 O'Shea in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | James O'Shea[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1988-08-10)10 August 1988 (age 37) | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Brisbane Roar | ||
| Number | 26 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2004–2005 | St Joseph's Boys AFC | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006 | Home Farm | 2 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | Bray Wanderers | 35 | (2) |
| 2008–2009 | Galway United | 48 | (11) |
| 2009–2011 | Birmingham City | 1 | (0) |
| 2010 | →Middlesbrough (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | →Stevenage (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2011 | →Port Vale (loan) | 5 | (1) |
| 2011–2013 | Milton Keynes Dons | 39 | (6) |
| 2012–2013 | →Chesterfield (loan) | 7 | (2) |
| 2013–2017 | Chesterfield | 173 | (36) |
| 2017 | →Sheffield United (loan) | 10 | (3) |
| 2017–2019 | Bury | 71 | (19) |
| 2019– | Brisbane Roar | 156 | (27) |
| International career | |||
| 2006–2007 | Republic of Ireland U19 | 5 | (2) |
| 2008–2009 | Republic of Ireland U21 | 6 | (1) |
| 2008 | Republic of Ireland U23 | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:15, 15 May 2025 (UTC) | |||
James O'Shea (/oʊˈʃeɪ/oh-SHAY;[3] born 10 August 1988) is an Irish professionalfootballer who plays as anattacking midfielder forA-League Men clubBrisbane Roar.
While he is primarily anattacking midfielder, he can also operate as awinger andstriker. O'Shea began his career with St Joseph's Boys AFC before moving on to play forHome Farm of theLeinster Senior League in 2005. He signed forBray Wanderers after just two appearances for Home Farm and spent a year and a half with Bray. In 2008, O'Shea signed forGalway United, playing 60 games for the club in all competitions, and attracted a lot of interest fromEnglish Football League andPremier League teams.
He subsequently joinedBirmingham City in August 2009 for an undisclosed fee and made his Premier League debut shortly after againstManchester United. However, he found first-team opportunities hard to come by during his first season at Birmingham and wasloaned out toMiddlesbrough in March 2010. O'Shea was loaned out again in October 2010, this time toLeague Two sideStevenage where he spent two months, and then toPort Vale in January 2011. He was released when hiscontract expired at the end of the 2010–11 season and joinedMilton Keynes Dons. He joinedChesterfield on loan in November 2012 and joined the club permanently two months later. He played forChesterfield in the2014 Football League Trophy final before helping them to win the League Two title in 2013–14. He was loaned out toSheffield United in January 2017 and helped United to win the League One title in 2016–17. He signed with Bury in July 2017 and was named on thePFA Team of the Year as Bury securedpromotion out of League Two at the end of the 2018–19 season. He moved to Australia in June 2019 to sign with A-League club Brisbane Roar. He was named in thePFA A-League Team of the Season in 2020–21 and 2022–23, and on theA-Leagues All Star in 2022.
