Shane O'Neill (soccer)

Shane Edward O'Neill (born September 2, 1993) is a professional soccer player who plays as a center-back for Major League Soccer club Toronto FC. Born in Ireland, he represented the United States at international level.

Shane O'Neill
O'Neill in 2015
Personal information
Full name Shane Edward O'Neill
Date of birth (1993-09-02) September 2, 1993[1]
Place of birth Midleton, Cork, Ireland
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Position(s) Center-back
Team information
Current team
 Toronto FC
Number 27
Youth career
2009–2012 Colorado Rapids
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2015 Colorado Rapids 52 (1)
2015–2017 Apollon Limassol 0 (0)
2015 → Royal Excel Mouscron (loan) 0 (0)
2016 → Cambridge United (loan) 2 (0)
2016–2017 → NAC Breda (loan) 25 (1)
2017–2018 Excelsior 1 (0)
2018–2019 Orlando City 24 (0)
2020–2021 Seattle Sounders FC 45 (1)
2022– Toronto FC 40 (0)
International career‡
2012–2013 United States U20 12 (2)
2014–2016 United States U23 9 (0)
Medal record
Representing  United States
Runner-upCONCACAF U-20 Championship2013
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 21, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of February 10, 2017

Club career

Colorado Rapids

O'Neill joined the U.S. Soccer Development Academy with the Colorado Rapids youth system in 2009. He led the Rapids U18 team in scoring in 2011–12 with 10 goals in 15 games, helping them reach the playoffs.

O'Neill originally signed to play college soccer at the University of Virginia, however on June 19, 2012, O'Neill signed with the Colorado Rapids as a Home Grown Player.[3] Three months later, he made his professional debut in a 3–0 victory over the Portland Timbers, coming on as an 86th minute substitute for Jeff Larentowicz.[4] O'Neill became a regular starter in 2013 and received strong reviews, earning the Rapids' Young Player of the Year award[5] and a nomination for U.S. Soccer Young Athlete of the Year[6] as the Rapids returned to the playoffs. His first career goal came in a 4–1 home win over Montreal Impact on May 25, 2014.

Apollon Limassol

On August 7, 2015, O'Neill was bought by Cypriot club Apollon Limassol for an undisclosed fee.[7] On August 31, 2015 he was loaned out to Royal Mouscron-Péruwelz in Belgium.[8][9] The loan was cut short on December 23, 2015, and he returned to Limassol having not made an appearance for the Belgian club. He had subsequent loan spells with League 2 side Cambridge United and NAC Breda in Jupiler League, never featuring for Apollon Limassol.

Excelsior

O'Neill joined Excelsior on a one-year deal for the 2017–18 season.[10]

Orlando City

In June 2018, O'Neill returned to MLS when he signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Orlando City.[11] He made his debut in a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal defeat to Philadelphia Union on July 18 and made his MLS debut for the club three days later at Columbus. On November 21, 2019, it was announced O'Neill had his contract option for the 2020 season declined by Orlando as part of the end-of-season roster decisions.[12]

Seattle Sounders FC

On January 14, 2020, O'Neill signed with Seattle Sounders FC.[13] O'Neill made his Sounders debut on February 20 coming in as a substitute against CD Olimpia in the Concacaf Champions League. He scored his first goal for the club in the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs on December 1 against FC Dallas.[14]

Toronto FC

On December 22, 2021, O'Neill signed a three-year contract, beginning in 2022, as a free agent with Toronto FC.[15] He made his debut on February 26 in the season opener against FC Dallas, as a substitute.[16]

International career

O'Neill is eligible to represent both the United States and the Republic of Ireland. On October 9, 2012, O'Neill was called up by the United States U20 national team for the 2012 Marbella Cup in Spain.[17] A day later, O'Neill made his debut for the U20s in a 2–1 loss to Canada, however he suffered an eye injury that ruled him out for the rest of the tournament.[18][19] He later played for the U.S. at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

He has yet to debut for the U.S. senior team and has indicated a willingness to accept a call for his native Ireland.[20] He participated in a U.S. camp in January 2014, although he was dropped prior to a friendly against South Korea.[21] He was called up to the United States senior squad for a friendly against Panama in February 2015.[22]

Personal life

O'Neill is the son of former All-Ireland winning Cork Gaelic footballer, Colm O'Neill, and is a nephew of former Kerry Gaelic footballer, Maurice Fitzgerald.[23] O'Neill is the younger brother of Darragh O'Neill, a former punter for Colorado Buffaloes football team.

