Ask any United fan about John O’ Shea and chances are that one of these two phrases will be used: “Squad Player” or “Utility Man”. However, these phrases have negative connotations, downplaying the important role he has had in United’s success in his 13 year stint at the club. O’ Shea was a vital cog in our success in recent times. Never complained. Always reliable. And often entertained. I’ll miss his smiling face coming over to RTE/TV3 (Irish TV stations) to give an interview. He never seemed to refuse and was always patient with the often bumbling reporters such as Trevor “Custard Creams” Welch. We all have our favourite memories of the friendly, Waterford-born, Republic of Ireland international. Here’s 11 memories (good and bad) squeezed into a cheeky, Irish XI:

1. Goalkeeper: John O’ Shea (vs. Tottenham Hotspurs 4 February 2007)

United were 4-0 up and cruising, after a dominant second half performance saw goals from Ronaldo (penalty), Vidic, Scholes & Giggs. However, a late collision between Robbie Keane and Van der Saar which resulted in a broken nose for the Dutch netminder left the United bench scratching their heads. All three substitutes had been used. The team resembled a bunch of schoolchildren reluctant to play in goal, secretly considering a last man back policy no doubt. Rio took off his jersey and began to get ready until O’ Shea stepped up, gave him the nod and donned the gloves to ironic cheers from the home crowd while the away end calculated the rate at which Spurs needed to score to get back into the game and considered its probability. The first tester was an inswinging Spurs free kick which was curled in from the left. It swung over the heads of the onrushing pack. O’ Shea came out and punched it none-too-convincingly but it was cleared out by the sturdy United defence. Spurs began to pump it long in an effort to test out the makeshift keeper. Berbatov blasted one over for Spurs from a breaking ball in the box. Then came the big scare. His face-off with his fellow countryman, Robbie Keane. Ferdinand played a backpass from the midfield line towards O’ Shea. Keane spotting the chance intercepted the pass. O’ Shea was already committed to getting the ball, out at the edge of his penalty area. The Spurs crowd roared, smelling blood. In the heat of battle, O’ Shea called upon his instincts. He kept on his feet for as long as possible before nicking the ball off Keane’s toes with a clean sliding tackle. The match cameras shot to the bench where Fergie, Giggs, Ronaldo and Rooney all chuckled at the plucky Irishman. The section of United faithful at White Hart Lane broke into song, chanting “Ireland’s number one”. Apart from one or two clearances, the rest of the game was comfortable for the Irishman and he secured a clean sheet.

2. Right Back: John O’ Shea (vs. Barcelona, Champion’s League Final, 27 May 2009)

This is a more painful memory. Having lost out in the battle for right back to Wes Brown for the 2008 Champion’s League final, O’ Shea got his chance the following year against Barcelona in Rome. The Irishman had a difficult game against Henry, especially during a 15 minute spell after the break where United were pushing forward and left vulnerable to Barcelona’s counter attacks. The interplay between Henry and Iniesta in the channels was a threat time and time again although, O’ Shea was certainly not at fault for any of the goals and by all accounts, one of the better performers that night. The 2-0 defeat left O’ Shea with only a runners up medal for his efforts, although a third successive Premier League secured earlier that month and more importantly, the club’s record-levelling 18th title was some consolation. He suffered more Champion’s League final heartbreak this year as Fabio was preferred to him for the right back slot. He did however, make the bench ahead of Rafael but was not used.

3. Left Back: John O’ Shea (vs. Real Madrid, Champion’s League QF, 23 April 2003)

This was O’ Shea’s breakthrough season. He was a regular starter at left back and was so impressive domestically that he was shortlisted for the P.F.A. Young Player of the Year award (losing out to Jermaine Jenas in the end). However, one brief moment would define his season and cause him to be embraced into the bosom of the United faithful. Real Madrid at the height of their Galactico era visited Old Trafford for the second leg of their Champion’s League quarter final holding a 3-1 lead. Their team was packed with superstars: Roberto Carlos, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Raul and of course, O’ Shea’s direct opponent for the night, Luis Figo. The nutmeg on Figo was a highlight in high-octane match which ended 4-3 to United. The Red Devils may have lost on aggregate but the Stretford End gained a new cult hero.

