View source for Frank O'Farrell

{{Short description|Irish footballer and manager (1927–2022)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
|           name = Frank O'Farrell
|          image = Frank O'Farrell.jpeg
|     image_size =
|        caption =
|       fullname = Francis O'Farrell
|     birth_date = {{birth date|1927|10|9|df=y}}
|    birth_place = [[Blackpool, Cork]], Ireland
|     death_date = {{death date and age|2022|03|06|1927|10|9|df=y}}
|       position = [[Wing half]]
|    youthyears1 = 
|    youthclubs1 = Nicholas Rovers
|    youthyears2 = 
|    youthclubs2 = Clapton Celtic
|    youthyears3 = 
|    youthclubs3 = Western Rovers
|         years1 = 1947–1948 |clubs1 = [[Cork United F.C. (1940)|Cork United]]      |caps1 = ?   |goals1 = ?
|         years2 = 1948–1956 |clubs2 = [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]     |caps2 = 197 |goals2 = 6
|         years3 = 1956–1961 |clubs3 = [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] |caps3 = 118 |goals3 = 3
|         years4 = 1961      |clubs4 = [[Weymouth F.C.|Weymouth]]                   |caps4 = ?   |goals4 = ?
| nationalyears1 = 1952–1959 |nationalteam1 = [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] |nationalcaps1 = 9 |nationalgoals1 = 2
|  manageryears1 = 1961–1965 |managerclubs1 = [[Weymouth F.C.|Weymouth]]
|  manageryears2 = 1965–1968 |managerclubs2 = [[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay United]]
|  manageryears3 = 1968–1971 |managerclubs3 = [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]
|  manageryears4 = 1971–1972 |managerclubs4 = [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
|  manageryears5 = 1973–1974 |managerclubs5 = [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]]
|  manageryears6 = 1974–1976 |managerclubs6 = [[Iran national football team|Iran]]
|  manageryears7 = 1976–1977 |managerclubs7 = [[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay United]]
|  manageryears8 = 1980      |managerclubs8 = [[Al-Shaab CSC|Al-Shaab]]
|  manageryears9 = 1981–1982 |managerclubs9 = [[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay United]]
}}
'''Francis O'Farrell''' (9 October 1927 – 6 March 2022) was an Irish [[association football|football]] player and manager. He played as a [[wing half]] for [[Cork United F.C. (1940)|Cork United]], [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] and [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]. He made over 300 appearances in the [[Football League]] before joining [[Weymouth F.C.|Weymouth]] as player-manager. He went on to manage [[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay United]] (three stints), [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]], [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]], [[Iran national football team|Iran]] and [[Al-Shaab CSC|Al-Shaab]]. He played for the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland national team]], making nine appearances between 1952 and 1959.

==Early life==
Born in Lower Dublin Hill in [[Blackpool, Cork|Blackpool]], a suburb of [[Cork (city)|Cork]], O'Farrell lived on Friars Road, in the [[Turners Cross, Cork|Turners Cross]] area of the city. His grand-uncle was renowned [[Irish road bowling|road bowling]] player John "Buck" McGrath.<ref name=dodonovan>{{Cite web |title=Frank O'Farrell: The interview |first=Diarmuid |last=O'Donovan |work=dodonovan.com |date=30 June 2012 |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= http://www.dodonovan.com/?p=477}}</ref> He was raised a [[Roman Catholic|Catholic]] and attended [[Coláiste Chríost Rí|Christ the King]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=A melting pot of codes, a factory for local heroes |first=Tommy |last=Conlon |work=Independent.ie |date=17 March 2002 |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/a-melting-pot-of-codes-a-factory-for-local-heroes-26239907.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Coláiste Chríost Rí |work=corkpastandpresent.ie |publisher=Cork City Council |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= http://www.corkpastandpresent.ie/cultureincork/sport/hartycup/colaistechriostri/}}</ref> He played [[Gaelic football]] and captained the school team to its first trophy win in 1941.<ref>{{cite news| title=Johnny Vaughan |newspaper=Sunday Independent |location=Ireland |date=19 May 2013 | url=https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/sunday-independent-ireland/20130519/282419871777269 |via=PressReader |access-date=27 November 2018}}</ref> He also played the association code for local teams Nicholas Rovers, Clapton Celtic and at Western Rovers alongside the brother of [[Noel Cantwell]], with whom he would later reunite as a teammate at [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]].<ref name=dodonovan/><ref>{{cite book|last=Keane|first=Trevor|title=Gaffers: 50 Years of Irish Football Managers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a2AjziakKB4C&pg=PA47|year=2010|publisher=Mercier Press|isbn=978-1-85635-666-4|pages=47–48}}</ref> At the age of 16, he started working on the railways and wanted to be a train driver, like his father.<ref name=whu>{{cite web|url=https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2018/september/28-september/oldest-living-hammer-ofarrell-still-steaming-along|title=Oldest-living Hammer O'Farrell still steaming along|publisher=West Ham United F.C.|access-date=29 September 2018}}</ref> He worked as a [[Fireman (steam engine)|fireman]] on the [[Dublin–Cork railway line]].<ref name=examiner>{{Cite web |title=O'Farrell recalls his days as a happy Hammer |first=Eoghan |last=Cormican |work=Irish Examiner |date=3 July 2013 |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/ofarrell-recalls-his-days-as-a-happy-hammer-235847.html}}</ref>

