Shane O'Neill (soccer) explained

Shane O'Neill
Fullname:Shane Edward O'Neill
Birth Date:2 September 1993[1]
Birth Place:Midleton, Cork, Ireland
Height:[2]
Position:Center-back
Currentclub:Toronto FC
Clubnumber:27
Youthyears1:2009–2012
Youthclubs1:Colorado Rapids
Years1:2012–2015
Clubs1:Colorado Rapids
Caps1:52
Goals1:1
Years2:2015–2017
Clubs2:Apollon Limassol
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2015
Clubs3:Royal Excel Mouscron (loan)
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2016
Clubs4:Cambridge United (loan)
Caps4:2
Goals4:0
Years5:2016–2017
Clubs5:NAC Breda (loan)
Caps5:25
Goals5:1
Years6:2017–2018
Clubs6:Excelsior
Caps6:1
Goals6:0
Years7:2018–2019
Clubs7:Orlando City SC
Caps7:24
Goals7:0
Years8:2020–2021
Clubs8:Seattle Sounders FC
Caps8:45
Goals8:1
Years9:2022–
Clubs9:Toronto FC
Caps9:53
Goals9:0
Nationalyears1:2012–2013
Nationalteam1:United States U20
Nationalcaps1:12
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:2014–2016
Nationalteam2:United States U23
Nationalcaps2:9
Nationalgoals2:0
Club-Update:July 20, 2024
Nationalteam-Update:February 10, 2017

Shane Edward O'Neill (born September 2, 1993) is a professional soccer player who plays as a center-back for Major League Soccer club Toronto FC. Born in Ireland, he represented the United States at international level.

Club career

Colorado Rapids

O'Neill joined the U.S. Soccer Development Academy with the Colorado Rapids youth system in 2009. He led the Rapids U18 team in scoring in 2011–12 with 10 goals in 15 games, helping them reach the playoffs.

O'Neill originally signed to play college soccer at the University of Virginia, however on June 19, 2012, O'Neill signed with the Colorado Rapids as a Home Grown Player.[3] Three months later, he made his professional debut in a 3–0 victory over the Portland Timbers, coming on as an 86th-minute substitute for Jeff Larentowicz.[4] O'Neill became a regular starter in 2013 and received strong reviews, earning the Rapids' Young Player of the Year award[5] and a nomination for U.S. Soccer Young Athlete of the Year[6] as the Rapids returned to the playoffs. His first career goal came in a 4–1 home win over Montreal Impact on May 25, 2014.

Apollon Limassol

On August 7, 2015, O'Neill was bought by Cypriot club Apollon Limassol for an undisclosed fee.[7] On August 31, 2015, he was loaned out to Royal Mouscron-Péruwelz in Belgium.[8] [9] The loan was cut short on December 23, 2015, and he returned to Limassol having not made an appearance for the Belgian club. He had subsequent loan spells with League 2 side Cambridge United and NAC Breda in Jupiler League, never featuring for Apollon Limassol.

Excelsior

O'Neill joined Excelsior on a one-year deal for the 2017–18 season.[10]

Orlando City

In June 2018, O'Neill returned to MLS when he signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Orlando City SC.[11] He made his debut in a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal defeat to Philadelphia Union on July 18 and made his MLS debut for the club three days later at Columbus. On November 21, 2019, it was announced O'Neill had his contract option for the 2020 season declined by Orlando as part of the end-of-season roster decisions.[12]

Seattle Sounders FC

On January 14, 2020, O'Neill signed with Seattle Sounders FC.[13] O'Neill made his Sounders debut on February 20 coming in as a substitute against CD Olimpia in the Concacaf Champions League. He scored his first goal for the club in the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs on December 1 against FC Dallas.[14]

Toronto FC

On December 22, 2021, O'Neill signed a three-year contract, beginning in 2022, as a free agent with Toronto FC.[15] He made his debut on February 26 in the season opener against FC Dallas, as a substitute.[16]

International career

O'Neill is eligible to represent both the United States and the Republic of Ireland. On October 9, 2012, O'Neill was called up by the United States U20 national team for the 2012 Marbella Cup in Spain.[17] A day later, O'Neill made his debut for the U20s in a 2–1 loss to Canada, however he suffered an eye injury that ruled him out for the rest of the tournament.[18] [19] He later played for the U.S. at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

He has yet to debut for the U.S. senior team and has indicated a willingness to accept a call for his native Ireland.[20] He participated in a U.S. camp in January 2014, although he was dropped prior to a friendly against South Korea.[21] He was called up to the United States senior squad for a friendly against Panama in February 2015.[22]

Personal life

O'Neill is the son of former All-Ireland winning Cork Gaelic footballer, Colm O'Neill, and is a nephew of former Kerry Gaelic footballer, Maurice Fitzgerald.[23] O'Neill is the younger brother of Darragh O'Neill, a former punter for Colorado Buffaloes football team.

