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Shaun O'Connor – the former plasterer turned scout who spotted Jack Wilshere

o connor

Shaun O’Connor is one of the most respected and renowned scouts in England but few football fans will know about him or the players he has brought through over the past decade.

O’Connor, who rejoined the Gunners from Championship side Brentford this summer, is the man responsible for bringing Jack Wilshere – among others – from Luton Town’s youth academy to Hale End.

The Englishman spent several years at Arsenal, scouting and recruiting talent from London and Home Counties, before joining Brentford’s Academy with a vision to make it one of the country’s best.

He came back to Arsenal this summer after five years away from the club which he left in somewhat acrimonious circumstances due to not being given ‘enough freedom’ in his Head of Recruitment role.

A lifelong Gooner who has previously rejected advances from the likes of Tottenham and QPR, O’Connor has now taken up a new role as head of Arsenal’s younger academy groups (U9 to U16) and will work closely alongside new youth chief Andries Jonker.

“I was born in Islington and grew up in Hornsey,” said O’Connor.

“And that’s how I ended up being an Arsenal fan. My first game at Highbury was around 1972. I remember the game, it was Ipswich Town – I think George Graham may have scored.

“It could have been either Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur as I went to school in Haringey, luckily I picked Arsenal.

“Charlie George was my first hero, after he scored the winner in the FA Cup Final against Liverpool, the month after in the school yards were all about pretending to lie on the floor after scoring a goal.”

On scouting..

“Even from day one I had a very good eye for potential in a player,” revealed O’Connor

“It’s something that’s come to me, however some players can be outstanding at nine or ten, but when they go through puberty, some of them don’t fulfil their potential.”

“I was at Barnet for around two years. Unfortunately they got relegated from the Football League [in 2001], and they closed the Academy down.

“Everybody knew how busy Barnet were in the local area, and Roy Massey at Arsenal saw the type of work we were doing, and he gave me the chance to run their Potters Bar Development Centre, which I took up.

“I was in charge of the six, seven, and eight year olds, which is a major area of recruitment for the bigger clubs, it’s massive for them.”

“It’s always a punt.

“There are no guarantees; Messi was doubted at 14 and certain individuals at Arsenal didn’t think Wilshere would be a player.”

A young Jack Wilshere at Luton Town
A young Jack Wilshere at Luton Town

On Wilshere

O’Connor’s last match covering Barnet was a game against Luton Town, where an unknown footballer called Jack Wilshere for the visitors caught the eye.

“My first recommendation for Arsenal was him,” he says.

“What he had was pace running with the ball, his aggression – putting this foot through the tackle rather than leaving it there.

“Comparing him to my son, who was a little bit older, this boy was on another level.”

Arsenal paid compensation to Luton and got their man, but O’Connor feels on occasions scouts are frightened to act if they spot a player.

“Sometimes people are scared to make a decision or a recommendation they are afraid get it wrong,” he says.

“But you have to trust your judgement.

“You must have a gut instinct that if you look at a player, he’s going to be a talent or to get him through the door to at least have a look at him.

“All your looking for is potential in a player, being bright, good technique, a little trick to their game, but it’s so difficult because they change so much, and they’ve got a long way to go.

“Intelligence is a major factor, they’ve got to be able to solve problems, and be able to play in high intensity situations.”

On his previous spell at Arsenal..

“I grew into the job, and was very active,” said O’Connor.

“Because I ran a plastering business for 20 years, my management skills in setting up projects, and handling people came into play.

“From Herfordshire, I moved into East London and Essex, where I picked up Chuba Akpom, who was recently on loan at Brentford, and Chris Willock, who will be another top talent.”

With thanks to Brentford FC.

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