==Club career==
A [[left half]],<ref>{{hugman|14857|access-date=27 November 2018}}</ref> O'Farrell started his playing career with [[League of Ireland]] club [[Cork United F.C. (1940)|Cork United]], replacing [[Tommy Moroney]] in the first team after his departure to West Ham United in 1947.<ref>{{cite news| title=Soccer Star-tistic |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=4 March 1961 |page=3 | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000271/19610304/029/0003 |url-access=subscription |access-date=27 November 2018 |via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref> Playing as a semi-professional, he supplemented his earnings with his work on the railways, earning £3 a week for each. In January 1948, after being spotted by West Ham scout Ben Ives, O'Farrell followed Moroney to the [[Boleyn Ground|Upton Park]] club for a fee of £3,000. O'Farrell himself received a £1,000 fee for the transfer.<ref>{{cite book|last=Henderson|first=Jon|title=When Footballers Were Skint: A Journey in Search of the Soul of Football|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gb5VDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT35|year=2018|publisher=Biteback Publishing|isbn=978-1-78590-385-4|page=35}}</ref> He made over 50 appearances for the [[reserve team|reserves]] before breaking into the first team.<ref name=examiner/><ref name=Hogg2005>{{cite book|last=Hogg |first=Tony |year=2005 |title=Who's Who of West Ham United |publisher=Profile Sports Media |isbn=1-903135-50-8|page=157}}</ref> His debut came on 28 September 1950 in a 2–0 defeat of [[Colchester United F.C.|Colchester United]] in the Essex Professional Cup.<ref name=whs>{{cite web |url=http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=2&ham=502&united=Frank_O'Farrell |title=Frank O'Farrell |website=westhamstats.info |access-date=27 November 2018}}</ref> His [[The Football League|Football League]] debut followed in November 1950 in a 4–1 defeat away to [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]]. He made 18 league appearances in his first season but became a regular in the [[1951–52 in English football|1951–52]] and [[1952–53 in English football|1952–53]] seasons.<ref name=whu/> He was one of a number of West Ham players that would meet at Cassettari's Café to discuss tactics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cassettaris Cafe |first=Roger |last=Hillier |work=theyflysohigh.co.uk |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= http://theyflysohigh.co.uk/cassettaris-cafe/4593757656}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Green|first=Chris|title=The Sack Race: The Story of Football's Gaffers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_ipvx_rWSzsC&pg=PT21|year=2012|publisher=Mainstream Publishing|isbn=978-1-78057-417-2|pages=21–22}}</ref> He played for West Ham in seven seasons and made 213 appearances, scoring eight goals.<ref name=whs/>

