Paul Osam
Encyclopedia
Paul Osam is a former professional football (soccer)
player.
career in 1988 when he was signed by Brian Kerr for St Patrick's Athletic from junior side Mount Merrion. He struggled to make an impact during his first season but made his league debut on the 3rd of September 1989 in Limerick after Robbie Gaffney
broke his leg. In 1989/90 he was dubbed the "Black Pearl of Inchicore
Mark III" (Former St. Pats players and Black Irish pioneers Paul McGrath
and Curtis Fleming
were I and II respectively). His goal for St Pats away to the then champions Derry City FC is said to have been the turning point of that season and the Saints went on to win their first league title since 1956, with Osam playing an influential role as a left winger despite his six foot four frame.
After the league win, St. Pats hit serious financial difficulties, struggled in the league and eventually resigned themselves to losing all their star players. Osam stayed longer than most but in 1993, he signed for Dublin rivals Shamrock Rovers
. Again his influence was felt immediately and Rovers won their first league in a decade. Towards the end of the season Osam suffered a cruciate
knee injury and missed the last 8 games. The treatment he received from the board of Shamrock Rovers led to Osam leaving after just one season after 2 goals in 21 appearances. (Later Brian Kerr would call this Osam's "year of purgatory
".) He was close to signing for Derry City
but due to the injury he missed the entire 1994/95 season.
In 1995 Brian Kerr once again signed Osam for St Pats. He played in central midfield and, along with Eddie Gormley
and Noel Mernagh, was the driving force behind another league title. With the disruption caused by Brian Kerr leaving to take charge of the Irish underage teams
, the 1996/97 was out of reach for St. Pats. However under the management of Pat Dolan
and then Liam Buckley
, St. Pats won the title again in 1997/98 and 1998/99, meaning Osam had won 5 league titles in 10 years. His performances in 1999/99 saw Osam win the player of the year awards from all awarding bodies, the PFAI
(Players vote), the SWAI (journalists vote) and the Football Association of Ireland
. He is the only player to have won all 3 awards simultaneously. Such was Osam's popularity that he became the first League of Ireland player to star in a nationwide advertising campaign when he became spokesman for Weight Watchers
in Ireland.
After some quiet years for St. Pats, Osam captained the side to the League Cup in 2001. Season 2001/02 saw St. Pats once again finished top of the league. However the FAI deducted Pats 15 points for fielding an unregistered player, Paul Marney. Despite Pats' protests that there was no intention to cheat (Marney had been registered the season before) and a report from the FAI saying that there were numerous other minor errors in other clubs' players' registrations, the league was awarded to bitter rivals Shelbourne FC. After a period of negotiations, the FAI awarded the St. Pats players league medals. The club still claims that they are the rightful league winners in 2002. In April of that year, Osam was awarded a testimonial by St. Pats. Former player Paul McGrath
played for the first time in years to show the esteem Paul is held with in Irish football.
Under new manager Eamonn Collins
, Osam captained St. Pats to win another league cup in 2003 and they reached the final of the FAI Cup
final later that season. However St. Pats lost and the FAI Cup eluded Osam again. When he retired from football in 2004, he had won every honour in Irish football bar the FAI Cup.
Throughout his career, Osam was heavily pushed for inclusion in the Irish national side
. However as neither Jack Charlton
nor Mick McCarthy
capped any player from the League of Ireland
during their tenure, Paul had to contend himself with captaining the LOI select side on many occasions.
After his retirement St. Pats vowed to keep Osam on the staff and he took a position as manager of the club's Under 21 side. He combined this with his media work for TV3
.
In January 2008, he left St. Pats for a coaching role with Bray Wanderers. In 2010, Paul left his role with Bray Wanderers.Osam is currently training Park Vale F.C.
: 5
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player.
Career
Osam started his League of IrelandLeague of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
career in 1988 when he was signed by Brian Kerr for St Patrick's Athletic from junior side Mount Merrion. He struggled to make an impact during his first season but made his league debut on the 3rd of September 1989 in Limerick after Robbie Gaffney
Robbie Gaffney
Robbie Gaffney is a former Irish footballer.He signed for Shamrock Rovers under Seán Thomas at the tail end of the 1975/76 season. He made his League of Ireland debut for Shamrock Rovers at Flower Lodge against Albert Rovers on 5 October 1976...
broke his leg. In 1989/90 he was dubbed the "Black Pearl of Inchicore
Inchicore
-Location and access:Located five kilometres due west of the city centre, Inchicore lies south of the River Liffey, west of Kilmainham, north of Drimnagh and east of Ballyfermot. The majority of Inchicore is in the Dublin 8 postal district...
Mark III" (Former St. Pats players and Black Irish pioneers Paul McGrath
Paul McGrath (footballer)
Paul McGrath is a retired Irish footballer, who played as a defender. McGrath is widely recognised as one of the greatest players to have ever come out of Ireland....
and Curtis Fleming
Curtis Fleming
Curtis Fleming is an english born Irish former international footballer. Fleming played his youth football at the famous Belvedere F.C.. Fleming played right back and won international honours for the Republic of Ireland at under-21, under-23 , and senior level. He started his career with St...
were I and II respectively). His goal for St Pats away to the then champions Derry City FC is said to have been the turning point of that season and the Saints went on to win their first league title since 1956, with Osam playing an influential role as a left winger despite his six foot four frame.
