SHELBOURNE have appointed Joey O’Brien as the club’s permanent head coach.
O’Brien has served as interim boss following Damien Duff‘s shock departure on June 22.
In that time, the Shels recorded back-to-back draws against Galway Utd and Waterford which leave them fifth in the Premier Division.
And on Thursday, it was confirmed that O’Brien had penned a long-term deal to succeed Damien Duff.
He said: “This is an incredible honour, of course being honest it was unexpected, not something I was thinking about.
“The opportunity came up, and I was asked to take it.
“I didn’t take long to say yes, I’m obviously delighted to be given the chance and grateful for the trust shown in me by the owners and the board.
“It’s a privilege to be given this chance to continue the work that’s been done over the last few years.
“Leading Shelbourne is a huge honour and I feel very lucky to be given that trust.
“I know first-hand what this club is about, and that’s an advantage coming into the job.
“Over the last three and half years I’ve got to see this club grow.
“This place is full of special people, and fans who have seen it all and stood by the club through everything.
“I am absolutely delighted to be given this opportunity.
“Myself, the staff and the players, we’re proud to be the custodians of such a historic club, one of the biggest in Irish football, and that’s a great honour but ultimately, Shelbourne Football Club, the heart and soul of it, is the people who are there every Friday night, making this club what it is.
“The job is to make those people proud and create more special memories.
“For the board and the owners, I am delighted to get this chance, it’s now up to me to repay the trust they’ve shown.
“There’s been a great foundation laid over the last three and a half years, and I want to build on that and create even more special moments.
“I’m excited to take this step. I’ve learned a huge amount over the last three and a half years working under Damien, and ultimately, that experience has led to this moment.
“But it’s not about me, it’s all about the players. This is a proud moment for me, but the focus is on them and what we do together from here.”
Chairman Tomas Quinn added: “We’re delighted to appoint Joey O’Brien as the new head coach of Shelbourne FC.
“Joey brings a deep understanding of the game, a wealth of top-level experience, and a clear vision for the future of the club.
“His passion, leadership, and commitment to developing both the team and our culture made him the standout choice.
“We’re confident Joey is the right person to lead us into the next chapter of Shelbourne’s journey, and we’re excited for what lies ahead under his stewardship.”