In November 1956, O'Farrell left for [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] in a straight swap deal involving [[Eddie Lewis (footballer, born 1935)|Eddie Lewis]]. Replacing [[Ray Evans (footballer, born 1933)|Ray Evans]] in the team, he scored on his home debut, a 20-yard strike against [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]. Playing alongside [[Tom Finney]], he played 17 league matches before his first loss with the club. He would then miss over a month of football after treatment for a nosebleed which caused him to lose around four pints of blood (he experienced a recurrence of the problem in the following season).<ref name=pnefp>{{cite web |url=http://www.pneformerplayers.co.uk/formerplayers/frank_ofarrell_feature.html |title=Frank O'Farrell |first=Ian |last=Rigby |publisher=Preston North End Former Players Association |access-date=27 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229232217/http://www.pneformerplayers.co.uk/formerplayers/frank_ofarrell_feature.html |archive-date=29 December 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Everton Unchanged for Game Against Preston |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=6 March 1958 |url=http://www.bluecorrespondent.co.uk/1957-58/march1958.html |via=bluecorrespondent.co.uk |access-date=27 November 2018}}</ref> His first season with Preston brought a third-place finish and he was still with the [[Lancashire]] club when they finished runners-up to [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] in Division One at the end of the [[1957–58 in English football|1957–58]] season.<ref name=heraldexpress>{{cite news |url=http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Frank-O-Farrell-privilege-played-Sir-Tom-Finney/story-20649763-detail/story.html |title=Frank O'Farrell: It was a privilege to have played with Sir Tom Finney |work=Torquay Herald Express |date=18 February 2014 |access-date=27 April 2014 |last=Thomas |first=David |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427155519/http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Frank-O-Farrell-privilege-played-Sir-Tom-Finney/story-20649763-detail/story.html |archive-date=27 April 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statto.com/football/teams/preston-north-end/1957-1958 |title=Preston North End 1957-1958 |website=statto.com |access-date=27 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427130138/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/preston-north-end/1957-1958 |archive-date=27 April 2014}}</ref> In the same season O'Farrell's former teammates at West Ham finished as Second Division champions, securing their promotion to the [[Football League First Division|First Division]], which he had strived to help achieve.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/LeagueTables/Season1957-58/Div21957-58.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030519211146/http://footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/LeagueTables/Season1957-58/Div21957-58.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 May 2003 |title=DIVISION 2 1957/58 |website=footballsite.co.uk |access-date=27 April 2014 }}</ref> In all, O'Farrell made 129 appearances for Preston, scoring four goals.<ref name=pnefp/>

He retired from professional football in 1961, close to 34 years of age, after a second operation to remove [[cartilage]].<ref name=biteback>{{Cite web |title=Former Man Utd. Boss Frank O'Farrell Subject of New Doc |publisher=The Irish Film & Television Network |date=30 March 2011 |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4283747&tpl=archnews&force=1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Former Old Trafford boss speaks frankly about his long footballing life |first=Jon |last=Henderson |publisher=Biteback Publishing |date=9 October 2018 |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/posts/former-old-trafford-boss-speaks-frankly-about-his-long-footballing-life}}</ref>

==International career==
O'Farrell won the first of nine full international caps for [[Ireland national football team (FAI)|Ireland]] against [[Austria national football team|Austria]] in Vienna on 7 May 1952, in a 6–0 defeat.<ref name=pnefp/> In his next international game, also against Austria, O'Farrell scored the first of his two international goals as Ireland won 4–0 at [[Dalymount Park]], Dublin.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.11v11.com/players/frank-ofarrell-26857/ |title=Frank O'Farrell |website=11v11.com |publisher=Association of Football Statisticians |access-date=27 April 2014}}</ref><ref name=afsaus>{{cite web |url=http://www.11v11.com/matches/republic-of-ireland-v-austria-25-march-1953-226194/ |title=Republic of Ireland v Austria, 25 March 1953 |website=11v11.com |publisher=Association of Football Statisticians |access-date=27 April 2014}}</ref> His next game saw his second and last international goal, as Ireland lost 5–3 to [[France national football team|France]] in a qualifying game for the [[1954 FIFA World Cup|1954 World Cup]].<ref name=afsfra>{{cite web |url=http://www.11v11.com/matches/republic-of-ireland-v-france-04-october-1953-226266/ |title=Republic of Ireland v France, 04 October 1953 |website=11v11.com |publisher=Association of Football Statisticians |access-date=27 April 2014 }}</ref> He played infrequently over the next six years before making his ninth and last international appearance on 10 May 1959 in a 4–0 defeat by [[Czechoslovakia national football team|Czechoslovakia]] at [[Tehelne Pole Stadion]] in [[Bratislava]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.11v11.com/matches/czechoslovakia-v-republic-of-ireland-10-may-1959-227289/ |title=Czechoslovakia v Republic of Ireland, 10 May 1959 |website=11v11.com |publisher=Association of Football Statisticians |access-date=27 April 2014}}</ref>

