Michele O'Brien
Encyclopedia
Michele O'Brien is an Irish American
soccer striker who plays for the W-League
club Chicago Red Eleven. Since making her debut for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team
in 2003, she has gained over 50 caps.
. She remains the program's all–time record goalscorer.
. She remained with them until 2007, with a spell at Arsenal
in 2003. During her time at the English club, O'Brien played in the Women's Premier League
and the semi–final of the UEFA Women's Cup.
In 2007 O'Brien joined the Damallsvenskan
club QBIK
. She then spent time back in England
with Watford Ladies
, before joining Jersey Sky Blue for the 2008 W-League
season. The following season O'Brien moved to Chicago Red Eleven and scored four goals in 11 games in 2009. In 2010 she scored one goal in three games for the Red Eleven.
in 2003 and went on to accumulate more than 50 caps. In 2005 O'Brien was named the FAI Player of the Year.
(2004–2005) and Columbia University
(2005–2007). She was named assistant soccer coach at DePaul University
in February 2009.
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 who plays for the W-League
W-League
The USL W-League is a national women's soccer league in the United States on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the Women's Premier Soccer League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
club Chicago Red Eleven. Since making her debut 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...
in 2003, she has gained over 50 caps.
College career
O'Brien played varsity soccer during four seasons at Florida International UniversityFlorida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
. She remains the program's all–time record goalscorer.
Club career
In 2000 O'Brien started playing for the Long Island Lady RidersLong Island Rough Riders (W-League)
Long Island Rough Riders, also known as Long Island Lady Riders, is an American women’s soccer team, founded in 2003. The team is a member of the United Soccer Leagues W-League, the second tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada. The team plays in the Northeast Division of the...
. She remained with them until 2007, with a spell at Arsenal
Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
in 2003. During her time at the English club, O'Brien played in the Women's Premier League
FA Women's Premier League National Division
The FA Women's Premier League National Division is the second level of the English women's football league pyramid. From 1991 until the introduction of the summer competition FA Women's Super League the National Division functioned as the top league in England. Below it are simultaneously the...
and the semi–final of the UEFA Women's Cup.
In 2007 O'Brien joined the 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 QBIK
QBIK
QBIK is a Swedish football team from Karlstad. In 2005 they achieved promotion to the Damallsvenskan, which is the women's premier division. The team norrowly missed relegation with a 10th place, but was relegated in 2007 having finished in last 12th place...
. She then spent time back in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with Watford Ladies
Watford L.F.C.
Watford Ladies Football Club are an English women's football club affiliated with Watford F.C. They play in the FA Women's Premier League National Division. After losing their captain and top scorer Helen Lander to Arsenal LFC in mid-season, Watford finished a creditable 7th in the 2008-09...
, before joining Jersey Sky Blue for the 2008 W-League
W-League
The USL W-League is a national women's soccer league in the United States on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the Women's Premier Soccer League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
season. The following season O'Brien moved to Chicago Red Eleven and scored four goals in 11 games in 2009. In 2010 she scored one goal in three games for the Red Eleven.
International career
O'Brien debuted for the Republic of IrelandRepublic 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...
in 2003 and went on to accumulate more than 50 caps. In 2005 O'Brien was named the FAI Player of the Year.
Coaching career
O'Brien coached soccer at New York UniversityNew York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
(2004–2005) and Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
(2005–2007). She was named assistant soccer coach at DePaul University
DePaul University
DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
in February 2009.
External links
- Michele O'Brien 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....
- Michele O'Brien 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...
- Michele O'Brien at Chicago Red Eleven