Biography.guide
Home › People › Association football player › Billy O'Neill
Portrait of Billy O'Neill

Billy O'Neill

1919 – 1978

Irish footballer

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Billy O'Neill

Lived 1919 – 1978 (aged 58). Billy O'Neill was an Irish association football player and association football coach.

William Anthony O'Neill (born 29 December 1919, date of death unknown) was an Irish professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Club career O'Neill began his career in his native Cork, starting at Glasheen before playing for Cork City and Cork United. In 1942, O'Neill embarked on a move up north to play for Belfast Celtic. O'Neill spent six season at Belfast Celtic playing in the Irish League. During his time at Belfast Celtic, O'Neill scored 38 goals in the 1944–45 season as he finished the season as top scorer.

In 1948, O'Neill moved to England, signing for Southern League side Chelmsford City. During his first season in England, O'Neill made 39 appearances in all competitions, scoring 22 times as the Clarets finished runners up to Gillingham. O'Neill's form at Chelmsford earned him a move to First Division outfit Burnley. Whilst at Burnley, O'Neill primarily played for the club's reserve side in the Central League, as injuries plagued his time at Burnley. On 2 December 1950, O'Neill made his only first team appearance for Burnley, scoring in a 4–1 defeat away to Fulham.

Managerial career During the 1961–62 League of Ireland season, O'Neill returned to former club Cork Celtic as manager, with whom he formerly played for under the guise of Evergreen United.

Personal life In 1950, O'Neill married Rita McFerran, who played camogie for Antrim GAA, at Corpus Christi Church, Whitehall, Dublin.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

People in Billy O'Neill's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Billy O'Neill's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Billy O'Neill?

Irish footballer

When was Billy O'Neill born?

Billy O'Neill was born on 29 December 1919 in Cork.

When did Billy O'Neill die?

Billy O'Neill died on 30 August 1978.

What was Billy O'Neill's occupation?

Billy O'Neill was an association football player and association football coach.

What nationality was Billy O'Neill?

Billy O'Neill was Irish.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Billy O'Neill

· Wikidata: Q4913117

· DBpedia: Liam O'Neill (footballer)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Billy O'Neill. https://biography.guide/billy-o-neill-association-football-player/

MLA: "Billy O'Neill." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/billy-o-neill-association-football-player/.

Chicago: "Billy O'Neill." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/billy-o-neill-association-football-player/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:02 UTC