Anne O'Brien (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Anne O'Brien | ||
| Date of birth | 25 January 1956 | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Date of death | 29 August 2016 (aged 60) | ||
| Place of death | Rome, Italy | ||
| Height | 161 cm (5 ft 3 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1969 | Julian Bars | ||
| 1970–1973 | All-Stars | ||
| 1973–1975 | Stade de Reims | ||
| 1976–1983 | Lazio | ||
| 1983–1984 | Trani | ||
| 1984–1986 | Lazio | ||
| 1986–1987 | Modena | ||
| 1987–1988 | Napoli | ||
| 1988–1989 | Prato | ||
| 1989–1991 | Reggiana Zambelli | ||
| 1991–1994 | Milan Salvarani | ||
| National team‡ | |||
| 1973–1990 | Republic of Ireland | ||
| Teams managed | |||
| 2005–2006 | Lazio | ||
| 2007–2008 | Civitavecchia | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:00, 1 April 2012 (UTC). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12:00, 1 April 2012 (UTC) |
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Anne O'Brien (25 January 1956 – 29 August 2016) was an Irish association football coach and player. A midfielder, she played for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team and was the first Irish female to play professional football outside of Ireland. She began her professional career in France, with Stade de Reims, then settled in Italy where she found success with Serie A teams including Lazio and Trani. After qualifying as a coach at the Coverciano centre, O'Brien worked for the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and served Lazio as manager.
O'Brien joined Stade de Reims at the age of 17, after the French club toured Dublin. She arrived in Italy in 1976, having won three league titles with Reims. O'Brien enjoyed similar success in Italy, collecting six Scudetti and two Italian Women's Cups in a career spanning seven clubs and 18 years.
Beginning at Lazio, O'Brien won the league in 1979 and 1980, as well as the Cup in 1977. After the League switched to a winter season, she helped Trani win the 1984 League. Returning to Lazio and playing alongside Pia Sundhage, she lifted the Cup again in 1985. Later in O'Brien's career she won three consecutive League titles; two with Reggiana (1989–90, 1990–91) and one with Milan Salvarani (1991–92).
The Dizionario del Calcio Italiano described O'Brien as an elegant midfield playmaker, adept at reading the game and capable of precise passing. She was bracketed alongside Rose Reilly, Conchi Sánchez and Susy Augustesen as one of the best foreigners to play women's football in Italy. In 2014 Italian football great Carolina Morace named O'Brien as one of the best players in the world and described her as an inspiration.
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