{"product_id":"patrick-oconnell-sheffield-wednesday","title":"Patrick O'Connell, Sheffield Wednesday","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"xdj266r x14z9mp xat24cr x1lziwak x1vvkbs x126k92a\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePatrick Joseph O’Connell\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003e(8 March 1887 – 27 February 1959)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePatrick O’Connell\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was an Irish footballer and pioneering coach whose influence stretched from the playing fields of the British Isles to the top flight of Spanish football. Born in \u003cb\u003eDublin\u003c\/b\u003e, he began his football journey with local clubs before moving to \u003cb\u003eBelfast Celtic\u003c\/b\u003e and then on to the English league. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs a player, O’Connell was a composed and tenacious \u003cb\u003ewing half\u003c\/b\u003e — comfortable in defence or midfield — and he earned recognition at the highest level. He represented \u003cb\u003eIreland\u003c\/b\u003e internationally, captaining the team and contributing to their success in the \u003cb\u003e1914 British Home Championship\u003c\/b\u003e. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn May 1914, O’Connell’s career took a significant step when he joined \u003cb\u003eManchester United\u003c\/b\u003e for a substantial fee at the time. He made history by becoming the \u003cb\u003efirst player from what is now the Republic of Ireland to captain Manchester United\u003c\/b\u003e, an achievement that marked him out as one of the leading Irish football figures of his generation. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe outbreak of the First World War interrupted official league football and, like many players of his era, O’Connell had guest stints with other clubs. After the war, he continued his playing career with clubs such as \u003cb\u003eDumbarton\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eAshington\u003c\/b\u003e, transitioning into management as his playing days wound down. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt was as a \u003cb\u003emanager\u003c\/b\u003e that O’Connell truly excelled and left an enduring legacy. He moved to Spain in the early 1920s and took charge of \u003cb\u003eRacing Santander\u003c\/b\u003e, where his coaching acumen began to attract attention. He then managed \u003cb\u003eReal Oviedo\u003c\/b\u003ebefore taking the helm at \u003cb\u003eReal Betis\u003c\/b\u003e, leading them to the pinnacle of Spanish football by winning \u003cb\u003eLa Liga in 1935\u003c\/b\u003e — the club’s first and only league title. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eO’Connell later managed \u003cb\u003eFC Barcelona\u003c\/b\u003e, steering the club through the turbulent years of the \u003cb\u003eSpanish Civil War\u003c\/b\u003e, including arranging a critical tour that raised funds to help sustain the club during extremely difficult times. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHe also had managerial spells with \u003cb\u003eSevilla\u003c\/b\u003e and returned to both Betis and Racing Santander before retiring. Despite his achievements abroad, O’Connell died in relative obscurity in London in 1959 and was initially buried in an unmarked grave. In recent years, his contributions have been recognised posthumously with memorials and a bust at Betis’s stadium, honoring his remarkable impact on European football. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003chr size=\"0\" width=\"100%\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHonours\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlayer\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBritish Home Championship:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 1914 (with Ireland) \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eManager\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLa Liga:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 1934–35 (with Real Betis) \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMultiple regional titles with Racing Santander\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCampeonatos and cup honours with Barcelona and Sevilla \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eProduct details:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou will only pay shipping\/postage for 1 item, no matter how many items you purchase.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDiscounts are given for multiple purchases.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eSize: A3, A4, A5\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSingle Sided\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003ePaper: 400gsm premium art stock\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003ePrint quality: Museum-grade, high-resolution\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eFinish: Unframed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eWatermark shown in images does NOT appear on the final print\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCarefully packaged for safe delivery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA striking piece of football history — ideal for collectors, historians, and lovers of our national game.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAny issues please contact me at \u003ca href=\"mailto:paul@worldvintagecolours.com\"\u003epaul@worldvintagecolours.com\u003c\/a\u003e by clicking the hyperlink and I will get back to you ASAP.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Vintage Colours","offers":[{"title":"A3","offer_id":47261343940800,"sku":"Patrick O'Connell, Sheffield Wednesday A3","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A4","offer_id":47261343973568,"sku":"Patrick O'Connell, Sheffield Wednesday A4","price":7.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A5","offer_id":47261344006336,"sku":"Patrick O'Connell, Sheffield Wednesday A5","price":4.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/8242\/7840\/files\/A4-PatrickOConnell-SheffieldWednesday-1910-Colour.jpg?v=1769191865","url":"https:\/\/www.worldvintagecolours.com\/products\/patrick-oconnell-sheffield-wednesday","provider":"World Vintage Colours","version":"1.0","type":"link"}