Phil O'Donnell - Brother Walfrid Wells
They following companies have kindly donated to a Phil O'Donnell Fund which will enable us to build another 2 Brother Walfrid Wells in Africa and these will be dedicated to his memory.
Career
Born in Bellshill, O'Donnell began his career with local team Motherwell F.C., making his first team debut in the 1990–91 season. He won a Scottish Cup winner's medal after scoring in a 4–3 victory over Dundee United in the final that year. That result earned Motherwell entry to European competition for the first time and O'Donnell became the club's youngest player in Europe, playing a tie against Polish side GKS Katowice. He won the Scottish PFA Young Player of the Year Award in 1992 and 1994, and he earned one cap for the Scotland national football team against Switzerland. This form made him a target for bigger clubs and he signed for Celtic in September 1994. The fee of £1.75m is the highest Motherwell have received for a player.
O'Donnell scored two goals in his debut for Celtic, and went on to win another Scottish Cup in 1995. He also earned his sole league winner's medal with the club in 1998, but injuries proved to be a major concern and his appearances for the club were limited. In 1999 O'Donnell was among a number of players who failed to agree terms on a new contract with Celtic chairman Fergus McCann, and instead signed for Sheffield Wednesday. Injuries continued to curtail his career and he played just one match in his first season (when the club were relegated from the Premier League). He went on to play just 20 times in four years for Sheffield Wednesday and was given a free transfer at the time of their relegation to Division Two in 2003.
O'Donnell returned to Scotland where former club Motherwell offered him the chance to train with them again. The Fir Park outfit re-signed him in January 2004, allowing him the chance to appear alongside his nephew, David Clarkson and earning him the club nickname, "Uncle Phil". He was also the uncle of St Mirren midfielder Stephen O'Donnell and Brian Dempsie who had also played for Motherwell. In his second spell at Motherwell, he was club captain.
Tributes
Former Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, was among those to pay tribute. He hailed the midfielder as a "great professional." He said, "as captain he helped transform Motherwell this season. Phil will be sadly missed by his family and by football fans but he will be mourned by the whole community."
The player was described as a "perfect gentleman" by former Scotland coach Craig Brown. He said: "It's very, very sad news, I just can't get over it. You would not get a more ideal role model for a young footballer than Phil O'Donnell. I think in his first spell at Motherwell he was probably the best box-to-box midfield player - maybe not just in Scotland but in the UK."
Motherwell fans laid scarves, strips and pictures at the gates of Fir Park.
The club's scheduled SPL game against Hibs at Easter Road the following Wednesday was postponed along with the club's home game with Celtic the following Sunday out of respect. Scottish Premier League chairman Lex Gold said: "We understand from Phil's family that they would appreciate it if the Motherwell v Celtic game scheduled for 6 January 2008 could be postponed. Both clubs are happy to meet the request and we have called the game off."
Players in 30 December's English Premier League matches between Derby County and Blackburn Rovers, and Manchester City and Liverpool F.C., wore black bands in his honour. Sheffield Wednesday's match at Hull City on the same day was preceded by a minutes applause as a mark of respect to their former player.
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On December 31 the SPL postponed the Celtic v Rangers fixture scheduled for January 2, 2008 at a request by Celtic as a mark of respect for O'Donnell.
Thousands of tributes from around the world have been posted on the internet. Motherwellfc.co.uk has received hundreds of written tributes from fans as far as Korea and Ukraine, as well as many emotional messages from Sevilla F.C., comparing O'Donnell's death to the similar tragedy of Antonio Puerta earlier in the season. Sevilla F.C. director of football Ramon Rodríguez Monchi has offered assistance and support to Motherwell F.C. and to the family of Phil O'Donnell.
In a club statement Sevilla sent their condolences to Fir Park after hearing about O'Donnell's death. The Primera Liga side's director of football Ramon Rodriguez Monchi said: "This is terrible news. Right now, my thoughts are with Phil's family and everybody at Motherwell. Unfortunately, with the death of Phil O'Donnell, Motherwell have suffered a similar tragedy to ours.