O'Shea began his career at St Joseph's Boys, ayouth team located in southCounty Dublin that caters for players from the age of six up to 18 years old.[4] Shortly after leaving St Joseph's, he signed forHome Farm of theLeinster Senior League in 2005, before joiningBray Wanderers a year later. O'Shea made his Bray debut in the club's 2–0 home defeat toLongford Town in September 2006 at the age of 18, coming on as asubstitute in the second-half,[5] and started his first match in a 6–0 loss toCork City.[6] He scored his first professional goal in a 3–0 win overShamrock Rovers in October 2007,[7] before signing forLeague of Ireland Premier Division sideGalway United in December 2007.[2] O'Shea scored his first goal for Galway in a 2–2 home draw with Finn Harps in May 2008,[8] and finished as Galway's top scorer during the2008 season, scoring ten goals in all competitions.[9]
In November 2008, it was rumoured that a £400,000 deal had been agreed between Galway and EnglishChampionship sideDerby County, with the player expected to move when thetransfer window reopened in January 2009.[10] O'Shea went on trial with the club in November 2008 and scored twice in abehind closed doorsfriendly againstNotts County in a match which an experienced Derby side won 5–2.[11] However, when DerbymanagerPaul Jewell resigned the move was put on hold and then cancelled.Carlisle United managerGreg Abbott said the club also came "within minutes" of signing O'Shea ahead of the2009–10 season, but lost out after trying to sign the player for three months.[12] In January 2009, O'Shea spent two weeks on trial withBirmingham City but returned to Galway ahead of the club's league campaign.[13] The2009 season witnessed O'Shea score six goals in 23 appearances for Galway, as well as captaining the team throughout the campaign.[14][15] His final game for the club was a 2–1 win over his former employers, Bray Wanderers, a game in which he scored the winner in injury time.[16] In his last two games for Galway, O'Shea was watched by scouts fromPortsmouth, Derby County, Birmingham City,Middlesbrough,Watford, andFalkirk respectively.[16]
On 10 August 2009, O'Shea signed a two-yearcontract, with the option of a further two years, with Birmingham City of thePremier League. The fee was undisclosed.[17] He made his debut for the club as a second-halfsubstitute in Birmingham's opening match of the season, a 1–0 defeat atManchester United.[18] He started his first game for Birmingham nine days later, playing 45 minutes in the club's 2–1League Cup win overSouthampton.[19] He also featured in the following round, this time playing 63 minutes in Birmingham's 2–0 away loss atSunderland before being replaced byLee Bowyer.[20] It was to be O'Shea's last appearance of the season for Birmingham.[21] In March 2010, O'Shea joinedMiddlesbrough onloan for a month.[22] He made his debut – both for the club and in theEnglish Football League – as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 draw at home toCrystal Palace on 3 April.[23] He started the next game, away atPlymouth Argyle,[24] but made no more first-team appearances.[21]
Early in the 2010–11 season, Birmingham managerAlex McLeish attempted to find a Football League club for O'Shea to join on loan so that he could play regular football.[25] In October, he had a trial withScunthorpe United, during which he played for the club'sreserve team in a game againstLincoln City reserves which ended 1–1.[26][27] Scunthorpe managerIan Baraclough said he "wanted to take a further look at O'Shea" ahead of a reserve game againstLeeds United,[28] but he did not feature in the match.[29] Towards the end of October, McLeish expressed surprise and concern that no club had taken the player on loan: "I'm surprised nobody has come for him because I think he's a decent young player and it would be great to get him that league experience. Playing in reserve games every now and then is probably not the right thing for a young player with potential."[30] On 26 October, O'Shea joinedLeague Two clubStevenage on a one-month loan deal.[31] He was assigned the number 22 shirt.[32] Having scored in a reserve match againstIpswich Town the day after signing, O'Shea started in Stevenage's 0–0 home draw withChesterfield on 30 October.[33] After six appearances, four in the League and two in the FA Cup, O'Shea's loan was extended until 16 January 2011.[34]
He returned to Birmingham at the end of his loan spell, and a few days later, he went out on loan again, this time to League Two clubPort Vale for one month.[35] He scored his first goal in English football atVale Park, with a well taken strike againstRotherham United on 1 February.[36] He made a total of five starts during his loan spell, before returning to Birmingham.[37] Later in the season Vale'scaretaker managerMark Grew attempted to re-sign O'Shea. However, the deal was reported to have fallen through because of the player's wages.[38] After Birmingham'srelegation from the Premier League, O'Shea was one of several players released when their contracts expired at the end of the season.[39]
In July 2011, O'Shea spent some weeks on trial at League One clubMilton Keynes Dons, before impressing managerKarl Robinson enough to win a one-year contract with an option for a second year.[40] He scored his first goal atStadium mk on 20 August, converting a latepenalty to make it a 6–2 victory overChesterfield.[41] His second goal for the club came in a 6–0 beating ofnon-LeagueNantwich Town in theFA Cup.[42] He opened the scoring on 24 January 2012 for his third goal of the season, though home side Stevenage then came from behind to beat the Dons 4–2.[43]
In November 2012, O'Shea joined League Two clubChesterfield on loan until 5 January 2013.[44] He scored on his debut, in a 2–0 win over former club Port Vale at Vale Park.[45] After his loan spell expired, he left MK Dons by mutual consent and signed an 18-month contract with Chesterfield.[46] He scored five goals in 19 games in the remainder of the2012–13 season.