O'Neill's family immigrated to the United States from Ireland when he was a toddler after his father won a green card through the Diversity Immigrant Visa lottery program.[24]

O'Neill grew up in Boulder, Colorado and attended Fairview High School. In his senior year of high school, O'Neill was named the Colorado's player of the year by Gatorade and selected to the All-Colorado boys soccer team. O'Neill played basketball in high school and was named to the second-team all-5A team for his performances during his senior year. Although he committed to the University of Virginia, O'Neill ultimately signed with his hometown team the Colorado Rapids at the age of 18.[25]

Career statistics

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeaguePlayoffsNational cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Colorado Rapids2012MLS100010
20132601010280
201421120231
2015402060
Total52110500000581
Apollon Limassol2015–16Cypriot First Division00
Royal Excel Mouscron (loan)2015–16Belgian Pro League000000
Cambridge United (loan)2015–16League Two2020
NAC Breda (loan)2016–17Eerste Divisie2514000291
Excelsior2017–18Eredivisie101020
Orlando City SC2018MLS13010140
201911010120
Total24000200000260
Seattle Sounders FC2020MLS1804120241
20212701030310
Total45051005000551
Toronto FC2022MLS26030290
20231400010150
2024130001020160
Total53000400030600
Career total202210112050302313

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013 List of Players: United States . FIFA.com . 23 . Fédération Internationale de Football Association . June 23, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130627043508/http://www.fifadata.com/document/FWYC/2013/pdf/FWYC_2013_SquadLists.pdf . June 27, 2013 . dead.
  2. Web site: Shane O'Neil . 21 August 2022 . Toronto FC.
  3. Web site: Rapids sign Boulder's Shane O'Neill as Homegrown player. coloradorapids.com. Colorado Rapids Media Relations. November 1, 2012. June 19, 2012.
  4. Web site: Sferra. German. O'Neill becomes first homegrown player to make MLS debut. Colorado Rapids. November 1, 2012. September 5, 2012.
  5. Web site: Rapids announce 2013 team awards, with Dillon Powers taking MVP honors. Colorado Rapids.
  6. Web site: Shane O'Neill Nominated For US Soccer Award. UZ. Burgundy Wave. November 20, 2013.
  7. Web site: Shane O'Neill transferred to Cypriot side Apollon Limassol. Colorado Rapids.
  8. Web site: Sept nouveaux joueurs : Oussalah de retour. August 31, 2015. fr-BE.
  9. Web site: Shane O'Neill, former Rapids defender, excited for Belgium move, Olympic qualifying. September 2, 2015. September 11, 2015. en.
  10. Web site: Excelsior contracteert verdediger Shane O'Neill. August 21, 2017. August 21, 2017. nl.
  11. Web site: Orlando City SC Signs Defender Shane O'Neill. June 22, 2018. en.
  12. Web site: Orlando City SC Announces 2019 End-of-Season Roster Decisions. Orlando City SC. November 21, 2019.
  13. Web site: Sounders FC signs defender Shane O'Neill. Seattle Sounders FC. January 14, 2020. January 14, 2020.
  14. News: Evans . Jayda . December 1, 2020 . Sounders fight past FC Dallas to reach Western Conference title match . The Seattle Times . December 8, 2020.
  15. Web site: Toronto FC Signs Defender Shane O'Neill. Toronto FC. December 22, 2021.
  16. Web site: TFC debutants make solid first impressions in season opener. 2 March 2022. James. Grossi. Toronto FC.
  17. Web site: Torre Added to U.S. U-20 Men's National Team Roster for 2012 Marbella Cup. U.S. soccer. November 1, 2012. October 9, 2012.
  18. Web site: U.S. Under-20 MNT Loses 2–1 to Canada in International Friendly at 2012 Marbella Cup. U.S. soccer. November 1, 2012. October 10, 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121022005507/http://www.ussoccer.com/News/U-20-MNT/2012/10/US-Under20-MNT-Loses-21-to-Canada-in-International-Friendly-at-2012-Marbella-Cup.aspx. October 22, 2012.
  19. Web site: Bianchi. Chris. O'Neill hopes to keep getting calls from US U-20s. Colorado Rapids. November 1, 2012. October 24, 2012.
  20. Web site: Colorado Rapids defender Shane O'Neill debating between U.S., Ireland -. ProSoccerTalk. October 4, 2013.
  21. Web site: Klinsmann narrows down roster for USA's January camp final leg, adds Parkhurst. Avi Creditor. SI.com.
  22. News: USA 2-0 Panama. November 13, 2015. eurosport.co.uk. February 8, 2015.
  23. News: Heneghan. Conor. May 26, 2014. Maurice Fitzgerald's nephew scored his first goal in the MLS on Saturday night and it was a cracker. JOE.ie. May 26, 2014.
  24. News: Krasnoo. Ryan. 19 October 2020. Once a journeyman, Sounders' Shane O'Neill quietly flashing defensive bona fides as he finds home in Seattle. Seattle Sounders FC. 20 October 2020.
  25. Web site: 2012-06-19. Colorado Rapids sign Shane O'Neill of Boulder's Fairview High. 2021-05-31. The Denver Post. en-US.