After the league win, St. Pats hit serious financial difficulties, struggled in the league and eventually resigned themselves to losing all their star players. Osam stayed longer than most but in 1993, he signed for Dublin rivals Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers F.C.
Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24...
. Again his influence was felt immediately and Rovers won their first league in a decade. Towards the end of the season Osam suffered a cruciate
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
knee injury and missed the last 8 games. The treatment he received from the board of Shamrock Rovers led to Osam leaving after just one season after 2 goals in 21 appearances. (Later Brian Kerr would call this Osam's "year of purgatory
Purgatory
Purgatory is the condition or process of purification or temporary punishment in which, it is believed, the souls of those who die in a state of grace are made ready for Heaven...
".) He was close to signing for Derry City
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
but due to the injury he missed the entire 1994/95 season.
In 1995 Brian Kerr once again signed Osam for St Pats. He played in central midfield and, along with Eddie Gormley
Eddie Gormley
Eddie Gormley is a former Irish football player and manager of Bray Wanderers.Gormley was a midfielder and played league football in England, Scotland and Ireland...
and Noel Mernagh, was the driving force behind another league title. With the disruption caused by Brian Kerr leaving to take charge of the Irish underage teams
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
, the 1996/97 was out of reach for St. Pats. However under the management of Pat Dolan
Pat Dolan
Patrick Dolan is a former football player, manager, and executive. He is a soccer analyst on Setanta Sports Ireland.-Early life:...
and then Liam Buckley
Liam Buckley
Liam Buckley , is an Irish former professional football player and manager.-Playing career:Liam began his League of Ireland career with Shelbourne F.C. and signed for Shamrock Rovers as a full time player in the 1979 close season...
, St. Pats won the title again in 1997/98 and 1998/99, meaning Osam had won 5 league titles in 10 years. His performances in 1999/99 saw Osam win the player of the year awards from all awarding bodies, the PFAI
Professional Footballers Association of Ireland
The Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland ' is the representative body for professional and semi-professional footballers in Ireland. Players from all nationalities in the League of Ireland are represented, not just Irish players. It is a member of FIFPro; the international body for...
(Players vote), the SWAI (journalists vote) and the Football Association of Ireland
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...
. He is the only player to have won all 3 awards simultaneously. Such was Osam's popularity that he became the first League of Ireland player to star in a nationwide advertising campaign when he became spokesman for Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers is an international company that offers various dieting products and services to assist weight loss and maintenance. Founded in 1963 by Brooklyn homemaker Jean Nidetch, it operates in about 30 countries around the world, generally under names that are local translations of “Weight...
in Ireland.
After some quiet years for St. Pats, Osam captained the side to the League Cup in 2001. Season 2001/02 saw St. Pats once again finished top of the league. However the FAI deducted Pats 15 points for fielding an unregistered player, Paul Marney. Despite Pats' protests that there was no intention to cheat (Marney had been registered the season before) and a report from the FAI saying that there were numerous other minor errors in other clubs' players' registrations, the league was awarded to bitter rivals Shelbourne FC. After a period of negotiations, the FAI awarded the St. Pats players league medals. The club still claims that they are the rightful league winners in 2002. In April of that year, Osam was awarded a testimonial by St. Pats. Former player Paul McGrath
Paul McGrath (footballer)
Paul McGrath is a retired Irish footballer, who played as a defender. McGrath is widely recognised as one of the greatest players to have ever come out of Ireland....
played for the first time in years to show the esteem Paul is held with in Irish football.
Under new manager Eamonn Collins
Eamonn Collins (footballer)
Eamonn Anthony Stephen Collins is an Irish retired footballer and football manager, who is now a players' agent.In his playing career, he was the youngest player ever to turn out in a professional game in England, when he played for Blackpool in 1980, six weeks before his 15th birthday...
, Osam captained St. Pats to win another league cup in 2003 and they reached the final of the FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
final later that season. However St. Pats lost and the FAI Cup eluded Osam again. When he retired from football in 2004, he had won every honour in Irish football bar the FAI Cup.
Throughout his career, Osam was heavily pushed for inclusion in the Irish national side
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
. However as neither Jack Charlton
Jack Charlton
John "Jack" Charlton, OBE, DL is a former footballer and manager who played for Leeds United in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and was part of the England team who won the 1966 World Cup...
nor Mick McCarthy
Mick McCarthy
Michael Joseph "Mick" McCarthy is an English-born former Irish international footballer who is currently the manager of Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he has been in charge since July 2006....
capped any player from the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
during their tenure, Paul had to contend himself with captaining the LOI select side on many occasions.
After his retirement St. Pats vowed to keep Osam on the staff and he took a position as manager of the club's Under 21 side. He combined this with his media work for TV3
TV3 Ireland
TV3 is a free-to-air commercial television network in the Republic of Ireland. Launched on 20 September 1998 it was Ireland's first commercial broadcaster. The channel is owned by TV3 Group a subsidiary of Doughty Hanson & Co.-The TV3 Group:...
.
In January 2008, he left St. Pats for a coaching role with Bray Wanderers. In 2010, Paul left his role with Bray Wanderers.Osam is currently training Park Vale F.C.
Honours
League of IrelandLeague of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
: 5
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- St Patrick's Athletic FC – 1989/90, 1995/96, 1997/98, 1998/99
- Shamrock Rovers FCShamrock Rovers F.C.Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24...
– 1993/94
- League of Ireland Cup: 2
- St Patrick's Athletic FC - 2001, 2003
- SWAI Personality of the Year
- St Patrick's Athletic FC - 1998/99