the Sacramento Storm, dropping the city name in favor of California the following season. The team is a member of the Women's Premier Soccer League, the second tier of women’s soccer in the United States. The team plays in the...
.
In the 2010 WPS Draft
2010 WPS Draft
The 2010 WPS College Draft took place on January 15, 2010. It was the second college draft held by Women's Professional Soccer to assign the WPS rights of college players to the American-based teams.-Format:...
, O'Sullivan was allocated to Chicago Red Stars
Chicago Red Stars
The Chicago Red Stars are a American professional soccer club that is based in the Chicago suburb of Lisle, Illinois that participates in the Women's Premier Soccer League. From 2009-2010, the Red Stars played their home games at Toyota Park in the Womens Professional Soccer...
. However, after attending their preseason training camp, she was released from the initial 26–player roster in March 2010.
Instead O'Sullivan played the 2010 season at California Storm, alongside soccer legends Brandi Chastain
Brandi Chastain
Brandi Denise Chastain is a professional American soccer defender and midfielder who plays for the team California Storm of Women's Premier Soccer League and is a former member of the United States women's national soccer team....
and Sissi
Sissi (footballer)
Sisleide do Amor Lima , commonly known as Sissi, is a Brazilian footballer who played midfielder who last played for FC Gold Pride of Women's Professional Soccer and is a former member of the Brazil women's national football team.Sissi won the golden boot award in the 1999 Women's World Cup in...
. Seven goals in ten games saw O'Sullivan named in the all–league second team.
O'Sullivan signed a contract with Damallsvenskan
Damallsvenskan
The Damallsvenskan, Swedish for ladies' all-Swedish, is the highest division of women's football in Sweden. It is also referred as to the women's Allsvenskan, this term being used alone to refer to the men's division....
club AIK Fotboll Dam in July 2010. After scoring two goals in seven games for AIK, O'Sullivan switched to Damallsvenskan newcomers Piteå IF
Piteå IF ladies team
Piteå IF is a Swedish football club located in Piteå. The club was formed 24 May 1918 but didn't take up football until 1920 when they united with their local rivaling club IFK Piteå, which then was dissolved.The ladies team was founded 1985...
in January 2011. After scoring one goal in nine games for Piteå IF
Piteå IF ladies team
Piteå IF is a Swedish football club located in Piteå. The club was formed 24 May 1918 but didn't take up football until 1920 when they united with their local rivaling club IFK Piteå, which then was dissolved.The ladies team was founded 1985...
, O'Sullivan was sent to Div 1 Kvarnsvedens IK
Kvarnsvedens IK
Kvarnsvedens IK is a Swedish football club located in Borlänge in Dalarna County. -Background:Football was first played in 1907 under the name Kvarnsvedens GOIF and this continued until 1935 when operations were shut down for financial reasons. A new club was started in 1936 called Övermora IS and...
on loan in June 2011.
International career
O'Sullivan's father is from BantryBantry
Bantry is a town on the coast of County Cork, Ireland. It lies on the N71 national secondary road at the head of Bantry Bay, a deep-water gulf extending for 30 km to the west...
. On the advice of her boyfriend, O'Sullivan sent an email to the FAI
Football Association of Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...
advising them of her eligibility for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team
Republic of Ireland women's national football team
The Republic of Ireland women's national football team, selects players from both the 350 Women's Football Association of Ireland teams, in 21 affiliate leagues throughout the nation, and the international women's football community. The WFAI was founded in 1973...
. She made her debut against FC Indiana
F.C. Indiana (W-League)
F.C. Indiana is an American women’s soccer team, founded in 2000. The team is a member of the Women's Premier Soccer League....
during Ireland's summer 2009 training camp in the USA.
Strong performances followed in Ireland's qualifying games for the 2011 World Cup. In August 2010, after O'Sullivan scored a hat–trick against Israel
Israel women's national football team
The Israel women's national football team represents Israel in international women's football. The Israel women's national football team was established in 1997. Women's Football in Israel was developed as an upside down pyramid by first opening the national team and then after 2 years opening the...
and took her total to six goals in five games, she was hailed as "a revelation". O'Sullivan was named FAI International Player of the Year in February 2011.
Personal life
O'Sullivan coaches soccer at Sir Francis Drake High School and since 2005, runs a soccer camp business.External links
- Fiona O'Sullivan at UEFAUEFAThe Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
- Fiona O'Sullivan at FAIFootball Association of IrelandThe Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...