31 Facts About David O'Leary

David Anthony O'Leary was born on 2 May 1958 and is a football manager and former player.

David O'Leary 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.

David O'Leary managed Aston Villa for three Premier League seasons and had one year in charge of Al Ahli Dubai.

David O'Leary was born in Stoke Newington, London, on 2 May 1958, and moved to live in Dublin in 1961.

David O'Leary had two weeks on trial at Manchester United before signing for Arsenal as an apprentice in 1973.

David O'Leary played in the 1978 and 1980 Cup finals, and the 1980 European Cup Winners' Cup final, all of which Arsenal lost.

In 1982, David O'Leary became club captain but relinquished it to Graham Rix 18 months later.

In 1981, David O'Leary rejected a move to Manchester United and signed a four-year extension at Arsenal.

David O'Leary missed the loss to Luton Town in the 1988 Football League Cup final due to an Achilles tendon rupture.

David O'Leary broke numerous appearance records at Arsenal; he was the youngest person to reach the 100- and 200-match milestones, and he made his 400th appearance while still only 26.

David O'Leary passed George Armstrong's all-time record of 621 first-team games in November 1989.

David O'Leary won another league title in 1991 and an FA Cup and League Cup double in 1993, though by this time he was mainly used as a substitute.

David O'Leary holds Arsenal's all-time record for appearances, with 722 first-team games, in a 20-year-long association with the club.

David O'Leary assumes the role of a club ambassador for Arsenal.

David O'Leary joined Leeds on a free transfer in 1993 after 19 years at Highbury.

David O'Leary retired due to another Achilles injury in 1995, after only 12 appearances.

David O'Leary did not feature until November 1988, thus missing out on Euro 88.

David O'Leary's strike has since been voted as the greatest moment in Irish footballing history.

In January 2002, David O'Leary wrote a book, Leeds United on Trial.

David O'Leary alleged that Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink refused to play unless he could be the highest-paid player at the club.

David O'Leary promoted several members of the youth team into an exciting Leeds side that played a pressing game relying on youthful enthusiasm.

David O'Leary was fired with two years remaining of his contract and sued for compensation as the club claimed he had left by mutual consent.

David O'Leary returned to management on 4 July 2010 with United Arab Emirates club Al-Ahli Dubai, where World Cup-winning Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro was signed and made skipper.

When he was sacked, David O'Leary had two years remaining on a three-year contract.

Al-Ahli claimed David O'Leary had abandoned his post, despite previously stating he had been dismissed.

David O'Leary had won six of his 15 league games in charge.

David O'Leary's father was an avid Arsenal supporter who had left Ireland to work in London as a contractor, and was later proud that his son chose Arsenal instead of Manchester United, who had offered him terms to sign for them.

David O'Leary is a UK resident according to current UK Companies House documents, and maintains links to Yorkshire.

David O'Leary has been married to wife Joy for more than forty years.

David O'Leary's brother, Pierce, played for Shamrock Rovers and Celtic, and was capped seven times for the Republic of Ireland.

David O'Leary endorsed a Game Boy Color game called David O'Leary Manager 2000, which was released by Ubi Soft in 2000.