Danny O'Shea (footballer)

Danny O'Shea

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Current team	Retired

Danny O'Shea (born 26 March 1963) is a former English professional footballer who made 461 league appearances in a career that lasted over 15 years.

A product of the Arsenal youth policy, O'Shea played 6 times for the Highbury outfit between 1982 and 1983. He also spent a loan spell with Charlton Athletic before a permanent move to Exeter City where he established himself as a regular first teamer and made 45 appearances, scoring twice.

Prominently a midfield player who would move into defence later in his career, he joined Southend United for whom he played 118 games, scoring 12 goals. Released at the end of the 1988/89 season on a free transfer he signed for Cambridge United along with Southend team-mate Martin Robinson. Whilst Robinson would only spend a season at the Abbey Stadium, O'Shea stayed until 1995, playing a major role in the success the club enjoyed in nearly reaching the Premier League under controversial manager John Beck. One highlight for O'Shea was captaining the United side as they played a FA Cup Quarter-Final tie at his old club Arsenal in 1991, although he ended on the losing side that day.

After playing 203 games for the club and having a spell as player-coach when Gary Johnson took charge, O'Shea surprisingly left the club in 1995 to join Northampton Town as assistant player/manager to ex-United manager Ian Atkins.

He played a further 80 league games whilst at Sixfields before dropping into non-league with Rushden & Diamonds in 1997.