| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1955-04-07)7 April 1955 (age 70) | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1974–1978 | Bohemians | 62 | (1) |
| 1978–1980 | Philadelphia Fury | 70 | (12) |
| 1981–1982 | Montreal Manic | 56 | (9) |
| 1981–1982 | Montreal Manic (indoor) | 8 | (5) |
| 1983–1984 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 49 | (11) |
| 1983–1984 | Vancouver Whitecaps (indoor) | ||
| 1984–1985 | Dallas Sidekicks (indoor) | 43 | (13) |
| 1985–1987 | Tacoma Stars (indoor) | 71 | (12) |
| 1988 | Hamilton Steelers | 4 | (0) |
| 1988–1990 | Seattle Storm | ||
| 1991 | Hamilton Steelers | 12 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 1978 | Republic of Ireland | 4 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2007 | Tacoma Tide | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Fran O'Brien (born 7 April 1955) is an Irishfootballer who played during the 1970s and 1980s. He was the first player to be capped for theRepublic of Ireland playing in United States, earning a total of fourcaps. He also coached for the premier club PacNW in Seattle.[citation needed]
O'Brien won a league winners medal withBohemians in 1974–75. During his career with Bohs, Fran made 62 league appearances with 1 goal and 8 appearances in European competition scoring 1 goal. In 1978, O'Brien moved along withPat Byrne andEddie Byrne to thePhiladelphia Fury of theNorth American Soccer League (NASL). When the Fury moved to Montreal after the 1980 season, O'Brien went with the team and spent the next two seasons with the renamedMontreal Manic. In 1983, he signed with theVancouver Whitecaps and spent the next two season with them. He was selected as an NASL all-star Honorable Mention for the1983 season[1] and was a second team selection with the Whitecaps in1984. When the NASL folded at the end of the 1984 season, O'Brien signed with theDallas Sidekicks ofMajor Indoor Soccer League (MISL). The Sidekicks released him on 10 September 1985 and he moved to theTacoma Stars. He spent two seasons with the Stars before retiring and settling inWashington state. He also played with theHamilton Steelers.[2]
From 2007 to 2008, O'Brien was the head coach ofTacoma Tide of the amateurUSL Premier Development League in the United States.[3]
He was also a coach for the premier club PacNW in Seattle, Washington.[citation needed]
He is the father ofLeighton O'Brien andCiaran O'Brien, brother ofDerek O'Brien and the uncle ofMark O'Brien.
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|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
