Joey O’Brien

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Joey O'Brien bigraphy, stories - Irish association footballer

Joey O’Brien : biography

17 February 1986 –

Joseph Martin "Joey" O’Brien (born 17 February 1986) is an Irish footballer who plays as a right back, left back or central midfielder for Premier League club West Ham United.

Career

Bolton Wanderers

O’Brien started his career with Bolton Wanderers in 2004.

To gain further experience, O’Brien was loaned out to League One team Sheffield Wednesday for the most part of the 2004–05 season, making 15 appearances and scoring two goals, including one on his debut. He was named as captain for the last game of his loan spell in honour of his contribution.

Upon returning to Bolton, O’Brien made his Premier League debut in May 2005 against Everton when coming on as a late substitute in place of Fernando Hierro. He was given his first start in Bolton’s colours in their away UEFA Cup 1st Round tie with PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv in September 2005. O’Brien missed most of the 2006–07 season due to injury, however he made his return for Bolton and played most of the 2007–08 season in his natural midfield role as opposed to the right back position which he had been used two years previous.

In July 2008 he was given the number 8 shirt previously worn by Iván Campo but injuries restricted his appearances throughout the 2008–09 season. On 29 October 2009, he signed a one-year extension to his contract keeping him at Bolton until the summer of 2011. On 24 March 2011, he joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan for a second time until the end of the season, and made his debut two days later in a 1-1 draw at Dagenham & Redbridge. At the end of the season he was released by Bolton.

West Ham United

In July 2011 he was handed a trial by West Ham United. He featured in pre-season friendlies against BSC Young Boys and F.C. Basel before being signed on 30 July on a free transfer, after penning a two-year contract. He made his competitive debut on 7 August 2011 in 1-0 home defeat to Cardiff City and scored his first goal for West Ham in a 4-0 away win against Watford on 16 August 2011; his first goal since January 2005. O’Brien was sent off, for the first time in his career, in the away match against Reading on 10 December 2011. He scored his first-ever Premier League goal on 19 November 2012, which also earned his team a point against Stoke. He then scored the winning goal in the New Year’s Day fixture against Norwich City. In January 2013 O’Brien signed a new contract with West Ham which will end in 2016.

Honours

Club

West Ham United
  • Football League Championship play-offs (1): 2011–12

International career

He made his debut for his country on 1 March 2006, against Sweden during Steve Staunton’s first game in charge. On 3 August 2012, O’Brien was called up to the Republic of Ireland squad for the 15 August friendly against Serbia, as a replacement for the injured Sean St Ledger. This was O’Brien’s first call up in over four years, after overcoming a succession of long-term injuries.