FC New York News Release

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

NEW YORK -- F.C. New York today announced the appointment of veteran Irish player and coach Don O’Riordan as its Technical Director/Coach, club President Doug Petersen announced. O’Riordan will be responsible for all soccer activities for the club including the first team, the reserves, the F.C New York Academy, its youth system and scouting.

“Don O’Riordan is highly respected in the international soccer world and we’re extremely fortunate to add someone of his stature to the F.C. New York family,” Petersen said of O’Riordan, who was featured as “the nomadic nurturer” in a story on FIFA.com this past month. “F.C. New York’s direction on the field is now in reliable hands and we’re anxious to move forward with our preparations for the 2011 United Soccer Leagues season.”

O’Riordan’s mix of experience, professionalism and know-how will help establish F.C. New York on the local and national soccer maps. He will not only develop players of all ages and help direct FCNY coaches, but he will establish relationships with local youth and college coaches as well.

“We are excited to secure Don for this crucial position, and we know his appointment will benefit not only FC New York, but the local soccer community as well,” F.C. New York EVP Jo-Ellen Treiber said. “We firmly believe that he has the temperament, leadership qualities and proven track record in developing soccer players that will be crucial in helping us to establish our club here in New York.”

O’Riordan, 52, joins F.C. New York after a successful career as a player and as a manager/coach. Most recently O’Riordan spent five years in China as technical director/coach with Chengdu Blades Football Club, which he helped guide to promotion into the Chinese Super League. His role with Chengdu also included the establishment of an academy to help develop coaches and players at every level in their organization. He also monitored the standard of the players in China for parent club Sheffield United.

O’Riordan became involved in the 2008 Beijing Olympics when, at the request of the CFA, he worked with the China Women’s National Team. He was later credited for his role in helping the team making it to the quarterfinals by the Chinese Head Coach Shang. He recently worked with the South African U-20 Women’s Team after a request from the SAFA to help prepare the team for a World Cup Qualifier vs. Zambia, which they won, 6-0. It was O’Riordan’s third experience working with national teams following his appointment as head coach of the Ireland semi-pro Team that participated in a 2001 Home Nations Tournament in England.

While playing and coaching in England O’Riordan gained great experience and knowledge working with some of the top managers and coaches in the game. In 2004 his ex-manager, Neil Warnock, was delighted to secure O’Riordan for his coaching staff at Sheffield United. O’Riordan had spent the previous seven years in Ireland as head coach at Galway United and Sligo Rovers, where he was responsible for establishing both clubs’ highly successful youth systems.

As a player, O’Riordan’s career began in Ireland where he captained the Republic of Ireland U-15 and U-18 teams, playing three consecutive years for his country and in UEFA Youth Championship Finals in Italy (1973) and Switzerland (1975). Having signed for the champions of England in 1972, Derby County, he went on to make his league debut on March 23, 1977 in a 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane vs. Tottenham Hotspur. In January of 1978 O’Riordan was transferred overseas to the Tulsa Roughnecks where he played in every game in his first season, marking the likes of his hero, Franz Beckenbauer, and George Best. He returned to England at the end of the season and signed for Preston North End, though a clause in his contract allowed him to play another season for Tulsa in ’79 when he was voted Player of the Year.

After Preston his career continued at Carlisle United, Middlesborough, Grimsby Town and Notts County. On the opening day of the ‘91-92 season while playing for Notts against Manchester United at Old Trafford, O’Riordan sustained an injury that almost finished his career. Following his recovery he took his experience and leadership onto the pitch with Torguay United, where he was appointed as head coach while still playing a leading role on the pitch. He was later appointed manager at Galway United in Ireland and in his first season in charge at age 40, his professional playing days came to an end.
 

Related:

FIFA.com - O’Riordan, the nomadic nurturer [+]