| Michele O'Brien | |
| Birth Date: | 1980 6, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Plainview, New York, United States |
| Position: | Striker |
| Youthclubs1: | Northport/Cow Harbor Soccer Club |
| Collegeyears1: | 1998–2001 |
| Years1: | 2000–2007 |
| Years3: | 2003 |
| Years4: | 2007 |
| Years5: | 2008 |
| Years6: | 2008 |
| Years7: | 2009–2010 |
| Clubs6: | Jersey Sky Blue[1] |
| Clubs7: | Chicago Red Eleven |
| Collegecaps1: | 74 |
| Collegegoals1: | 58 |
| Goals3: | 1 |
| Caps6: | 11 |
| Goals6: | 3 |
| Caps7: | 14 |
| Goals7: | 5 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2003–2012 |
| Nationalteam1: | Republic of Ireland |
| Nationalcaps1: | 65 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 13 |
| Manageryears1: | 2021– |
| Managerclubs1: | DePaul |
Michele O'Brien (born 28 June 1980) is a soccer coach and former striker, who played for the W-League club Chicago Red Eleven. Since making her debut for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team in 2003, she gained over 50 caps.
O'Brien played varsity soccer during four seasons at Florida International University. She remains the program's all–time record goalscorer.[2]
In 2000 O'Brien started playing for the Long Island Lady Riders.[3] She remained with them until 2007, with a spell at Arsenal in 2003.[4] During her time at the English club, O'Brien played in the Women's Premier League[5] and the semi–final of the UEFA Women's Cup.[6]
In 2007 O'Brien joined the Damallsvenskan club QBIK.[4] She then spent time back in England with Watford Ladies, before joining Jersey Sky Blue for the 2008 W-League season.[4] The following season O'Brien moved to Chicago Red Eleven and scored four goals in 11 games in 2009.[7] In 2010, she scored one goal in three games for the Red Eleven.[8]
O'Brien debuted for the Republic of Ireland in 2003 and went on to accumulate more than 50 caps.[4] In 2005 O'Brien was named the FAI Player of the Year.[9]
O'Brien coached soccer at New York University (2004–2005) and Columbia University (2005–2007).[2] She was named assistant soccer coach at DePaul University in February 2009.[2] She was promoted to head coach at DePaul in June 2021.[10]
Born with a congenital heart defect, in 1995 O'Brien suffered a heart attack after a High School P.E. lesson and required open heart surgery. She refused to quit soccer, reportedly telling her concerned parent: "Mom, I might as well die doing something I like".[11]