Who is John O'Shea? Waterford Man United legend's family life, nutmegging Figo and Ireland manager's job

John O'Shea is a former Waterford born professional footballer and now manager who made his name at the very highest level of professional football with club and country. The Waterford man who is best known for his time at Manchester United winning x5 Premiere League titles, FA Cup, and a Champions League to name a few. John has also made over 100 caps for the Republic of Ireland, representing Ireland in 2 major tournaments and even captaining the boys in green at Euro 2016. Most recently John has been appointed as the interim Republic of Ireland manager.

John was born in 1981 in Waterford, John grew up in Ferrybank, and joined Manchester United when he was just 17 years old. Prior to making the move to England, John played his youth football at Ferrybank AFC and Waterford Bohemians. 

He went on to make his professional debut for Man United in 1999 in 3-0 away at Aston Villa before being loaned out to AFC Bournemouth and Royal Antwerp before returning to the Red Devils and becoming a regular starter in the title winning 2002-2003 season. John established himself as a starter, not only because of his hard work and talent but his versatility as well, playing across centre half, right and left back and even a stint in central midfield.

He featured heavily then in the 2003-2004 season as Manchester United were without Rio Ferdinand following the Englishman's missed drug test. In this season he was key in helping Manchester United win the FA Cup that season.

Although Manchester United would win the FA Cup that season a moment of pure magic from O'Shea from the Champions League that season will always be synonymous with him. That is of course when he received the ball on the left wing with a beautiful cushioned touch and popped the ball through the legs of Ballon D'or winner, Luis Figo. Man United lost the encounter to the all powerful Real Madrid team of the time but definitely a feather in the cap of the Irishman.

Speaking as an ambassador for Just Eat ahead of the Champions League Final, he said this about one of football's most iconic moments:

"It was only afterwards when people were messaging me. I even got t-shirts in the post saying ‘I nutmegged Luis Figo’. It’s weird even talking about it now 20 years on, that people still want to reminisce about it."

Although he think Figo may have get the better of the interaction at the end of the day, "I would have preferred Figo do that (nutmeg) to me 100 times and we (United) went on to win the tie. He’s done OK, he had the last laugh."

This wasn't O'Shea's last iconic moment though as in the following season he scored a magically chip over Arsenal goalkeeper, Manuel Almunia in a 4-2 victory.

Another notable moment came for O'Shea in 2007 when Manchester United were short staffed with goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar having to leave the pitch with a broken nose, O'Shea donned the goalie gloves and kept out fellow Irishman Robbie Keane of Spurs on a number of occasion leading the Old Trafford fateful to sing in jest "Ireland's number One" to O'Shea.

During the 2007-2008 Champions League winning season O'Shea truly showed his versatility for Man United as he even filled in as an emergency striker, making it so he had almost played ever position possible for Man United over his career and even having the honor to captain Manchester United in the League Cup that season.

He left Manchester United for Sunderland in 2011 having amassed 393 appearances and 15 goals across his over a decade long career at United.

His time at Sunderland, although not as glamorous as Man United he managed an impressive 256 appearances for the between the years of 2011-2018 before finishing his career with a season at Reading.

John O'Shea also had a remarkable career for Republic of Ireland National Team making 118 appearances and having the honor of captaining Ireland at a major tournament.

Possibly the most famous moment he had was in 2014, on his 100th appearance for the team in Euro 2016 qualifying match against then World Champions Germany, with the last kick of the game he scored to make it 1-1 helping the Republic of Ireland qualify for Euro 2016.

With President Michael D Higgins saying about him, "one of the most inspirational, committed and admired members of our national teams".

In Euro 2016 in France, with the absence of Irish talisman Robbie Keane, he captained the Irish National team who managed to get out of their group before losing to hosts France in the last 16.

After his playing days were over in 2019, he joined as part of the first-team coach at Reading. He left the position in 2021.

In 2023, O'Shea was assistant to Stephen Kenny for the Republic of Ireland National team and remained in that position until Stephen Kenny's contract ended.

He went on to join former team mate Wanye Rooney as part of his coaching staff, when the former Man United man was appointed manager in October 2023. Following the sacking of Wanye Rooney in January 2024, O'Shea left by mutual consent.

In the same year, O'Shea had possibly his biggest honor as a coach and that was taking over the interim position as the Republic of Ireland manager. He still remains the Ireland manager (at the time of writing).

John and his wife Yvonne, whom he married in Lady Chapel, Maynooth, County Kildare have two children together. Their son named Alfie and their daughter named Ruby.