"Antonio Puerta died at the beginning of the season and I know how terrible the whole experience is. Sevilla will be available to help in any way that we are able, to heal the pain and sadness of this tragic loss."
Career
Born in Bellshill, O'Donnell began his career with local team Motherwell F.C., making his first team debut in the 1990–91 season. He won a Scottish Cup winner's medal after scoring in a 4–3 victory over Dundee United in the final that year. That result earned Motherwell entry to European competition for the first time and O'Donnell became the club's youngest player in Europe, playing a tie against Polish side GKS Katowice. He won the Scottish PFA Young Player of the Year Award in 1992 and 1994, and he earned one cap for the Scotland national football team against Switzerland. This form made him a target for bigger clubs and he signed for Celtic in September 1994. The fee of £1.75m is the highest Motherwell have received for a player.
O'Donnell scored two goals in his debut for Celtic, and went on to win another Scottish Cup in 1995. He also earned his sole league winner's medal with the club in 1998, but injuries proved to be a major concern and his appearances for the club were limited. In 1999 O'Donnell was among a number of players who failed to agree terms on a new contract with Celtic chairman Fergus McCann, and instead signed for Sheffield Wednesday. Injuries continued to curtail his career and he played just one match in his first season (when the club were relegated from the Premier League). He went on to play just 20 times in four years for Sheffield Wednesday and was given a free transfer at the time of their relegation to Division Two in 2003.
O'Donnell returned to Scotland where former club Motherwell offered him the chance to train with them again. The Fir Park outfit re-signed him in January 2004, allowing him the chance to appear alongside his nephew, David Clarkson and earning him the club nickname, "Uncle Phil". He was also the uncle of St Mirren midfielder Stephen O'Donnell and Brian Dempsie who had also played for Motherwell. In his second spell at Motherwell, he was club captain.
Tributes
Former Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, was among those to pay tribute. He hailed the midfielder as a "great professional." He said, "as captain he helped transform Motherwell this season. Phil will be sadly missed by his family and by football fans but he will be mourned by the whole community."
The player was described as a "perfect gentleman" by former Scotland coach Craig Brown. He said: "It's very, very sad news, I just can't get over it. You would not get a more ideal role model for a young footballer than Phil O'Donnell. I think in his first spell at Motherwell he was probably the best box-to-box midfield player - maybe not just in Scotland but in the UK."
Motherwell fans laid scarves, strips and pictures at the gates of Fir Park.
The club's scheduled SPL game against Hibs at Easter Road the following Wednesday was postponed along with the club's home game with Celtic the following Sunday out of respect. Scottish Premier League chairman Lex Gold said: "We understand from Phil's family that they would appreciate it if the Motherwell v Celtic game scheduled for 6 January 2008 could be postponed. Both clubs are happy to meet the request and we have called the game off."
Players in 30 December's English Premier League matches between Derby County and Blackburn Rovers, and Manchester City and Liverpool F.C., wore black bands in his honour. Sheffield Wednesday's match at Hull City on the same day was preceded by a minutes applause as a mark of respect to their former player.
On December 31 the SPL postponed the Celtic v Rangers fixture scheduled for January 2, 2008 at a request by Celtic as a mark of respect for O'Donnell.
Thousands of tributes from around the world have been posted on the internet. Motherwellfc.co.uk has received hundreds of written tributes from fans as far as Korea and Ukraine, as well as many emotional messages from Sevilla F.C., comparing O'Donnell's death to the similar tragedy of Antonio Puerta earlier in the season. Sevilla F.C. director of football Ramon Rodríguez Monchi has offered assistance and support to Motherwell F.C. and to the family of Phil O'Donnell.
In a club statement Sevilla sent their condolences to Fir Park after hearing about O'Donnell's death. The Primera Liga side's director of football Ramon Rodriguez Monchi said: "This is terrible news. Right now, my thoughts are with Phil's family and everybody at Motherwell. Unfortunately, with the death of Phil O'Donnell, Motherwell have suffered a similar tragedy to ours.
"Antonio Puerta died at the beginning of the season and I know how terrible the whole experience is. Sevilla will be available to help in any way that we are able, to heal the pain and sadness of this tragic loss."