The tracic death of Phil O'Donnell at the age of just 35 has robbed his family of a loving husband and father and Motherwell FC and Scottish football of a great servant.In his second spell at the club,he had become captain and joined the coaching staff and was integral to the work of inspirational manager Mark McGhee in reviving the fortunes of the Fir Park side.He had been working hard both on and off the pitch to get across the message that Motherwell were once again a force to be reckoned with in Scottish football,just as they had been when, at the age of 19,he scored Motherwell's second goal during the club's dramatic 4-3 victory over Dundee United in the Scottish Cup final of 1991.In the veteran stage of his career,he had matured into the sort of player he had always appeared capable of becoming skilful,combative,assured,commanding,and,above all,a man who was really savouring the sheer joy of playing football for a living.He began as most Scottish professionals do,as a schoolboy footballer who was clearly a cut above the rest.Spotted by Motherwell's youth development officers,he went into their programme which produced many good professionals.With the priceless attribute of being a "leftie",he was able to play in several positions and though he became an attacking midfielder,he began his pro life at left-back.He was just 17 when then Motherwell manager Tommy McLean gave him his debut as a full-back against St Mirren.By the time Motherwell played Rangers shortly afterwards,he was on the left side of midfield,a position where his seemingly boundless energy saw him thrive.In season 1990-91, while still a teenager,he helped Motherwell reach the Scottish Cup final,scoring for the Fir Park side in that 4-3 win over Dundee United.The reward was European football for Motherwell for the first time and he thus became the club's youngest player in Europe in the ties against Polish side Katowice,agonisingly lost on the away goals rule after a 3-3 aggregate score.He won the Scottish Young Player of the Year Award in 1992,he also played for Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday.
∼Motherwell and Celtic football player
∼Motherwell and Celtic football player
The tracic death of Phil O'Donnell at the age of just 35 has robbed his family of a loving husband and father and Motherwell FC and Scottish football of a great servant.In his second spell at the club,he had become captain and joined the coaching staff and was integral to the work of inspirational manager Mark McGhee in reviving the fortunes of the Fir Park side.He had been working hard both on and off the pitch to get across the message that Motherwell were once again a force to be reckoned with in Scottish football,just as they had been when, at the age of 19,he scored Motherwell's second goal during the club's dramatic 4-3 victory over Dundee United in the Scottish Cup final of 1991.In the veteran stage of his career,he had matured into the sort of player he had always appeared capable of becoming skilful,combative,assured,commanding,and,above all,a man who was really savouring the sheer joy of playing football for a living.He began as most Scottish professionals do,as a schoolboy footballer who was clearly a cut above the rest.Spotted by Motherwell's youth development officers,he went into their programme which produced many good professionals.With the priceless attribute of being a "leftie",he was able to play in several positions and though he became an attacking midfielder,he began his pro life at left-back.He was just 17 when then Motherwell manager Tommy McLean gave him his debut as a full-back against St Mirren.By the time Motherwell played Rangers shortly afterwards,he was on the left side of midfield,a position where his seemingly boundless energy saw him thrive.In season 1990-91, while still a teenager,he helped Motherwell reach the Scottish Cup final,scoring for the Fir Park side in that 4-3 win over Dundee United.The reward was European football for Motherwell for the first time and he thus became the club's youngest player in Europe in the ties against Polish side Katowice,agonisingly lost on the away goals rule after a 3-3 aggregate score.He won the Scottish Young Player of the Year Award in 1992,he also played for Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday.
∼Motherwell and Celtic football player
∼Motherwell and Celtic football player
