Kristian O'Leary

Kristian O'Leary
Personal information
Full nameKristian Denis O'Leary[1]
Date of birth30 August 1977
Place of birthPort Talbot, Wales
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing positionMidfielder
Club information
Current team
Swansea City (Coach)
Youth career
1992–1995Swansea City
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1995–2010Swansea City281(10)
2006Cheltenham Town (loan)5(1)
2009Leyton Orient (loan)3(0)
2010Wrexham8(0)
2010–2012Neath24(4)
Total321(15)
Teams managed
2011–2012Neath
2012-Swansea City Under 21s
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12 March 2011.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23 November 2006

Kristian 'Kris' Denis O'Leary (born 30 August 1977) is a Welsh football coach and former professional footballer.

Career

Born in Port Talbot, O'Leary began his career as a trainee at Swansea City, having signed for the club as a schoolboy at the age of 14 in 1992.[2] He made his professional debut for the club during the 1995–96 season. His favoured position is in midfield, although he has also played in central defence and at right-back. O'Leary spent part of the 2002–03 season as the club captain, but the team met with little success and he gave up the role.

O'Leary was a one club man until November 2006 when he joined Cheltenham Town on a month's loan, later turning down the chance to move to the club on a permanent basis.[3] In August 2009, he moved to Leyton Orient on a one-month loan deal,[4] making three appearances before returning to Swansea. Having made over 300 appearances for Swansea City in a spell lasting nearly 15 years, O'Leary left the club by mutual consent on 2 February 2010.[5] After a spell training with Hereford United, on 17 March he turned out as a trialist for Wrexham reserves against Preston North End reserves after training with the Conference side the week before.[6] On 26 March 2010 he signed an initial one-month contract with the club with a view to a longer deal,[7] making his debut the following day in a 3–0 win over Histon.[8]

On 12 July 2010, he joined Welsh Premier League side Neath. The club stated that "Kris is invaluable to add steel and direction to a young squad in readiness for next season".[9]

On 15 November 2011, he was named caretaker manager after the departures of Neath's management team.[10] He left the club at the end of the season following the club's liquidation.

On 5 July 2012, he joined Swansea City once again, this time as a youth team coach. His job at Swansea will involve coaching the young professionals as manager of the reserve team.[11]

References

  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. p. 310. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  2. "Loyal O'Leary leaves Swans". Swansea City A.F.C. 2 February 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  3. "O'Leary opts to stay with Swansea". BBC Sport. 27 June 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  4. "Swans O'Leary loaned to Orient". BBC Sport. 31 August 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  5. "Kristian O'Leary parts company with Swansea". BBC Sport. 2 February 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  6. "Wrexham consider move for Kristian O'Leary". BBC Sport. 18 March 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  7. "Kristian Makes It A Hat-Trick!". Wrexham F.C. 26 March 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  8. "Wrexham 3–0 Histon". BBC Sport. 27 March 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  9. "Former Swan Kris O'Leary joins Neath". welsh-premier.com. 12 July 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  10. "Boyle & Nicholas leave Neath role". BBC News. 15 November 2011.
  11. "O'Leary is a proud Swan again". swanseacity.net. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2012.

External links