Talking Sport
Soccer man back in town and remains as ambitious as ever
Talking Sport with Stephen Glennon
It says something of the enthusiasm and passion 57-year-old Don O’Riordan has for the ‘Beautiful Game’ that he continues to harbour ambitions of managing and coaching at the top level in the League of Ireland and across the water in the UK.
Currently undertaking the UEFA Pro Licence, the former Galway United manager – who was at the helm of the West of Ireland club between 1997 and 2001, taking them from the First Division into the Premier League – was one of the privileged few to be selected by the FAI for the coaching course.
That in itself underlines O’Riordan’s desire to succeed and, indeed, the esteem the former Derby County and Notts County journeyman is still held in. “It’s fantastic to be still involved in football. It has been my life; it is all I have ever done,” begins the former Republic of Ireland U-15 and U-18 captain.
Having forged a playing career – in which he also played for Preston North End, Middlesbrough, Grimsby Town and Torquay United, among others – it was no surprise O’Riordan would make the step into football management.
“After 25 years playing for various teams in England, I came back to Ireland – came to Galway – and spent four years here that were fantastic,” says the Headford resident. “Even though I am from Dublin, my time in Galway was my happiest. I loved living in Galway and I am delighted to be back here now.”
Since parting ways with United in 2001, the Dublin native has been involved with Sligo Rovers and Sheffield United, where he took up the role as Technical Director of Sheffield’s Chinese Academy.
“I was sent to a place called Chengdu, where the Pandas originated from, and I was put in place as the Technical Director of the club. It basically meant I was in charge of what happened in the club from the kids all the way up to the first team. In the second season, we got promotion into the top league.
“I was then asked to help the Chinese women’s team in the [2008 Beijing] Olympics, which was a great experience. It was very exciting and we won our group but we lost to Japan in the quarter-finals. At one stage, my brother said I was Ireland’s best hope for a medal, which was quite true I suppose,” he chuckles.
However, while in China, O’Riordan was to see another side of the ‘Beautiful Game’ when the Chairman of the Chinese entity “was put away for buying a game”. He continues: “Sheffield and I didn’t want to be involved in that kind of scenario so Sheffield gave me the option of returning to Sheffield or going to join a club in New York, a new club called FC New York.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.