James O'Connor (footballer)

Football player infobox
playername = James O'Connor


fullname = James Kevin O'Connor
height = height|ft=5|in=8
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1979|9|1
cityofbirth = Dublin
countryofbirth = Republic of Ireland
currentclub = Sheffield Wednesday
clubnumber = 17
position = Midfielder
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1996–2003
2003–2005
2004–2005
2005–2008
2008–
clubs = Stoke City
West Bromwich Albion
→ Burnley (loan)
Burnley
Sheffield Wednesday
caps(goals) = 176 (16)
030 0(0)
013 0(0)
126 (11)
001 0(0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 20:23, 11 August 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =

James Kevin O'Connor, (born 1 September, 1979 in Dublin) is an Irish professional footballer currently playing for Sheffield Wednesday as a midfielder. He has played for the Republic of Ireland at Under-21 level.cite press release |publisher=eircom |title=Nominees announced for eircom/FAI International Soccer Awards 2000 |url=http://mmm.eircom.ie/press/PressRelease_Target.asp?id=48&y=1978 |date=2000-10-26 |accessdate=2008-05-27 ]

Club career

O'Connor began his career at Stoke City, where he won the Player of the Year award in the 2002–03 season. [Cite news
title = Stoke City Player of the Year Award goes to..... James O'Connor!
url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/sport/stokecity/2003/05/player_of_the_year.shtml
publisher = bbc.co.uk
date = May 2003
accessdate = 2008-01-15] 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 in order 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.

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..cite episode
title = Sports Show
episodelink =
series = BBC Radio Lancashire
serieslink =
airdate = 2008-05-23
season =
number = ] cite news
title = Burnley withdraw O'Connor offer
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2008-05-23
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/burnley/7415439.stm
accessdate = 2008-05-23 ]

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.cite news
title = Owls capture midfielder O'Connor
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2008-06-27
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_wed/7477496.stm
accessdate = 2008-06-27 ] cite news
title = O'Connor set to sign for Owls
publisher = Yorkshire Post
date = 2008-05-28
url = http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sheffield-wed/O39Connor-set-to-sign-for.4125441.jp
author = Ian Appleyard
accessdate = 2008-06-27 ] He joined the club on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling after turning down the offer to extend his stay at Turf Moor.cite news
title = O'Connor can't wait to get started
publisher = SWFC.co.uk
date = 2008-06-27
url = http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10304~1335349,00.html
accessdate = 2008-06-27 ]

International career

O'Connor has played for the Republic of Ireland at Under-21 level.

Personal life

O'Connor's younger brother, Danny, is also a professional footballer. He currently plays for Shamrock Rovers.

References

External links

* [http://www.swfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10304~9653,00.html James O'Connor profile] at swfc.co.uk
* [http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10413~9653,00.html James O'Connor profile] at burnleyfootballclub.com
* [http://www.wba.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10366~9653,00.html James O’Connor profile] at wba.co.uk
*soccerbase|id=14886|name=James O'Connor
* [http://www.clarets-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=393071 Article on O'Connor leaving Burnley at Claretsmad.com]

Persondata
NAME = James Kevin O'Connor
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = James O'Connor
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Football Midfielder
DATE OF BIRTH = September 1, 1979
PLACE OF BIRTH = Dublin
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =