Michelle O'Driscoll swaps America for Iceland to follow professional dream
Michelle O'Driscoll in action for Palm Beach Atlantic University.
HAVING experienced college soccer in the States for the past six years, Cork woman Michelle O'Driscoll has signed her first professional contract.
This week, she makes a massive move to Icelandic club Ir FC.
The 23-year-old is sad to leave the States, home for all her adult life to date, but the former Wilton, Douglas Hall and Cork City player is excited to play in a new country and experience a new culture.
"Leaving the States is going to be extremely difficult this week," said O'Driscoll. "Having spent my entire adult life in the US, it will be hard to leave and move on to the next chapter, but I am excited, nevertheless.
"The friends I have made in the US have been phenomenal and the memories could last a lifetime. Moving here in 2018 has changed my life for the better and was easily one of the best decisions I have ever made.
"Having the opportunity to play football professionally is something I didn’t think was possible but now that it is, I couldn’t be prouder of myself for all the obstacles I have had to overcome to get to this point.
"After discussing with my family and my long-term agent, aka my dad, we decided that Iceland was the best decision that I could make, and the opportunity was too good to pass up."
She had never been to Iceland, but it was always a place that interested her.
"I know of a couple of players who have continued their professional careers there and they have all had nothing but good things to say about the football, the people and the country itself.
"Playing in the US for the last six years, I have definitely been all over the map."
She started at Daytona State College in Florida, staying for two years, before a change of scenery to the west of Texas at the University of Texas El Paso where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration with a minor in international business.
"Post graduation, I still had a year of eligibility remaining from the NCAA from a season I have missed for medically redshirting in 2021 due to an ACL injury. The silver lining of my injury which I didn’t see at the time was the extra year of eligibility it would grant me.
"An unfortunate year of being sidelined meant that I could still use that year to play, and in 2023- 2024, I was able to avail of this. Once I graduated from The University of Texas at El Paso in December 2022, I came home to Cork for Christmas and then flew back to El Paso and began the long drive to West Palm Beach, Florida to start a new chapter in beginning my master's degree."
A long 27 hours of driving later, she arrived in West Palm and dived straight into classes and football at Palm Beach Atlantic University.
"The program I started was a new program offered at the university. The program was titled, Master of Science in Ethics and Organizational Behaviour and I was excited to begin the next chapter in my academic journey in the beautiful downtown of West Palm Beach.
"Having played for three university teams; Daytona State College, The University of Texas at El Paso, and Palm Beach Atlantic University, I have also had the privilege to play some summer league ball. In the summer of 2019, I played at Chicago City Football club, and this was a fantastic experience to meet new people and see the Mid-West."
In the summer of 2022, while staying in El Paso she played with the local club El Paso Surf.
"This was also a great experience and granted me amazing opportunities to play in the likes of Arizona, Las Vegas, and even Juarez in Mexico.
"I have loved the challenge that playing in America has brought me, but I'm excited for what’s next and for the challenge that playing in Iceland will present.
"Having the opportunity to live and play in Reykjavík will be an amazing experience that I’m so excited for and so grateful for the opportunity."
App?
