Did you know Denise O’Sullivan is a footballer from Ireland? This piece lets you know Denise O’Sullivan’s husband, spouse, children and other information you need. But then, who is Denise O’Sullivan?
Husband
Denise O’Sullivan has no husband or children as of June 2023.
Life & career
Denise Rebecca O’Sullivan is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the American club North Carolina Courage of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the Republic of Ireland national team which she has represented 100 times.
O’Sullivan started her career with the Irish club Wilton United and joined the newly-formed Cork City at the outset of the Women’s National League (WNL) in 2011. She also played for Peamount United in the County Dublin club’s UEFA Women’s Champions League campaigns in 2011 and 2012.
In July 2013, she signed her first professional contract with Glasgow City of the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL). After a successful spell in Glasgow, which included being named 2014 SWPL Players’ Player of the Year, O’Sullivan signed with Houston Dash of the NWSL in March 2016.
In 2017, she signed with North Carolina Courage and helped the team win three consecutive NWSL Shield titles and two consecutive NWSL Championships. At North Carolina, O’Sullivan was voted most valuable player (MVP) by her teammates in both 2018 and 2019. She played on loan for Australian W-League clubs Canberra United and Western Sydney Wanderers and English club Brighton & Hove Albion during the NWSL offseason.
In 2015, O’Sullivan was named FAI Senior International Player of the Year. She earned The Irish Times/Sport Ireland Sportswoman of Month honors in November 2019 and was on the RTÉ Sports Person of the Year shortlist the same year.
Denise O’Sullivan was born in Cork and grew up in Knocknaheeny. The youngest of nine children, her brother John Paul played soccer for Ireland at the youth international level. O’Sullivan learned to play football on the streets with her siblings and as a youth looked up to Roy Keane.
O’Sullivan played for a boys’ team, Nufarm Athletic, until age 11 when she had to leave due to rules against mixed-sex football. As a youth being one of the only girls playing football, O’Sullivan experienced pushback from some boys who felt football was a game for men and boys. This behavior pushed her to prove them wrong.
She recalled, “I used to always surprise them. They were stronger and faster, but I was technically better than them.” She credits her toughness and passing skills to her childhood playing with boys. “[Back then] you’d only have one or two touches and there would be a boy smashing you. So, you’d have to let the ball go fast.”
She continued to be selected by national team coach Susan Ronan and participated in Ireland’s failed 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification campaign. Alongside namesake Fiona O’Sullivan she was the team’s joint-top goalscorer with three goals.
She was named the 2015 FAI Senior International Player of the Year. She remained an important national team player under Ronan’s successor Colin Bell, displaying good form in the unsuccessful 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying series.
Is Denise O’Sullivan married?
As of June 2023, Denise O’Sullivan is single and not married. The footballer rarely speaks about her personal life.
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