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MLS: Top 5 Irish players in league history

By Matt Coles

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 13: Robbie Keane of Republic of Ireland during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group E match between Republic of Ireland and Sweden at Stade de France on June 13, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 13: Robbie Keane of Republic of Ireland during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group E match between Republic of Ireland and Sweden at Stade de France on June 13, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images) /
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Ronnie O’Brien of FC Dallas in action against the Kansas City Wizards during an MLS game on May 7, 2005 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Final score was 3-3. (Photo by G. N. Lowrance/MLSNETImages)
Ronnie O’Brien of FC Dallas in action against the Kansas City Wizards during an MLS game on May 7, 2005 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Final score was 3-3. (Photo by G. N. Lowrance/MLSNETImages) /

2. Ronnie O’Brien

The third Irishman to venture to the United States to play in Major League Soccer was Ronnie O’Brien, and he comes in at No.2 on our list. After loan spells in Switzerland, Scotland and with lower league Italian sides, O’Brien made the decision to move Stateside and became a member of the Dallas Burn, where he played more than 100 times over five seasons.

After an injury-hit 2003 campaign, O’Brien came to the fore for the side the next year with two goals and ten assists. After the club had rebranded as FC Dallas in 2005, he upped his tally to six goals and twelve assists in 28 regular-season appearances as FCD made it into the post-season for the first time in three years.

The Irishman was part of the playoff-venturing side the year after as well, before spells with Toronto FC and the San Jose Earthquakes. After the Californian team decided not to re-sign him ahead of the 2009 term, O’Brien announced his retirement from professional football. All-in-all, the Irishman played 149 times in MLS, scoring 16 goals, whilst adding 48 assists. He now resides in Dallas, where he is a coach in the FCD Academy.

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