Jake O'Brien learned his trade with Youghal United but was just as good at hurling and boxing 

IT'S been a memorable few months for Youghal native Jake O’Brien.

The former Cork City and Crystal Palace defender had a breakthrough season in the top flight in France with Lyon. He also recently made his Ireland debut  and has the talent to be a first choice defender at international level for the years to come.

O’Brien has been linked with moves to Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Juventus and Everton but it was at Youghal United he his first steps in the game.

Will Varney was one of O’Brien’s first coaches and said his ability and application were clear from an early stage.

“I had Jake when he was in the academy in Youghal. He was always very strong, not only a footballer, but all sports really. He was very talented. He was very quick and always had very good strength, and was able to defend the ball well.

“He was always a fantastic trainer and I would say exceptionally fit. That is one thing you would always say about Jake, he never stops and he had a great engine.

“He was able to put in the hard yards when it was needed. Never complained and he was always there. 

He was always at training and always wanted the ball. He always knew what to do and did the right thing.

"Even when he was a kid, when he was 11 or 12, he knew what he wanted because he could have played hurling for Cork without a shadow of a doubt. He was that good.

“He was the Irish amateur boxing champion the same year that he played in the Kennedy Cup for Cork, his father was from a boxing family as well.

Whatever he turned his hand to, Jake was professional at it and he was very good at it naturally. 

"But he knew he wanted to play soccer. He actually broke away and stopped playing GAA and focused professionally on becoming a soccer player." 

The career of the 23-year-old has been on an upward trajectory for a while. After impressing with RWD Molenbeek in the Belgian second tier and helping them to promotion, he switched from Crystal Palace to French giants Lyon last August. He became a mainstay at the back while also scoring four league goals, moving the club from the threat of relegation to European qualification.

ATTITUDE

A winning goal against Rennes in early November was a crucial turning point in Lyon’s season. In the French Cup final, he grabbed a goal while he was tasked with keeping Kylian Mbappé quiet, in his final game for PSG before moving to Real Madrid.

"It is his dedication and mindset," said Varney. "There is genuine affection there because of the attitude he does bring to the team. He is a winner, at the end of the day he is a winner and he wants success.

“Wherever he has gone, Jake has gone into a struggling side and whatever attitude that he has brought into it, he seems to have galvanised the teams he is playing with.

“He went to Molenbeek out in Belgium and he helped to get them promoted. When he joined Lyon this season, they were in the relegation zone. He came into the side and he has been an ever present ever since. So he just seems to have a positive influence on the team he actually joins."