Michele O'Brien (born 28 June 1980) is a soccer coach and former striker, who played for the W-League club Chicago Red Eleven. Since making her debut for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team in 2003, she gained over 50 caps.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 28 June 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Plainview, New York, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Northport/Cow Harbor Soccer Club | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998–2001 | FIU Golden Panthers | 74 | (58) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2007 | Long Island Lady Riders | ||
| 2003 | Arsenal | (1) | |
| 2007 | QBIK | ||
| 2008 | Watford | ||
| 2008 | Jersey Sky Blue[1] | 11 | (3) |
| 2009–2010 | Chicago Red Eleven | 14 | (5) |
| International career | |||
| 2003–2012 | Republic of Ireland | 65 | (13) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2021– | DePaul | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
College career
O'Brien played varsity soccer during four seasons at Florida International University. She remains the program's all–time record goalscorer.[2]
Club career
In 2000 O'Brien started playing for the Long Island Lady Riders.[3] She remained with them until 2007, with a spell at Arsenal in 2003.[4] During her time at the English club, O'Brien played in the Women's Premier League[5] and the semi–final of the UEFA Women's Cup.[6]
In 2007 O'Brien joined the Damallsvenskan club QBIK.[4] She then spent time back in England with Watford Ladies, before joining Jersey Sky Blue for the 2008 W-League season.[4] The following season O'Brien moved to Chicago Red Eleven and scored four goals in 11 games in 2009.[7] In 2010, she scored one goal in three games for the Red Eleven.[8]
International career
O'Brien debuted for the Republic of Ireland in 2003 and went on to accumulate more than 50 caps.[4] In 2005 O'Brien was named the FAI Player of the Year.[9]
Coaching career
O'Brien coached soccer at New York University (2004–2005) and Columbia University (2005–2007).[2] She was named assistant soccer coach at DePaul University in February 2009.[2] She was promoted to head coach at DePaul in June 2021.[10]
Personal life
Born with a congenital heart defect, in 1995 O'Brien suffered a heart attack after a High School P.E. lesson and required open heart surgery. She refused to quit soccer, reportedly telling her concerned parent: "Mom, I might as well die doing something I like".[11]