David O'Leary
Arsenal's record appearance-maker and the manager who led Leeds to the Champions League semi-finals.
David Anthony O'Leary (born 2 May 1958) is a football manager and former player. The majority of his 20-year playing career was spent as a central defender at Arsenal, where his tally of 722 appearances stands as a club record. He played 68 times for the Republic of Ireland from 1976 to 1993, and was part of the squad that reached the quarter-finals of the 1990 FIFA World Cup. O'Leary retired as a player after two years at Leeds United, and began managing the club in 1998. He built a team of young talents, and reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League in 2000–01 before being dismissed the following year. He also managed Aston Villa for three Premier League seasons and had one year in charge of Al Ahli Dubai.
- Role
- Player & Manager
- Affiliation
- Arsenal FC
- Playing Position
- Central Defender
- Major Honours as Player
- First Division (2), FA Cup (1), League Cup (1)
- Status
- Retired
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
O'Leary was born in Stoke Newington, London, on 2 May 1958, and moved to live in Dublin in 1961. He had two weeks on trial at Manchester United before signing for Arsenal as an apprentice in 1973. He made his debut against Burnley on 16 August 1975. He became club captain in 1982 but relinquished it to Graham Rix 18 months later. He holds Arsenal's all-time record for appearances, with 722 first-team games. He scored his only international goal for Ireland in a 5–0 win over Turkey on 17 October 1990. The highlight of his international career came in the 1990 World Cup when he scored the decisive penalty in a shootout against Romania to take Ireland to the quarterfinals.
In Their Own Story
The defining moment of O'Leary's international career occurred during the 1990 FIFA World Cup quarter-final against Romania. After goalkeeper Packie Bonner saved Daniel Timofte's penalty in the shootout, O'Leary stepped up to take the decisive final spot-kick. His strike secured a 5–4 victory, sending Ireland to the semi-finals—a moment later voted the greatest in Irish footballing history. On the domestic front, his resilience was tested by severe injuries; he missed the 1988 League Cup final loss to Luton Town due to an Achilles tendon rupture and retired from playing entirely after a recurrence at Leeds United in 1995 following just 12 appearances. Despite these setbacks, O'Leary remained unbeaten in terms of discipline, never receiving a single red card throughout his entire professional career.
Reader's Guide
O'Leary's managerial career began at Leeds United, where he was appointed permanently in October 1998 after serving as assistant to George Graham. He led Leeds to fourth place in the Premier League in 1998–99 and to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League in 2000–01. He was dismissed in the summer of 2002. He later managed Aston Villa for three Premier League seasons and had one year in charge of Al Ahli Dubai.
Did You Know?
- O'Leary was never sent off in a professional match as a player.
- He was nominated for the Ballon d'Or in 1980.
- His penalty against Romania in the 1990 World Cup has been voted the greatest moment in Irish footballing history.
- O'Leary settled a legal dispute with Leeds United for £2 million after his dismissal.
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