| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mark O'Brien | ||
| Date of birth | 20 November 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Derby County | ||
| Number | 24 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2008 | Cherry Orchard | ||
| 2008–2009 | Derby County | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2008– | Derby County | 23 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:53, 26 December 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
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Mark O'Brien (born 20 November 1992 in Dublin) is a Republic of Ireland youth international footballer who plays as a central defender for Derby County. His older brother Jamie O'Brien is also a professional footballer. Both Mark and Jamie came through the ranks of Cherry Orchard Football Club in Dublin.[1]
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O'Brien made his debut for Derby County as a 65th minute substitute for Lewin Nyatanga, in a 3–1 defeat away to Watford on 3 May 2009.[2] He was named Derby County scholar of the year at a club awards ceremony two days later.
In November 2009 it was announced by Derby County that O'Brien had successfully undergone heart surgery to correct a valve problem, and that he would be able to resume his career following a three to four month recovery period. The problem had been discovered during a routine medical scan for academy players.[3] He returned to football action just six months later, as he played 45 minutes in an Academy friendly against Wallsend Boys Club on 13 April 2010[4] and was an unused substitute in Derby's final first team game of the 2009/10 season as they ran out 2–0 winners against Cardiff City at Pride Park.
On the 6 August 2011, O'Brien made an apparence in the first game of 2011–12 season against Birmingham City, replacing the injured Russell Anderson in the 35th minute. The Rams won the game 2-1, with O'Brien gaining praise for his performance. O'Brien continued to start the subsequent league games against Watford, Blackpool and Doncaster Rovers, as Derby won their opening first four games of a league season in 63 years. However this run was ended against Burnley, as an O'Brien defensive error contributed to a 2-1 defeat.
On 13 September 2011, O'Brien signed a new four-year contract, extending his stay at Pride Park until the summer of 2015.[5] He made 21 appearances for the club until he was ruled out for the sesaon in December, after damaging his cruciate ligaments in training.[6]
(correct as of 26 December 2011)
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Derby County | 2008–09 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009–10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2010–11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2011–12 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| Career Total | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | |
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