==Managerial career==
===Weymouth and Torquay United===
On 20 June 1961, O'Farrell became [[player-manager]] at [[Southern Football League|Southern League]] team [[Weymouth F.C.|Weymouth]]. He was paid £25 a week for the role, which was £5 more than he had been earning as a Football League player at Preston.<ref name=heraldexpress/> In [[1961–62 in English football|1961–62]], he oversaw Weymouth's passage to the fourth round of the [[FA Cup]], where they were beaten by his old club Preston North End. After a runners-up spot in [[1963–64 in English football|1963–64]], he led the club to their first Southern League championship in [[1964–65 in English football|1964–65]], also reaching the final of the [[Southern Football League Cup (England)|Southern League Cup]] that season.<ref name=dorsetecho>{{Cite web |title=Frank O'Farrell's career was a fairytale |first=Adam |last=Summers |work=Dorset Echo |date=9 November 2011 |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/9352322.Frank_O_Farrell_s_career_was_a_fairytale/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=History - Terras' Timeline |first=Nigel |last=Biddlecombe |publisher=Weymouth F.C. |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= http://theterras.com/index.php/club-info/history-terras-timeline/}}</ref>

In May 1965, he became manager of [[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay United]], replacing [[Eric Webber]]. He took the Gulls to promotion in his first season in charge and followed this with seventh- and fourth-place finishes in the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] in the following two seasons.<ref name=tu>{{cite web|url=http://www.torquayunited.com/page/History/0,,10445,00.html |title=The History Of Torquay United |publisher=Torquay United F.C |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091227032211/http://www.torquayunited.com/page/History/0%2C%2C10445%2C00.html |archive-date=27 December 2009 }}</ref> While Torquay manager he returned to West Ham to sign a number of players, including [[John Bond (footballer)|John Bond]], [[Ken Brown (footballer)|Ken Brown]] and [[Bill Kitchener]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ken Brown Testimonial |first=Roger |last=Hillier |work=theyflysohigh.co.uk |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= http://theyflysohigh.co.uk/ken-brown-testimonial/4585496699 |quote=Plus during his two seasons at Plainmoor [Brown] played alongside a few other ex-Hammers. The old boys included John Bond, Bob Glozier, David James, Bill Kitchener, Stuart Morgan, Tony Scott and John Smith. All signed by Torquay's manager, another Ex-Hammer, Frank O'Farrell.}}</ref>

===Leicester City===
In December 1968, O'Farrell took over [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]. He appointed former West Ham teammate [[Malcolm Musgrove]] as his assistant. Leicester were near the bottom of the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] table when he was appointed and were relegated at the end of the season, but O'Farrell led them to the [[1969 FA Cup Final]], which they lost 1–0 to Manchester City.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The success before the banner |first=Tom |last=Adams |publisher=ESPN |date=12 May 2011 |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= http://en.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/90124.html}}</ref> The following season brought a third-place finish, and [[1970–71 in English football|1970–71]] saw the club win the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] and return to the top tier.<ref name=lc>{{Cite web |title=The Managers: Frank O'Farrell, 1968-1971 |publisher=Leicester City F.C. |date=3 July 2018 |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= https://www.lcfc.com/news/771611/the-managers-frank-ofarrell-1968-1971}}</ref>

===Manchester United===
On 1 July 1971, he took over at [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], having been confirmed in the role on 8 June 1971.<ref>{{cite news| title=O'Farrell is new boss at Manchester |newspaper=Newcastle Journal |date=9 June 1971 |page=18 | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002240/19710609/221/0018 |url-access=subscription |access-date=27 November 2018 |via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Now Leicester Move Quickly for New Manager |newspaper=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=9 June 1971 |page=30 | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19710609/428/0030 |url-access=subscription |access-date=27 November 2018 |via=British Newspaper Archive|quote=Last night's United statement said that O'Farrell would take up his new post on July 1, the day after his present contract with Leicester expires.}}</ref> He replaced [[Matt Busby]], who had selected him for the role, signing a five-year contract worth £15,000 a year.<ref name=men>{{Cite web |title=Former Reds boss Frank O'Farrell talks about taking over from the great Sir Matt Busby |work=Manchester Evening News |date=12 October 2011 |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-reds-boss-frank-ofarrell-873032}}</ref> Musgrove was again his assistant.<ref name=lc/> His arrival came just three years after United had won the [[European Cup]], but the side had posted eighth-place finishes in the First Division in the previous two seasons before O'Farrell's arrival.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1969/70 |work=StretfordEnd.co.uk |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/seasons/season1970.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1970/71 |work=StretfordEnd.co.uk |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/seasons/season1970.html}}</ref>