He was named on the Football League Team of the Week after scoring two late goals to secure a 3–1 win at home toTorquay United on 15 February 2014.[47] The following month he played atWembley Stadium in Chesterfield's 3–1 defeat toPeterborough United inthe final of theFootball League Trophy.[48] He was included in the Football League Team of the Week for a second time that season after scoring a second-half brace to confirm the 2–0 win atBurton Albion that sealed an automaticpromotion place.[49] He scored a total of nine goals in 47 games as the "Spireites" won promotion as divisional champions in2013–14 and dedicated the title success to a recently deceased friend.[50] He scored seven goals in 41League One games in the2014–15 campaign to help Chesterfield to reach theplay-off places, where they were beaten byPreston North End at the semi-final stage.[51] He scored nine goals in 51 appearances in the2015–16 season and was named on the Football League Team of the Week three times: firstly for his brace in a 2–0 win atMillwall on 29 August, secondly for his performance in a 3–2 win overRochdale on 9 January, and finally for scoring a goal and claiming two goals in a 3–0 win overBury in the penultimate game of the season.[52][53][54]
He was named asEFL League One Player of the Month for November 2016 after scoring four goals and providing two assists, including a brace againstBristol Rovers that won him a place on the EFL Team of the Week.[55][56] On 24 January 2017, O'Shea joined League One rivalsSheffield United on loan to the end of the2016–17 season.[57] He scored three goals in ten appearances to help the "Blades" win promotion as champions and was hopeful that managerChris Wilder would sign him permanently in the summer; ironically his parent club, Chesterfield, were relegated in last place.[58] He was released by Chesterfield upon his return to theProact Stadium in May 2017.[59]
O'Shea turned down a contract offer from Sheffield United and instead joined League One club Bury on a two-year contract in July 2017.[60][61] He went straight into the starting eleven for the opening fixture, at home toWalsall, but lasted only 54 minutes before sustaining amedial ligament injury that was expected to keep him out for six weeks.[62][63] He marked his return to fitness with a goal in a 3–1 victory overBradford City atGigg Lane on 14 October.[64] He ended the2017–18 campaign with four goals in 30 appearances as the "Shakers" were relegated with a last-place finish.
