The first Irish captain for Manchester United, Patrick O'Connell went on to manage Real Betis and FC Barcelona
Until the last few years, Manchester United's first Irish captain had lain in an unmarked grave in an English cemetery for nearly half a century.
But it was while a player at United, O'Connell became embroiled in a betting scandal that rocked English football. By now the First World War had taken hold but the Football League season continued to a conclusion with United at the wrong end of the table and facing the drop. The Football Association investigated and ruled that seven players had conspired to fix the result. O'Connell was not among them, but he was called to London as part of the inquiry.He'd blazed a penalty so far wide at 1-0 that he couldn't possibly be exempt from examination. Whether he missed on purpose, knowing what was to come, or if the spot kick failure was just a woeful effort that suggests his innocence, remains unknown. What is certain is that he avoided punishment.
But his football acumen was never in doubt, as O'Connell lead lowly Real Betis to their first, and only, La Liga title in 1935 - an astonishing achievement for a side whose stadium could hold just 1,500 supporters. Dubbed 'Don Patricio', O'Connell was ahead of his time as a manager - from banning his players from smoking to developing game plans to stop the opposing teams scoring.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News in 2023, Sue O'Connell, wife of Patrick's grandson Mike and author of the book The Man Who Saved FC Barcelona, said: "At Betis, what he did was really special. They remember him to this day because that is the only time they have ever won La Liga.
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