.jpg) Owen Heary in action forBohemians | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1976-10-04)4 October 1976 (age 49) | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Position | Right back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1993–1994 | Kilkenny City | 16 | (1) |
| 1994–1998 | Home Farm | 111 | (6) |
| 1998–2006 | Shelbourne | 274 | (13) |
| 2007–2013 | Bohemians | 168 | (9) |
| Total | 569 | (29) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2011 | Bohemians Reserves | ||
| 2011–2013 | Bohemians Under 19 | ||
| 2012–2013 | Bohemians (assistant manager) | ||
| 2013–2014 | Bohemians | ||
| 2014–2015 | Sligo Rovers | ||
| 2016–2018 | Shelbourne | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Owen Heary (born 4 October 1976) is an Irish professionalfootball player and manager. He is formerly the manager ofShelbourne in theLeague of Ireland First Division, the club with which he spent most of his playing career.[1][dead link]
He made hisLeague of Ireland debut for Kilkenny City at Bray Wanderers on 21 November 1993. After one season atBuckley Park he moved home to Home Farm where in 4 seasons he won the First Division Shield.
He won five league titles and oneFAI Cup withShelbourne after making his debut againstFinn Harps atTolka Park in September 1998. He accompaniedDermot Keely, his former manager atHome Farm (whom Heary had captained) to Shelbourne.
Heary, a right-sidedfull-back noted for his robust tackling, general fitness and frequent sorties up the right flank in support of his attack, was electedPlayer of the Year for the 2001/2002 season by his peers in theProfessional Footballers' Association of Ireland.
Heary was unveiled as a Bohemians player at a press conference on 22 January 2007 and has since slotted into the side with ease, playing a huge part in Bohs' great defensive record. Owen captained Bohs to the 2008 league title and FAI Cup in a fantastic season for the right back.
He collected a bucketful of personal honours during the season, being voted on to the Eircom League of Ireland Premier Division Team for 2008, receiving 42% of the votes for the right back position[2][permanent dead link] and named the eircom/Soccer Writers Association of Ireland (SWAI) player of the month for October[3]. This was topped off when he was named the SWAI Personality of the Year on 4 December.
Heary struggled with injuries during the 2009 season, only making 20 league appearances.[4]. However, he collected his first ever League Cup winners medal in the September as Bohs beatWaterford United 3–1 at theRSC.[1]
In November 2009, Heary as captain, collected the Premier Division trophy for the Bohemians first back-to-back league wins.[2] In doing so, he equalledJohnny Matthews record of 7 league winners medals.[5]
Despite captaining the club to theSetanta Sports Cup,[3] Bohemians had a disappointing 2010 season where the club lost their league title ongoal difference and failed to make an impact in Europe where they made an embarrassing exit to Welsh sideThe New Saints.
Heary retired as a player in 2013. His testimonial was played betweenShels andBohs atDalymount Park in November 2013.
Owen took his first steps into management during 2011 when he took charge of Bohs' A Team and under 19 team and also managed the first team during theirLeinster Senior Cup matches. WhenPat Fenlon departed forHibernian, Owen becameAaron Callaghan'sassistant manager for the 2012 season.[4]
After a poor run of results during the 2013 season which left Bohs in the relegation zone, Callaghan was sacked as manager and Heary was appointed to take caretaker charge of the club. Due to Heary not possessing the necessary coaching qualifications, this was for an initial 60-day period until 12 September 2013.[5] Heary now holds a UEFA Pro Licence having been shortlisted by the FAI to do the course in January 2014.[6]
Heary managedSligo Rovers until June 2015.
He was appointed as manager ofShelbourne on 28 June 2016 followingKevin Doherty's resignation.
Heary made 41 appearances in European competition and scored againstRhyl F.C. in the2008 UEFA Intertoto Cup[6].