Paudie O'Connor

Paudie O'Connor
Personal information
Full name Padhraic John O'Connor[1]
Date of birth (1997-07-14) 14 July 1997
Place of birth Limerick, Ireland
Playing position Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Blackpool
(on loan from Leeds United)
Number 5
Youth career
Kilcornan
Breska Rovers
Regional United
2014–2015 Limerick
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Limerick 39 (3)
2017– Leeds United 4 (0)
2018– → Blackpool (loan) 5 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 September 2018

Padhraic John O'Connor (born 14 July 1997) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Blackpool on loan from EFL Championship side Leeds United.[1]

Before joining Leeds United, he played two years in the League of Ireland for Limerick F.C.[2]

Club career

Limerick

O'Connor made his professional debut on 7 March 2015, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3–0 loss to Bohemians in the League of Ireland Premier Division. He went on to make 16 appearances in the 2015 season, scoring his first professional goal on 14 August against Cork City.

Following Limerick's relegation to the First Division, O'Connor made 23 appearances in the 2016 League of Ireland First Division in 2016, scoring two goals in the title-winning season.

Leeds United

O'Connor had trials at Crystal Palace and Leicester City, then another with Leeds United in March 2017, where he impressed then-coach Garry Monk enough to secure a two-and-a-half year contract for an undisclosed fee from Limerick|.[3] He initially joined the Under-23 team, but participated in the 2017–18 first team's preseason under new coach Thomas Christiansen, and was called up onto the bench for the EFL Cup match against Newport County on 22 August 2017.[4] O'Connor was named the Leeds Under 23s squad's captain for the 2017/18 season.

Due to an injury crisis in defence, on 3 April 2018, O'Connor was named by new manager Paul Heckingbottom in Leeds' first team for their travelling squad for Leeds EFL Championship game against Fulham at Craven Cottage although he was not named among the substitutes.[5] His first team debut (and first booking) came as a central defender alongside Pontus Jansson as Leeds came back from 0–1 down to earn a home point against Sunderland, with O'Connor earning praise for his first senior game.[6]

On 16 April 2018, O'Connor was nominated as one of four players for Leeds United's Young Player of The Year award,[7] which was won by Bailey Peacock-Farrell.[8]

On 29 June 2018, O'Connor signed a new two-year contract extension at Leeds, with the option of an additional year. After signing the contract, director of football Victor Orta said of O'Connor, "he will be a key player for Leeds United for many years to come," and that the club intended to send him out on loan for regular games.[9]

Blackpool (loan)

On 3 July 2018, O'Connor joined EFL League One side Blackpool on loan until 31 May 2019, in order to gain first team experience.[10] He made his debut on 4 August in Blackpool's 0–0 draw against Wycombe Wanderers.[11] On 4 September, O'Connor scored his first goal for Blackpool, deep into injury time in a 3-3 draw at Moss Rose against Macclesfield Town in the EFL Trophy.[12] Macclesfield emerged the victors after winning the resulting penalty shootout 5-3.

Career statistics

As of 10 October 2018[13]
Season Club Division League FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Total Discipline
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsA yellow cardA red card
2017–18Leeds United Championship40000000 40 20
Leeds United Total 400000004020
2018–19Blackpool League One50002011 81 30
Blackpool Total 500020118130
Total 9000201112150

Honours

References

  1. 1 2 "EFL Released and Retained List 2016–17" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  2. ↑ Vincent Ralph (27 June 2017). "Leeds United defender Paudie O'Connor has perfect chance to impress Thomas Christiansen this summer". HITC. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  3. ↑ Jack Wilson (16 March 2017). "Leeds transfer news: New man speaks for first time since signing for Garry Monk". Daily Star. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  4. ↑ Phil Hay (22 August 2017). "Leeds United v Newport County: Wilks, Stokes and O'Connor in Cup squad". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  5. ↑ Adam Pope – BBC Radio Leeds (3 April 2018). "Paudie O'Connor, 20, is here with the squad. He was last involved as an unused sub v Newport in the League Cup in August". Adam Pope – BBC Radio Leeds.
  6. ↑ Phil Hay (8 April 2018). "Leeds United: League of Ireland key to debutant O'Connor's education". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  7. ↑ "CAST YOUR VOTE FOR THE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS". www.leedsunited.com. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  8. ↑ "PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS". www.leedsunited.com. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  9. ↑ "PAUDIE O'CONNOR SIGNS NEW CONTRACT". www.leedsunited.com. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  10. ↑ "PAUDIE O'CONNOR JOINS BLACKPOOL". 3 July 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  11. ↑ "Wycombe 0 Blackpool 0". BBC Sport. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  12. ↑ "Macclesfield 3 Blackpool 3". blackpoolfc.co.uk. 4 September 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  13. ↑ "Statistics". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 October 2018.


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