27 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 was born in Stoke Newington, London, on 2 May 1958, and moved to live in Dublin at the age of four.

David O'Leary soon progressed through the ranks at Highbury, playing in the reserves at the age of 16.

David O'Leary made his debut for Arsenal against Burnley on 16 August 1975, and despite being only 17, went on to make 30 appearances that season.

David O'Leary played in the 1978 and 1980 Cup finals, and the 1980 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.

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 played in the Leeds side until he suffered an achilles' tendon injury.

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.

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 has since stated that he would like the chance to return as manager of Leeds United, after Peter Ridsdale left the club.

David O'Leary was hot favourite to become manager of Sunderland when Peter Reid was sacked in October and again when Howard Wilkinson was sacked in March of that season, but O'Leary remained out of work until June 2003, when he was appointed manager of Aston Villa.

David O'Leary returned to management on 4 July 2010 with United Arab Emirates club Al-Ahli Dubai, where his first decision was to install former Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro as the new skipper of the team.

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 explained his decision in 2022 to interviewer Adrian Chiles, as a guest on BBC R5 Live.

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.