O'Neill's family immigrated to the United States from Ireland when he was a toddler after his father won a green card through the Diversity Immigrant Visa lottery program.[24]

O'Neill grew up in Boulder, Colorado and attended Fairview High School. In his senior year of high school, O'Neill was named the Colorado's player of the year by Gatorade and selected to the All-Colorado boys soccer team. O'Neill played basketball in high school and was named to the second-team all-5A team for his performances during his senior year. Although he committed to the University of Virginia, O'Neill ultimately signed with his hometown team the Colorado Rapids at the age of 18.[25]

    Career statistics
    As of match played October 21, 2023[26]
    Club Season League Playoffs National cup Continental Other Total
    DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
    Colorado Rapids 2012 Major League Soccer 10–00–—10
    2013 2601010–—280
    2014 211–20–—231
    2015 40–20–—60
    Total 52110500000581
    Apollon Limassol 2015–16 Cypriot First Division ––––—00
    Royal Excel Mouscron (loan) 2015–16 Belgian Pro League 00–00–—00
    Cambridge United (loan) 2015–16 League Two 20–––—20
    NAC Breda (loan) 2016–17 Eerste Divisie 2514000–—291
    Excelsior 2017–18 Eredivisie 10–10–—20
    Orlando City SC 2018 MLS 130–10–—140
    2019 110–10–—120
    Total 24000200000260
    Seattle Sounders FC 2020 MLS 18041–20—241
    2021 27010–30—310
    Total 45051005000551
    Toronto FC 2022 MLS 260–30–—290
    2023 140–00–10150
    Total 40000300010441
    Career total 189210111050102153

      References
      1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013 List of Players: United States" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. June 23, 2013. p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 27, 2013.
      2. "Shane O'Neil". Toronto FC. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
      3. "Rapids sign Boulder's Shane O'Neill as Homegrown player". coloradorapids.com. Colorado Rapids Media Relations. June 19, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
      4. Sferra, German (September 5, 2012). "O'Neill becomes first homegrown player to make MLS debut". Colorado Rapids. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
      5. "Rapids announce 2013 team awards, with Dillon Powers taking MVP honors". Colorado Rapids.
      6. UZ (November 20, 2013). "Shane O'Neill Nominated For US Soccer Award". Burgundy Wave.
      7. "Shane O'Neill transferred to Cypriot side Apollon Limassol". Colorado Rapids.
      8. "Sept nouveaux joueurs : Oussalah de retour" (in French). Retrieved August 31, 2015.
      9. "Shane O'Neill, former Rapids defender, excited for Belgium move, Olympic qualifying". September 2, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
      10. "Excelsior contracteert verdediger Shane O'Neill" (in Dutch). August 21, 2017. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
      11. "Orlando City SC Signs Defender Shane O'Neill". Retrieved June 22, 2018.
      12. "Orlando City SC Announces 2019 End-of-Season Roster Decisions". Orlando City SC. November 21, 2019.
      13. "Sounders FC signs defender Shane O'Neill". Seattle Sounders FC. January 14, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
      14. Evans, Jayda (December 1, 2020). "Sounders fight past FC Dallas to reach Western Conference title match". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
      15. "Toronto FC Signs Defender Shane O'Neill". Toronto FC. December 22, 2021.
      16. Grossi, James (March 2, 2022). "TFC debutants make solid first impressions in season opener". Toronto FC.
      17. "Torre Added to U.S. U-20 Men's National Team Roster for 2012 Marbella Cup". U.S. soccer. October 9, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
      18. "U.S. Under-20 MNT Loses 2–1 to Canada in International Friendly at 2012 Marbella Cup". U.S. soccer. October 10, 2012. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
      19. Bianchi, Chris (October 24, 2012). "O'Neill hopes to keep getting calls from US U-20s". Colorado Rapids. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
      20. "Colorado Rapids defender Shane O'Neill debating between U.S., Ireland -". ProSoccerTalk. October 4, 2013.
      21. Avi Creditor. "Klinsmann narrows down roster for USA's January camp final leg, adds Parkhurst". SI.com.
      22. "USA 2-0 Panama". eurosport.co.uk. February 8, 2015. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
      23. Heneghan, Conor (May 26, 2014). "Maurice Fitzgerald's nephew scored his first goal in the MLS on Saturday night and it was a cracker". JOE.ie. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
      24. Krasnoo, Ryan (October 19, 2020). "Once a journeyman, Sounders' Shane O'Neill quietly flashing defensive bona fides as he finds home in Seattle". Seattle Sounders FC. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
      25. "Colorado Rapids sign Shane O'Neill of Boulder's Fairview High". The Denver Post. June 19, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
      26. Shane O'Neill at Soccerway
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