David O'Leary: Biography, Facts and Career
Who is David O'Leary? An evergreen, sourced profile: biography, key facts and career.

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.
== Club career == O'Leary was born in Stoke Newington, London, on 2 May 1958, and moved to live in Dublin in 1961.
=== Arsenal === O'Leary 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 in a 3–3 draw, and despite being only 17, went on to make 30 appearances that season. The following year, he signed a professional contract. For the next 10 years, he played more than 40...
Quick facts about David O'Leary
- Full name: David O'Leary
- Born: 1958-05-02
- Nationality: Ireland
- Known as: Athlete
- Wikidata ID: Q132026
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Frequently asked questions
Who is David O'Leary?
David Anthony O'Leary (born 2 May 1958) is a football manager and former player.
What nationality is David O'Leary?
David O'Leary is Ireland.
When was David O'Leary born?
David O'Leary was born on 1958-05-02.