4. Defensive Midfield: John O’ Shea (vs. Arsenal, Champion’s League SF, 29 April 2009)

I know he actually played right back during this game but I had to fit it in. O’ Shea gave us a dream start in the first leg encounter at Old Trafford. His goal was the decisive moment in this match although United were guilty of missing a number of chances that night. O’ Shea’s clean strike when left free during the ensuing scramble after a corner kick, set us on our way for the second leg where our forward line was much more clinical.

Picture from: http://www.sportinglife.com/

5. Centre Back: John O’ Shea (vs. Birmingham, 16 August 2009)

With Ferdinand, Gary Neville, Vidic and Van der Saar out with injury and Giggs on the bench, the captain’s duties fell to John O’ Shea. No chance of him going all-John Terry about it though:

It is a huge honour to be captain of Manchester United. It is nice to do it in pre-season games but to be captain for the first game of a new season is something I will always cherish. 

He was made captain again this season for the 4-1 victory over Schalke at home in the Champion’s League semi-final.

6. Centre Back: John O’ Shea (2000-01, AFC Bournemouth and Royal Antwerp loan spells)

In 2000 and 2001, O’ Shea was loaned out twice. In 2000, he had a spell at Bournemouth where he made 10 appearances and got on the scoresheet once in a 3-1 defeat against Millwall. He was also one of a number of United’s homegrown players who spent some time at Royal Antwerp (see the team below). Unlike many in that team, O’ Shea pushed on after these loan spells and by the ‘02-‘03 campaign had proven himself worthy of a regular first team spot for United.

7. Central Midfield: John O’ Shea (vs. West Ham, Carling Cup QF, 30 November 2010)

He actually played right back for this match but in the true spirit of O’ Shea, I’ve thrown this beauty of a clip into midfield. John won’t mind even though it’s fair to say, this was not his finest hour…

8. Central Midfield: John O’ Shea (Roy Keane MUTV interview, November 2005)

A low point. The now infamous, banned interview which Keane gave to MUTV was rumoured to have contained thinly veiled criticism of the batch of youngsters at the time. There were doubts among sections of United fans over the ability and commitment of certain players such as Liam Miller and Kieran Richardson while O’ Shea and Darren Fletcher had stagnated in the view of some. In the angry aftermath of the 4-0 defeat to Middlesbrough, the fans were flamed by the media. But O’ Shea and the rest of the squad recovered from the media uproar and Roy Keane’s later departure, to win the Carling Cup and finish 2nd in the Premier League in a season now recognised as an important transitional period before the successful period from 06-07 season through to Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure in 2009.

9. Right Forward: John O’ Shea (vs. Arsenal, 1 February 2005)

My favourite O’ Shea goal. All the pomp and confidence of a Cantona finish from the most unlikely of sources during a period where wins against Arsenal were hard fought. Watch the end of an era for Arsenal and the beginning of a new one for us here. WARNING: Contains the Roy Keane - Patrick Vieira bust-up, some tackling Nobby Stiles would be proud of and of course, the exquisite finish from John O’ Shea.

10. Centre Forward: John O’ Shea (vs. Reading, 12 August 2007)

Picture from: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/

On the opening day, John O’ Shea completed the feat of having played in goal, defence, midfield and up front for Manchester United. An injury in the first half to Wayne Rooney forced his withdrawal at half-time with Nani replacing him. With no natural forward on the pitch or on the bench, Sir Alex decided to use O’ Shea as an emergency forward. He played quite well forcing a good save for Hahnemann and disrupting the Reading defece with his physical presence. It was not enough, however, to provide the breakthrough and the match finished scoreless. Interestingly, the official Sunderland website announced that the club had signed “the forward” John O’ Shea, before later changing to “the defender” John O’ Shea. A Freudian slip I think…

11. Left Forward: John O’ Shea (vs. Liverpool, 3 March 2007)

Picture from: http://www.sportydesktops.com/

He ensured he will live in the hearts of all United fans for years to come with this alone. A stoppage time goal in front of The Kop end. I don’t need to say anything else. Relive the glory here. I think Fergie might just have enjoyed it too…

I’ll finish with a quote from Ferguson, showing what a great deal Bruce has managed to wrangle:

He is a great professional. The boy never complains. He is happy to play anywhere. He has not always been number one choice but he produces 30 performances a season and it is a contribution we are grateful for. He is so versatile and offers such great value for us.

Slán John agus míle buíochas duit! Sonas ort!

by Tachey Del Bosque

Read more from Tachey on his blog The Wisdom of Tache. or follow him on Twitter here.