Paudie O’Connor only ever managed four senior appearances for Leeds United during the two years he spent on the books at Elland Road but now, the Irish player has been made captain of League One side Lincoln City this season.
Back in 2017, Leeds raided Irish side Limerick FC to lure the central defender to Elland Road. He was ready for the first team even at that stage – with a then-19-year-old O’Connor having played 49 times for the now-dead Limerick.
But after a year at Leeds and playing in the 21’s, the arrival of Marcelo Bielsa coincided with O’Connor’s loan exit – joining Blackpool in the summer of 2018. He returned after six months, and then left again on loan in January 2019.
He joined Bradford, who signed him permanently that summer. O’Connor remained at Bradford until the summer of 2022, clocking up 129 games in three and a half years. Lincoln next, clocking up a massive 53 games last season.
Now, ahead of the 23-24 season and despite only being at Lincoln for a year, O’Connor has been made the club’s captain. Lincoln will be eyeing a push for promotion to the Championship, after a solid 11th-placed finish last term.
Paudie O’Connor made Lincoln captain after Leeds exit in 2019
Fairplay to O’Connor. Having left Leeds in 2019, you might have imagined the defender to really struggle to kickstart his career – as so many do. But, the central defender has really had a good go at it – now captaining a third-tier side.
His form at Bradford, subsequent move to Lincoln and last season’s efforts were impressive. Now skipper with the Imps, he will be hoping to push his side towards promotion where who knows – he could meet Leeds in 2024-25.
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