Ray O'Brien
Irish footballer and manager
About Ray O'Brien
Born 1951. Ray O'Brien is an Irish association football player and association football coach.
Ray O'Brien (born 21 May 1951) is an Irish former professional footballer.
Early life O'Brien was born in Dublin.
Career
O'Brien began his career with Shelbourne before transferring to Manchester United.
He was then transferred to Notts County in 1974 for £45,000 without making the first team at Old Trafford.
At Meadow Lane he created a club record in 1979–80 when he became the first full back to finish as leading scorer. He spent ten years at County making over 300 Football League appearances.
He also won five caps for the Republic of Ireland, making his debut on 24 March 1976 in a 3–0 home win over Norway in a friendly game.
He later managed non-League clubs including Boston United and Arnold Town.
His brother Fran O'Brien also played for his country.
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Important facts
People in Ray O'Brien's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Ray O'Brien's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Ray O'Brien?
Irish footballer and manager
When was Ray O'Brien born?
Ray O'Brien was born on 21 May 1951 in Dublin.
What is Ray O'Brien's occupation?
Ray O'Brien is an association football player and association football coach.
What nationality is Ray O'Brien?
Ray O'Brien is Irish.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ray O'Brien. https://biography.guide/ray-o-brien/
MLA: "Ray O'Brien." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ray-o-brien/.
Chicago: "Ray O'Brien." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ray-o-brien/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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