Kristian O'Leary

Kristian O'Leary
Personal information
Full name Kristian Denis O'Leary[1]
Date of birth (1977-08-30) 30 August 1977
Place of birth Port Talbot, Wales
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position Midfielder / Defender
Club information
Current team
-
Youth career
1992–1995 Swansea City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–2010 Swansea City 281 (10)
2006Cheltenham Town (loan) 5 (1)
2009Leyton Orient (loan) 3 (0)
2010 Wrexham 8 (0)
2010–2012 Neath 24 (4)
Total 321 (15)
Teams managed
2011–2012 Neath
2012–2015 Swansea City Under 21s
2015 Swansea City (Assistant First Team Coach)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12 March 2011.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23 November 2006

Kristian 'Kris' Denis O'Leary (born 30 August 1977) is a Welsh football coach and former professional footballer. He is best known for his spell's both as a player and coach at Swansea City. He formerly managed Welsh side Neath between 2011 and 2012.

Playing career

Born in Port Talbot, O'Leary began his career as a trainee at Swansea City, having signed for the club as a schoolboy at the age of 14 in 1992.[2] He made his professional debut for the club during the 1995–96 season. His favoured position is in midfield, although he has also played in central defence and at right-back. O'Leary spent part of the 2002–03 season as the club captain, but the team met with little success and he gave up the role.

O'Leary was a one club man until November 2006 when he joined Cheltenham Town on a month's loan, later turning down the chance to move to the club on a permanent basis.[3] In August 2009, he moved to Leyton Orient on a one-month loan deal,[4] making three appearances before returning to Swansea. Having made over 300 appearances for Swansea City in a spell lasting nearly 15 years, O'Leary left the club by mutual consent on 2 February 2010.[5] After a spell training with Hereford United, on 17 March he turned out as a trialist for Wrexham reserves against Preston North End reserves after training with the Conference side the week before.[6] On 26 March 2010 he signed an initial one-month contract with the club with a view to a longer deal,[7] making his debut the following day in a 3–0 win over Histon.[8]

On 12 July 2010, he joined Welsh Premier League side Neath. The club stated that "Kris is invaluable to add steel and direction to a young squad in readiness for next season".[9]

Coaching career

On 15 November 2011, he was named caretaker manager after the departures of Neath's management team.[10] He left the club at the end of the season following the club's liquidation.

On 5 July 2012, he rejoined Swansea City, this time as a youth team coach. His job at Swansea would involve coaching the young professionals as manager of the reserve team.[11] In 2015 he moved positions within the club to start working with the first team and he was made assistant first team coach.

On 9 December 2015, O'Leary left his position at Swansea City, along with Pep Clotet and James Beattie, following the sacking of manager Garry Monk.[12]

References

  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. p. 310. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  2. "Loyal O'Leary leaves Swans". Swansea City A.F.C. 2 February 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  3. "O'Leary opts to stay with Swansea". BBC Sport. 27 June 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  4. "Swans O'Leary loaned to Orient". BBC Sport. 31 August 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  5. "Kristian O'Leary parts company with Swansea". BBC Sport. 2 February 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  6. "Wrexham consider move for Kristian O'Leary". BBC Sport. 18 March 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  7. "Kristian Makes It A Hat-Trick!". Wrexham A.F.C. 26 March 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  8. "Wrexham 3–0 Histon". BBC Sport. 27 March 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  9. "Former Swan Kris O'Leary joins Neath". welsh-premier.com. 12 July 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  10. "Boyle & Nicholas leave Neath role". BBC News. 15 November 2011.
  11. "O'Leary is a proud Swan again". swanseacity.net. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  12. "Swansea City: Pep Clotet, James Beattie and Kris O'Leary leave club". BBC Sport. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
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