On 17 November, he scored a brace in a 4–0 home win over Stevenage, including a "perfectly executed freekick", to win himself a place on the EFL Team of the Week.[65] He was named asEFL League Two Player of the Month for November 2018 and January 2019, and said that "I've only ever won one of these before this season, so to win two in three months is excellent."[66] On 19 January, he scored a "superb solo goal" in a 2–1 win atForest Green Rovers that saw him again named on the EFL Team of the Week.[67] On 9 February, he scored a brace in a 3–2 win atMorecambe to earn himself a place on the EFL Team of the Week for the third time that season.[68] After scoring 15 goals in 44 league games he was named on the League TwoPFA Team of the Year and the EFL Team of the Season for the2018–19 campaign, alongside midfield teammateDanny Mayor.[69][70] Bury went on to secure promotion as runners-up of League Two.[71] In the summer he was strongly linked with a move to Plymouth Argyle, who were managed by former Bury bossRyan Lowe.[72]
On 28 June 2019, O'Shea left England for Australia and signed withA-League clubBrisbane Roar, who were managed by formerLiverpool strikerRobbie Fowler.[73] He settled in quickly and was named as the club's Player of the Month for October.[74] He made 24 appearances before the2019–20 season was suspended due to theCOVID-19 pandemic in Australia.[75][76] He won the club's Players' Player of the Year award and signed a new contract in February 2021.[77] Brisbane reached the elimination semi-finals of the finals series in the2020–21 season, where they were beaten 2–1 byAdelaide United.[78] O'Shea was named as a substitute on theA-League Team of the Season.[79] He started all 26 A-League games of the2021–22 season and was named as anA-Leagues All Star forthe game againstBarcelona on 25 May.[80][81] He was named in the PFA A-League Team of the Season for the2022–23 campaign, having scored nine goals in 24 league games.[80][82] He signed a two-year contract extension in December 2023.[83] He was selected to play in the2024 A-Leagues All Stars Men game againstNewcastle United, which the All Stars ran out as 8–0 winners.[84] He scored eight goals in 31 games during the2023–24 campaign.[80] He featured 27 times in the2024–25 season, scoring three goals.
O'Shea is eligible to representIreland orAustralia when he obtains citizenship in 2024 after living in the country for 5 years.[83] He has represented Ireland atunder-19, under-21, andunder-23 levels. He scored on hisU21 debut on 28 March 2009, scoring the first goal in a 2–1 win overSpain U21.[85] He made his only appearance for the under-23s on 21 October 2008, in a 2–1 loss to Belgium under-23s atDalymount Park.[86]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Bray Wanderers | 2006[87] | League of Ireland Premier | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 2007[88] | League of Ireland Premier | 26 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 2 | |
| Total | 35 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 2 | ||
| Galway United | 2008[9] | League of Ireland Premier | 29 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 10 |
| 2009[14] | League of Ireland Premier | 19 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 6 | |
| Total | 48 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 16 | ||
| Birmingham City | 2009–10[21] | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2010–11[89] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Middlesbrough (loan) | 2009–10[21] | Championship | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Stevenage (loan) | 2010–11[89] | League Two | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Port Vale (loan) | 2010–11[89] | League Two | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| Milton Keynes Dons | 2011–12[90] | League One | 28 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 35 | 6 |
| 2012–13[91] | League One | 11 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 17 | 2 | |
| Total | 39 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 52 | 8 | ||
| Chesterfield (loan) | 2012–13[91] | League Two | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
| Chesterfield | 2012–13[91] | League Two | 19 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 5 |
| 2013–14[92] | League Two | 40 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[b] | 0 | 47 | 9 | |
| 2014–15[93] | League One | 41 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 47 | 9 | |
| 2015–16[94] | League One | 46 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 51 | 9 | |
| 2016–17[95] | League One | 27 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3[d] | 1 | 33 | 8 | |
| Total | 180 | 38 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 204 | 42 | ||
| Sheffield United (loan) | 2016–17[95] | League One | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 |
| Bury | 2017–18[62] | League One | 27 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 30 | 4 |
| 2018–19[96] | League Two | 44 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3[d] | 0 | 50 | 16 | |
| Total | 73 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 82 | 20 | ||
| Brisbane Roar | 2019–20[80] | A-League | 27 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 29 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21[80] | A-League | 27 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 4 | |||
| 2021–22[80] | A-League Men | 26 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 3 | |||
| 2022–23[80] | A-League Men | 24 | 9 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 27 | 10 | |||
| 2023–24[80] | A-League Men | 26 | 7 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 31 | 8 | |||
| 2024–25[80] | A-League Men | 26 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 3 | |||
| 2025–26[80] | A-League Men | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 156 | 27 | 14 | 3 | — | — | 170 | 30 | ||||
| Career total | 554 | 107 | 41 | 12 | 18 | 2 | 18 | 1 | 631 | 122 | ||
Chesterfield
Sheffield United
Bury
Individual