O'Farrell's tenure started well, with [[Bobby Charlton]], [[Denis Law]] and [[George Best]] playing well and the club, 10 points clear at one stage, losing just one of their first 14 league games.<ref name=se7172>{{Cite web |title=1971/72 |work=StretfordEnd.co.uk |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/seasons/season1972.html}}</ref> O'Farrell was named Manager of the Month for September and the club topped the table for the first time in three years in October.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lovejoy|first1=Joe|last2=Best|first2=George|title=Bestie: A Portrait Of A Legend|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Re4h8YxeE18C&pg=PA213|date=13 December 2012|publisher=Pan Macmillan|isbn=978-1-4472-3484-5|page=213}}</ref> After being top of the league at Christmas, Best failed to attend training throughout January and United scored only three goals in their first eight games of the year, losing the first seven.<ref name=dorsetecho/><ref name=the42gb>{{Cite web |title=George Best's chaos, his Cork boss and a club in crisis: when United last faced Huddersfield |last=O'Callaghan |first=Eoin |work=The42 |date=20 October 2017 |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= https://www.the42.ie/manchester-united-huddersfield-3657284-Oct2017/}}</ref> O'Farrell's impersonal approach, whereby every player had to schedule an appointment to see him, did not help morale.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mythbuster: Manchester United are not a sacking club |first=Sam |last=Lee |work=Goal |date=27 March 2014 |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= https://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3991/premier-league/2014/03/27/4712494/mythbuster-manchester-united-are-not-a-sacking-club}}</ref> O'Farrell signed [[Martin Buchan]] for a club-record fee of £125,000,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Man Utd History by Decade: 1970 to 1979 |publisher=Manchester United F.C. |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= https://www.manutd.com/en/history/history-by-decade |quote=Although O'Farrell's tenure was short, he still left his mark by signing Martin Buchan for a record fee of £125,000. The former Aberdeen captain was to become a key player for O'Farrell's successor, Tommy Docherty...}}</ref> as well as [[Ian Storey-Moore]], who scored in all of United's five league wins in the second half of the season.<ref name=the42gb/> Once again, United ended the season in eighth place.<ref name=se7172/><ref name=the42>{{Cite web |title='Vindictive, punitive, nasty': Moyes, Man United and the dark shadow of Frank O'Farrell |last=O'Callaghan |first=Eoin |work=The42 |date=17 April 2017 |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= https://www.the42.ie/manchester-united-david-moyes-frank-ofarrell-3344319-Apr2017/}}</ref>

Further problems with Best led to a two-week suspension for the player and he continued to miss training sessions during the [[1972–73 Manchester United F.C. season|1972–73]] season.<ref name=the42gb/> Forwards [[Wyn Davies]] and [[Ted MacDougall]] were signed in September 1972,<ref>{{cite news| title=Davies will add height |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |date=15 September 1972 |page=22 | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19720915/630/0022 |url-access=subscription |access-date=27 November 2018 |via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=United Splash for MacDougall |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |date=27 September 1972 |page=22 | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19720927/583/0022 |url-access=subscription |access-date=27 November 2018 |via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref> bringing O'Farrell's spending in the previous six months to £500,000.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Vacher|first1=Neil|last2=MacDougall|first2=Ted|title=MacDou-GOAL!: The Ted MacDougall Story|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8lAGDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT77|year=2016|publisher=Pitch Publishing|isbn=978-1-78531-258-8|page=77}}</ref> On 6 December, it was announced that Best would be transfer listed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=George Best must go - Manchester United |work=The Guardian |date=6 December 2012 |orig-year=6 December 1972 |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2012/dec/06/manchester-united-george-best-sold-1972}}</ref> On 16 December, United lost 5–0 to [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]], with [[Don Rogers (footballer)|Don Rogers]] scoring twice,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://metro.co.uk/2014/02/21/crystal-palace-can-look-to-1990-for-inspiration-ahead-of-manchester-united-clash-4310868/ |title=Crystal Palace can look to 1990 for inspiration ahead of Manchester United clash| first=Gordon |last=Law |work=Metro.co.uk |date=21 February 2014|access-date=27 April 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/crystal-palace-v-manchester-united-16-december-1972-81862/ |title=Crystal Palace v Manchester United, 16 December 1972 |website=11v11.com |publisher=Association of Football Statisticians |access-date=3 December 2018}}</ref> and three days after the match, with the club third-from-bottom in the league, O'Farrell was sacked after 18 months in the role.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-united-busby-idUKBREA3L0XS20140422 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226234029/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-united-busby-idUKBREA3L0XS20140422 |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 February 2019 |title=Moyes sacking evokes memories of botched end to Busby era |publisher=Reuters |date=22 April 2014 |access-date=27 April 2014 |last=Collett |first=Mike}}</ref><ref name=biteback/> He was replaced at Old Trafford by [[Tommy Docherty]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tommy Docherty still regrets leaving Scotland for Man Utd |first=Richard |last=Wilson |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 May 2014 |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/scotland/27629084}}</ref> O'Farrell {{as of|2018|11|24|alt=remains}} as the only Irish manager in Manchester United's history.<ref name=irishtimes>{{Cite web |title=Where are they now? No 19: Frank O'Farrell |work=The Irish Times |date=21 December 1998 |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/where-are-they-now-no-19-frank-o-farrell-1.227857}}</ref> His sacking resulted in O'Farrell suing the club over unpaid wages and he was forced to sign on at the local [[labour exchange]] while the dispute was settled.<ref name=men/> The club ultimately settled out-of-court and O'Farrell received "about £17,000".<ref name=biteback/>

