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Liam Christian James O'Neil (born 31 July 1993) is an English coach and former footballer who played as a midfielder. He is currently under-18s manager at Cambridge United.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Liam Christian James O'Neil[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 31 July 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | Cambridge, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.81 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Cambridge United (under 18s manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2005 | Cambridge United | ||
| 2005–2012 | Histon | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2015 | West Bromwich Albion | 3 | (0) |
| 2012 | → VPS (loan) | 18 | (1) |
| 2014–2015 | → Scunthorpe United (loan) | 21 | (2) |
| 2015–2017 | Chesterfield | 43 | (2) |
| 2017–2023 | Cambridge United | 145 | (6) |
| 2023 | Boreham Wood | 10 | (0) |
| Total | 240 | (11) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
West Bromwich Albion
O'Neil is a product of the West Bromwich Albion youth academy, having joined from Non-League club Histon as a youth player.[3] In May 2012, O'Neil signed his first professional contract with the club.[4][5]
O'Neil then debuted for West Brom in a crucial 2–1 victory over Swansea City on 15 March 2014,[6] and then went on to make two further appearances from the bench against Stoke City[7] and Norwich City respectively.[8] He subsequently was rewarded for his progress with a new deal in May 2014, officially putting pen to paper on a one-year contract, plus a further year's option in the club's favour, on 1 July 2014.[9] He made his Football League Cup debut on 24 September 2014 against Hull City; West Brom ended up winning the match 3–2. O'Neil's performance was praised by Manager Alan Irvine.[10] He made another appearance for West Brom in the League Cup against AFC Bournemouth on 28 October 2014 though West Brom ended up losing the match 2–1.[11]
At the end of the 2014–15 season, O'Neil had his contract extended for another season.[12]
Loan spells
O'Neil gained professional experience during a loan spell at Finnish club VPS in summer 2012.[13] He quickly made an impact for the club in the first team and was named May's Team of the Month.[14] O'Neil would score his first goal for the club, in a 3–1 win over Turun Palloseura on 14 July 2012.[15] O'Neil went on to make eighteen appearances for VPS before returning to England in early August.[citation needed]
In late-November, O'Neil joined Football League One side Scunthorpe United on a one-month loan.[16] Making three appearances so far at the club earned O'Neil a loan extension until 13 January 2014.[17] O'Neil then scored his first goal for the club, in a 2–1 win over Rochdale on Boxing Day.[18] Soon after, O'Neil's loan spell with Scunthorpe United was soon extended until the end of the season.[19] A few weeks later on 31 January 2015, O'Neil scored his second goal for the club, in a 4–1 win over Leyton Orient.[20] However, O'Neil was dropped from the squad before it was revealed he injured his ankle, which saw him returned to his parent club early.[21][22]
Chesterfield
On 24 August 2015, O'Neil joined League One side Chesterfield for an undisclosed fee.[23]
Cambridge United
On 31 January 2017, O'Neil joined Cambridge United on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[24]
In April 2018 O'Neil was awarded the 2017/18 EFL Sky Bet League Two PFA Player in the Community in recognition of his community work with Cambridge United Community Trust.[25]
In August 2019 O'Neil was fined £3,000 by the Football Association after admitting "improper conduct".[26]
O'Neil signed a new one-year contract in May 2022, signing for a seventh season.[27]
Boreham Wood
On 11 August 2023, O'Neil signed for National League club Boreham Wood.[28]
On 8 December 2023, O'Neil retired from football and returned to Cambridge United and took up the role as Under 18s manager.[29]
Born in Newbridge, Kildare, Ireland, O'Neil has said he is open to play for Wales national football team, as his mother is from Mumbles, Wales.[30]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| West Bromwich Albion | 2013–14 | Premier League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2014–15 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| VPS (loan) | 2012 | Veikkausliiga | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 |
| Scunthorpe United (loan) | 2014–15 | League One | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 2 |
| Chesterfield | 2015–16 | League One | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| 2016–17 | League One | 17 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |
| Total | 43 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 49 | 2 | ||
| Cambridge United | 2016–17[32] | League Two | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| 2017–18[33] | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19[34] | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 25 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20[35] | 28 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 1 | ||
| 2020–21[36] | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 2 | ||
| 2021–22[37] | League One | 21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 1 | |
| 2022–23[38] | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 2 | ||
| Total | 145 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 167 | 7 | ||
| Boreham Wood | 2023–24 | National League | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Career total | 240 | 11 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 273 | 12 | ||
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