Football fans used to remember their biggest triumphs through the players and managers who achieved them. Cruyff, Maradona or Di Stefano are just a few legendary names whose successes brought lots of joy to others, to cities and even whole nations. Sadly, faces and names fall into forgetfulness over time. Lamentably, that’s what happened to former Irish footballer and coach Patrick O’Connell.
Born in 1887 in Dublin, Patrick O’Connell became one of the more successful Irish footballers in the history of the game. He started his career in Ireland, but then he played for other British clubs like Sheffield Wednesday, Hull City or Manchester United, which he captained nearly a century ago. However, his job as manager developed mostly in Spain (1922-1949). He took control of Racing Santander, Real Oviedo, Real Betis, FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC at different stages.
He got several promotions to the Primera during his time as manager, but he was also a starring figure of two of the most amazing facts in Spanish football history. In 1935, he lead Real Betis Balompié to conquer their first and only La Liga title, getting one more point than Real Madrid at the end of the season. Several months later, he became FC Barcelona’s coach because of his great job in Seville. There, he would also become a hero..
Due to the Civil War outbreak, Don Patricio -as he was known in Spain- organized an American Tour in 1937, which was used by his players to find exile and hide from the Francisco Franco’s troops. A bust of him is shown at the Camp Nou, in appreciation for that strategy, which prevented the disappearance of one of the biggest clubs of all time. This is the greatest recognition he has ever had.
In 1940 he came back to Real Betis, then had a stint leading a bético rival, Sevilla F.C. He ended his career in Santander, where it started. In his later years, O’Connell suffered hard economical difficulties, although Real Betis tried to help him with a tribute game. He went back to England, where none of his family had contact with him. Don Patricio died alone in misery at a hotel in London in February 1959.
Since then, his body lies in an unmarked grave in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery of Kilburn, London.
Has everybody forget about him? No. Few weeks ago, we noticed an initiative that looks to keep the story and memory Patrick O’Connell alive. But how?
The Patrick O’Connell Memorial Fund is working tirelessly to get enough money to build a memorial with his name, on the grave where his body now rests. They also want to build a monument at the Park Centre of Belfast in Northern Ireland, where he played as a professional player for the first time at Belfast Celtic.
So many clubs and football stars have joined this cause, donating shirts and collectable objects related with their story and careers, to get enough money to achieve the aims of the Patrick O’Connel Memorial Fund.
Real Betis donated a squad shirt signed by the players; Sheffield Wednesday FC have agreed a fundraising event at
Hillsborough in February 2015; even footballing legends such as Johann Cruyff, Oliver Kahn or Franz Beckenbauer have signed shirts for the cause, plus other 35 personalities; current stars like Gareth Bale and Paolo Maldini are doing the same in the next few days.
While the money is being collected, the Patrick O’Connell Memorial Fund will be launched on 30th August at the Belfast Celtic Museum. Definitely, nothing is too much to remember a man who did so much for the Spanish football.
Born in 1887 in Dublin, Patrick O’Connell became one of the more successful Irish footballers in the history of the game. He started his career in Ireland, but then he played for other British clubs like Sheffield Wednesday, Hull City or Manchester United, which he captained nearly a century ago. However, his job as manager developed mostly in Spain (1922-1949). He took control of Racing Santander, Real Oviedo, Real Betis, FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC at different stages.
He got several promotions to the Primera during his time as manager, but he was also a starring figure of two of the most amazing facts in Spanish football history. In 1935, he lead Real Betis Balompié to conquer their first and only La Liga title, getting one more point than Real Madrid at the end of the season. Several months later, he became FC Barcelona’s coach because of his great job in Seville. There, he would also become a hero..
Due to the Civil War outbreak, Don Patricio -as he was known in Spain- organized an American Tour in 1937, which was used by his players to find exile and hide from the Francisco Franco’s troops. A bust of him is shown at the Camp Nou, in appreciation for that strategy, which prevented the disappearance of one of the biggest clubs of all time. This is the greatest recognition he has ever had.
In 1940 he came back to Real Betis, then had a stint leading a bético rival, Sevilla F.C. He ended his career in Santander, where it started. In his later years, O’Connell suffered hard economical difficulties, although Real Betis tried to help him with a tribute game. He went back to England, where none of his family had contact with him. Don Patricio died alone in misery at a hotel in London in February 1959.
Since then, his body lies in an unmarked grave in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery of Kilburn, London.
Has everybody forget about him? No. Few weeks ago, we noticed an initiative that looks to keep the story and memory Patrick O’Connell alive. But how?
The Patrick O’Connell Memorial Fund is working tirelessly to get enough money to build a memorial with his name, on the grave where his body now rests. They also want to build a monument at the Park Centre of Belfast in Northern Ireland, where he played as a professional player for the first time at Belfast Celtic.
So many clubs and football stars have joined this cause, donating shirts and collectable objects related with their story and careers, to get enough money to achieve the aims of the Patrick O’Connel Memorial Fund.
Real Betis donated a squad shirt signed by the players; Sheffield Wednesday FC have agreed a fundraising event at
Hillsborough in February 2015; even footballing legends such as Johann Cruyff, Oliver Kahn or Franz Beckenbauer have signed shirts for the cause, plus other 35 personalities; current stars like Gareth Bale and Paolo Maldini are doing the same in the next few days.
While the money is being collected, the Patrick O’Connell Memorial Fund will be launched on 30th August at the Belfast Celtic Museum. Definitely, nothing is too much to remember a man who did so much for the Spanish football.