Nachrichten

Dara O'Shea believes it is the "winning culture" at newly-promoted Ipswich Town that will make it third time lucky for the defender playing in the English Premier League.

The 25-year-old center back is playing in the top flight for the third time in his career after making 61 appearances for West Bromwich Albion and Burnley. Unfortunately for him, both of those campaigns ended with his teams finishing in 19th place and facing relegation into the Championship.

However, his performances for Burnley last season, scoring three Premier League goals, led to interest from Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers for his signature this summer. Yet he chose to sign for another newly-promoted side, agreeing to a five-year contract at Ipswich Town.

Burnley's Irish defender #02 Dara O'Shea celebrates after scoring the equalising goal during the ... English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Burnley at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 10, 2024. (Photo by Ian Hodgson / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by IAN HODGSON/AFP via Getty Images)

O'Shea admits that "it was really close to going into a different direction than it did," adding that "it was a decision that I had to make, it's where I wanted to come and I felt like Ipswich was the right place for me. There's a lot of good, good things happening at this club."

One of only 24 clubs in the country to win the English league title, Ipswich Town had been founder members of the newly-formed Premier League in 1992 but been out of the top flight for 22 years. In 2019 the club dropped into the third tier for the first time in 62 years but the appointment of former Manchester United assistant coach Kieran McKenna three years ago has transformed the club's fortunes.

Successive promotions have propelled the Suffolk side back into the Premier League and convinced O'Shea that it was the place to be. "I knew it was a big club," he said, "but I probably didn't realise how big a club it was until I came here and saw the amazing atmosphere you have here at the stadium and how big the foundation is at the club and stuff like that. It's a decision I'm really proud to have made now."

O'Shea told me what he thinks set Ipswich apart from his other suitors this summer. "First of all I saw a winning culture and a winning environment, a real together group. The main thing I think I found over my experience in football is having that core group and togetherness goes a long way."

It was no surprise when Ipswich Town lost their opening matches of the season against the top two teams in the country, Liverpool and Manchester City. However since then they are unbeaten, securing four creditable draws and playing with a verve uncommon for a side in which O'Shea is one of the few players with any Premier League experience.

"Obviously the quality in the group is there and that's for everyone to see, but you know, there's more to that in football, and there's more to successful teams than just quality. I really saw that coming off the back of two amazing seasons, it was something I couldn't help to see."

Born in Dublin, O'Shea was initially seduced by the rugged charms of a sport also played by McKenna and more celebrated in his homeland than soccer. "I really enjoyed playing Gaelic Football when I was younger. It was a massive part of my upbringing back in Ireland. Probably a lot of how I play today is based upon that."

IPSWICH, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 29: Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa in action with Dara O'Shea of Ipswich ... Town during the Premier League match between Ipswich Town FC and Aston Villa FC at Portman Road on September 29, 2024 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

To illustrate the point, O'Shea speaks to the media sporting a bruised right eye, the result of a collision with Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins last Sunday. He says of Gaelic Football, "it's obviously a great sport, and it's quite a community-based sport so I do miss that aspect of it. I think, just the aggressiveness and that kind of side to it, probably is what's apparent in my game."

O'Shea is one of four Irish internationals now playing at Ipswich Town, on the eastern coast of England, with midfielder Jack Taylor the latest to be called up yesterday. The man who has made the biggest impact for the Suffolk side so far this season is England u21 striker Liam Delap, whose father Rory was an Irish international.

Ipswich Town's Liam Delap celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Premier ... League match at Portman Road, Ipswich. Picture date: Sunday September 29, 2024. (Photo by Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images)

"I'd love him to play for Ireland, yeah" quips O'Shea. "Look that's down to him at the end of the day. I don't want to fill him with any more stuff in his head. As long as he's scoring goals for Ipswich and doing well here, I'm happy."

"Whatever he feels as a person, he'll make that call. There's nothing worse than trying to force a player into something that maybe his heart and head isn't set on. He'll make the right decision I'm sure of that. I think that's down to him and his family."