Joey O'Brien

Joey O'Brien

O'Brien playing against Birkirkara in 2015
Personal information
Full name	Joseph Martin O'Brien
Date of birth	(1986-02-17) 17 February 1986 (age 31)
Place of birth	Dublin, Ireland
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Full-back
Youth career
2002–2004	Bolton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2011	Bolton Wanderers	50	(0)
2004–2005	→ Sheffield Wednesday (loan)	15	(2)
2011	→ Sheffield Wednesday (loan)	4	(0)
2011–2016	West Ham United	91	(3)
National team‡
	Republic of Ireland U19
2005–2006	Republic of Ireland U21	6	(0)
2006–2012	Republic of Ireland	5	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13:59, 7 June 2016 (UTC). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 September 2012

Joseph Martin "Joey" O'Brien (born 17 February 1986) is an Irish footballer who plays as a full-back. He is currently a free agent, having most recently played for West Ham United.

O'Brien started his career with Bolton Wanderers in 2004 after starting out his first year scholarships in 2002.

To gain further experience, O'Brien was loaned out to League One team Sheffield Wednesday for the most part of the 2004–05 season, making 15 appearances and scoring two goals, including one on his debut. After extending his loan spell at the club twice times, O'Brien was named as captain for the last game of his loan spell in honour of his contribution.

Upon returning to Bolton Wanderers from a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday, O'Brien made his Premier League debut on 15 May 2005 against Everton when coming on as a late substitute in place of Fernando Hierro. He was given his first start in Bolton's colours in their away UEFA Cup 1st Round tie with PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv in September 2005. In the 2005–06 season, O'Brien was called up by the first team following a defensive crisis of injuries and that moment on, he became a first team regular, making thirty-three appearance in all competition. Initially playing as a centre-midfielder, O'Brien changed to a right-back role and made an impression, leading to Manager Sam Allardyce described him as a "dominant force at right back in the Premiership".

O'Brien missed most of the 2006–07 season due to a knee injury. By October, O'Brien was expected to return from a pitch in a months time, with a help from an American doctor Dr Frank Jarrell, a pioneer in the field of spinal reflex analysis. However, his recovery was delayed for another 3–4 months, causing him to miss the rest of the season. Having regained his fitness, it wasn't until on 23 September 2007 when he made his return for Bolton, making his first start and playing the whole game, in a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur. Since making his return from injury, he played most of the 2007–08 season in his natural midfield role as opposed to the right back position which he had been in two years previous. Despite further injury concerns, O'Brien went on to make 26 appearance in all competition.