George O'Callaghan

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George O'Callaghan
Image:Ocallaghan.gif
Personal information
Full name George Paul O'Callaghan, Jr.
Date of birth September 5, 1979
Place of birth    Cork, Ireland
Nickname Georgie
Playing position Attacking Midfielder
Club information
Current club Ipswich Town F.C.
Number 21
Youth clubs
Rockmount
Leeds United
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1998-2002
2002-2007
2007-		 Port Vale
Cork City
Ipswich Town		 34 (4)
150 (23)
   
National team
Ireland Under-18
Ireland Under-20

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
* Appearances (Goals)

George Paul O'Callaghan, Jr., (born 5 September 1979) is an Irish football player currently at Ipswich Town F.C. whose former clubs include Port Vale FC and Cork City FC. O'Callaghan is a attacking midfielder who can also play as a striker. He is known for his excellent passing, shooting and play-making.

Contents

[edit] Early life

O'Callaghan was born on September 5, 1979 in Cork, Ireland. He played schoolboys football with Rockmount, before moving to rival team Leeds AFC. He also played hurling with Glen Rovers and his school, The North Monastery's, team.

[edit] Port Vale

George went on trial with Port Vale at the age of 16 and was signed up almost immediately. After two year's, the Corkman was offered a professional contract. George was a regular in the side in the 1998/1999 season, up until John Rudge was sacked. Brian Horton took over as manager and George was put back into the youth squad. 13 months later, he made a return to the senior squad, scoring in a draw with Crewe Alexandra. He stayed in the side for the rest of the season and signed a new two year deal with the club despite an offer from Tottenham Hotspur. Port Vale were relegated to League 1 that year. George was top scorer 7 games into the 2000/2001 season but was suddenly dropped after a 3-0 loss to Cardiff City. It would be his last game for Port Vale.

[edit] Return to Cork City

He returned home to Cork in 2002 after his contract ended at Port Vale. Shortly after, he signed for his hometown club Cork City FC. He made his debut in the opening game of the 2002/2003 season against Shelbourne in 3-0 home win (which he scored in). Together with new signing John O'Flynn, they formed a formidable striking partnership.

Following the arrival of Neale Fenn in 2004, George was moved to midfield by then manager Pat Dolan, to accommodate the new player. Despite playing in less preferred position, he adapted well and put in some excellent performances in the League and Europe that year.

In 2005, Cork City picked up their first League title in 12 years and George picked up a winners medal. He scored 11 goals in all competitions. O'Callaghan was also announced as the eircom League Player of the Year for 2005.

[edit] Disagreement and Departure

In the summer of 2006, O'Callaghan was sent off following a brace of rash tackles on Bohemians player "Joxer" Kelly, with the game ending in a draw dispite Cork's dominance. O'Callaghan was fined two weeks wages in accordance with the club's disciplinary policy and precident. Manager Damien Richardson appeared to criticise O'Callaghan's lack of calm and claimed his dismissal as a contributing factor in the disappointing result. Following a training ground disagreement, O'Callaghan was given "time off" from training; His manager claiming George was giving time to resolve personal issues. His return never materialised with the situation spiralling into a virtual civil war amongst fans and critics of both O'Callaghan and Richardson. Soon after being sent home from training, O'Callaghan issued a statement through his solicitor, claiming Cork City, and Richardson's comments in particular, to be liable to harm his professional and international career. With this move seen by some as arrogant, but by many others as justified, hopes of reconcilliation faded.

O'Callaghan played no further part in Cork City's season, missing vital games in the UEFA Champions League against Apollon Limassol, Crvena Zvezda Beograd (Red Star), and the title deciding run-in to the eircom League. Cork missed out on another season in the Champions League, losing to Derry City F.C. on the final day of the season. During this time O'Callaghan trained occasionally with Cork City's Under 21 team and sought a transfer. Cork City rejected a loan bid from ill-fated Limerick F.C. for O'Callaghan, and a transfer bid from Slavia Prague.

[edit] Ipswich Town

In October 2006, George O'Callaghan joined English club Ipswich Town on trial with a view to a permanent deal. George remained training at Ipswich for the following two months, unable to formally sign because of UEFA's transfer window system. In mid-January 2007, the clubs finally negotiated a deal despite strong words on both sides, concluding in an undisclosed fee (speculated to be around £60,000) which saw George sign an 18-month contract with Ipswich. On his full Ipswich debut he was sent off playing in the FA Cup against Watford F.C., after an alleged stamp on Watford defender Danny Shittu, but Ipswich Town viewed the red card as harsh, and O'Callaghan's club announced that they would contest referee Steve Bennett's decision to show the red card. The case was heard at an appeals panel and the decision reached was to allow O'Callaghan to escape a further three match ban.

[edit] Honours

[edit] Club

[edit] Personal

  • Port Vale FC Young Player Of The Year (1997)
  • eircom League Player Of The Year (2005)

[edit] External links


Ipswich Town F.C. - Current Squad

1 Supple | 2 Wilnis | 3 Richards | 4 de Vos | 5 Bruce | 6 Naylor | 7 Garvan | 8 Legwinski | 10 Currie | 11 Williams | 12 Peters | 14 Lee | 15 Sito Castro | 16 Casement | 18 Haynes | 19 Walters | 20 Wright | 21 O'Callaghan | 23 Harding | 24 Clarke | 25 Rhodes | 26 Barron | 29 Magilton | 30 Moore | 31 Synnott | 33 Roberts | 34 Price | 36 Trotter | 37 Plummer | Manager: Magilton
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