Michael O'Connor (footballer, born 1987)

Northern Irish footballer (born 1987)

O'Connor was not a regular first team player under new boss Steve Holland in the first half of the 2007–08 campaign, but won back his first team spot in the second half of the season. He was named in the League One 'Team of the Week' in March 2008 for his performance in a 3–0 win over Gillingham. After scoring his first league goal for the club on 13 September 2008 in a 2–0 victory over Colchester United, he went on to score in the next two games against Southend United and then against Liverpool in a 2–1 League Cup defeat at Anfield. However, he fell out of favour at Crewe under manager Guðjón Þórðarson after committing "breaches of discipline". O'Connor joined Peter Jackson's League Two side Lincoln City on a one month emergency loan on 6 March 2009, a day before a Lincolnshire derby against Grimsby, as a short term replacement for Lee Frecklington. O'Connor returned from Sincil Bank on 18 April after he was suspended for picking up 10 yellow cards that season, and subsequently trained with Scottish Premier League club Hibernian.

In July 2009, Crewe accepted an undisclosed offer (later revealed to be £250,000) for O'Connor from Scunthorpe United, and he signed a three year contract with the club. He went on to make 36 appearances for Scunthorpe in the 2009–10 campaign, helping Nigel Adkins's "Iron" to finish above the Championship relegation zone. Scunthorpe struggled in the 2010–11 season following Atkins's departure, and Ian Baraclough and then Alan Knill failed to keep the club outside the relegation places. This was despite O'Connor significantly improving his goal tally, hitting nine goals in his 36 appearances. Premier League clubs West Ham United and Newcastle United were linked with O'Connor during the January transfer window, but Baraclough confirmed that no formal approaches were made. In the summer the club rejected an undisclosed bid from Peterborough United. He played 36 games at Glanford Park in the 2011–12 season as Scunthorpe laboured to a mid table finish in League One. He was subject to an offer by Hibernian in January 2012, but remained in England. On 3 March, he was sent off after retaliating to a foul by Craig Eastmond in a 4–1 victory over Wycombe Wanderers at Glanford Park. He was released by the club in May 2012.

O'Connor signed a two year contract with Rotherham United in May 2012. He made his "Millers" debut on 18 August 2012, in a 3–0 win over Burton Albion at the New York Stadium. He scored his first goal for the club in 4–0 win over Bradford City on 1 September. He scored again the following week in a 6–2 defeat to Port Vale. On 29 September, he scored twice in a 3–1 win against Oxford United. On 9 February, he was sent off for a stamp on Jacques Maghoma in a 2–0 defeat at Burton Albion. On 15 December, he was named in the League Two team of the week for his performance in a 1–0 win at AFC Wimbledon. In all he scored six goal in 40 appearances as he helped Steve Evans's side win promotion out of League Two. He made 34 appearances in the 2013–14 campaign, helping the club to reach the League One play off final. He was an unused substitute at Wembley Stadium as Rotherham secured promotion with a penalty shoot out victory against Leyton Orient. He was released by the club in May 2014.

O'Connor signed a one year contract with League One club Port Vale in July 2014. He scored his first goal for the club on 26 August, hitting the net from out in a 3–2 League Cup defeat to Cardiff City at Vale Park; this was one of the longest distance goals ever scored by a Vale player, and won him the club's Goal of the Season award. Despite this effort the local newspaper reported that generally throughout the campaign "his contribution is industrious and effective without grabbing the headlines". At the end of the 2014–15 season he was named as the club's Player of the Year, and also won the Supporters' Club's Trophy and was voted Players' Player of the Year. He picked up a knee injury in 2015–16 pre season training, and had to wait until October before returning to match fitness. He then lost his first team place in the new year due to a thigh strain. He retained his first team place in the second half of the season, but stated that concerns over his contract running down and the daily commute from his Lincolnshire home were becoming a strain, and that he would consider offers from more local clubs in the summer. He won a place on the Football League team of the week after providing an assist, scoring a goal and then having his free kick deflected in for an own goal in a 3–1 home win over Southend United on 26 February. He was again named in the Football League team of the week after converting two penalties and putting in "a fine all round performance" in a 4–1 home win over Rochdale on 23 April. He confirmed that he had rejected the offer of a new contract from the club in May 2016.

O'Connor signed a two year contract with League Two side Notts County in June 2016. He was named as club captain by manager John Sheridan. On 10 December, he was sent off in stoppage time of a 2–0 home defeat to Wycombe Wanderers. The "Magpies" struggled in the first half of the 2016–17 season, but new manager Kevin Nolan said O'Connor had been "pivotal in the turnaround" in the club's form alongside midfield partner Robert Milsom. However, on 17 April he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a 3–1 defeat to Portsmouth at Meadow Lane, and was ruled out of action for the rest of the calendar year. Nolan gave him scouting tasks during his long recovery. He managed to make a return to training in February before playing in the last six games of the 2017–18 season to help County to secure a place in the play offs. He was offered new contract by Notts County at the end of the 2017–18 season, but turned it down in favour of a move elsewhere.

On 20 June 2018, O'Connor signed a one year contract with League Two Lincoln City. In joining Lincoln he turned down offers from Notts County and Grimsby Town. He played 45 times for the "Imps" as they secured promotion as League Two champions at the end of the 2018–19 season; manager Danny Cowley commented that "he's played a big part in the success of the team over this past season". O'Connor went on to sign a new one year contract and underwent a minor operation to remove a staple in his knee from his previous surgery. He went on to become of the club's most consistent performers in the first half of the 2019–20 season.

On 15 January 2020, O'Connor signed a six month contract with League Two side Salford City after being signed for an undisclosed fee. His appearances were limited due to the COVID 19 pandemic in England; he scored one goal in eight games for the "Ammies", but was released by manager Graham Alexander at the end of the 2019–20 season.

On 29 August 2020, O'Connor signed a two year deal with NIFL Premiership club Glenavon; manager Gary Hamilton described his signing as "a big coup for the club". O'Connor said that he was keen to return to his native Northern Ireland and that the pandemic had caused him to turn down offers from English League Two clubs in order to return to his homeland. He pursued his coaching badges whilst playing part time for Glenavon. His first goal for the club was a penalty in a 4–4 draw against Coleraine on 7 November. He scored six goals in 23 games during the 2020–21 season.

O'Connor was a regular captain for Northern Ireland at every youth level up to under 20 However, O'Connor was called up to play for the Republic of Ireland under 21s for a friendly against Luxembourg in October 2006. He subsequently had to withdraw from the squad. In February 2007 he was also selected for the Republic under 21 squad to play in the Madeira Cup, but did not play in any of the three games involved. On 16 November 2007 he made his debut for the Northern Ireland under 21s, scoring in a 5–0 win against Luxembourg. On 20 November he scored again for the under 21s in a 3–0 win against Moldova. On 6 February 2008 he also played against Israel. On 26 March 2008, O'Connor made his senior international debut for Northern Ireland in a 4–1 win against Georgia in friendly at Windsor Park; he came on as half time substitute for Damien Johnson. Michael Gault also made his international debut in the same match. He made his competitive debut on 10 September 2008, playing in a 0–0 draw with the Czech Republic in a World Cup qualification match. He won a cap for the Northern Ireland B team in a 3–0 defeat to Scotland B at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld on 6 May 2009. He returned to the international scene after a three year absence on 10 September 2013, when he featured in a 3–2 defeat to Luxembourg in a World Cup qualification game at Stade Josy Barthel. However, after missing out on the squad selected in March 2015 he said that he was considering his international future.

Speaking in July 2014, Crewe Alexandra and Port Vale teammate Tom Pope described O'Connor as "[having] everything. He's got the range of passing, he sits in there and gets the ball moving and he gets stuck in. He whips a great ball in, has great free kicks and a lot of quality." He describes himself as a "passionate" player, though this has resulted in a number of yellow cards for dissent. Port Vale assistant manager Paul Bodin also praised O'Connor's set piece delivery and energy levels.