===Cardiff and Iran===
He became manager of [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]] in November 1973,<ref>{{cite news| title=O'Farrell Decides |newspaper=Daily Mirror |date=13 November 1973 |page=31 | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19731113/210/0027 |url-access=subscription |access-date=27 November 2018 |via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref> but in April 1974 quit to take the manager's post with the [[Iran national football team|Iranian national team]].<ref>{{cite news| title=O'Farrell Accepts Iran Job |newspaper=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=9 June 1974 |page=37 | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19740409/436/0037 |url-access=subscription |access-date=27 November 2018 |via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref> He began his tenure with seven consecutive wins, leading them to the gold medal at the [[Football at the 1974 Asian Games|1974 Asian Games]] and qualification for the [[Montreal Olympics]].<ref name=pnefp/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Frank O'Farrell |work=teammelli.com |access-date=27 November 2018 |url= http://www.teammelli.com/Coaches/frank_ofarrell.htm}}</ref> In January 2006, O'Farrell was invited to Iran to attend a ceremony in honour of [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]' former players, along with [[Alan Rogers (football manager)|Alan Rogers]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.persianfootball.com/readstory.php?storyid=20060314114449037059 |title=The Red Resurrection |work=persianfootball.com |access-date=21 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070623132024/http://www.persianfootball.com/readstory.php?storyid=20060314114449037059 |archive-date=23 June 2007}}</ref>

===Returns to Torquay, and Al-Shaab===
On 29 November 1976, O'Farrell returned to Torquay United as manager, replacing Malcolm Musgrove.<ref>{{cite news| title=O'Farrell back at Torquay |newspaper=Aberdeen Evening Express |date=29 November 1976 |page=14 | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19761129/366/0014 |url-access=subscription |access-date=27 November 2018 |via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref> He remained with the club as consultant manager when [[Mike Green (footballer, born 1946)|Mike Green]] was appointed player-manager in March 1977.<ref name=tu/> In 1980, he joined United Arab Emirati club [[Al-Shaab CSC|Al-Shaab]].<ref name=lc/> He became Torquay manager again when Green left the club in May 1981, but once again relinquished the position the following year, this time in July 1982 on the appointment of [[Bruce Rioch]].<ref name=tu/> He worked as general manager until his retirement in 1983, aged 55.<ref name=the42/>

==Personal life==
After his retirement, O'Farrell continued to live in Torquay. In 1993, he worked as a scout for [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] and [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]].<ref name=Hogg2005/> In later life, he ran a nursing home in Devon with his wife, Ann. He had been active in church affairs and presided over the local Conference of the [[Society of Saint Vincent de Paul]].<ref name=irishtimes/> In 2011, his autobiography ''All Change at Old Trafford'' was published.<ref name=men/> In 2018 he lived in Devon, and cared for his wife.<ref name=whu/>

O'Farrell died on 6 March 2022, at the age of 94.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-united-frank-o-farrell-23310982|title=Former Manchester United manager Frank O'Farrell dies aged 94|first=Tyrone|last=Marshall|work=[[Manchester Evening News]]|date=7 March 2022|access-date= 7 March 2022}}</ref> At the time of his death he was the oldest living former West Ham United player.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whufc.com/news/frank-ofarrell-1927-2022|title=Frank O'Farrell – 1927-2022 &#124; West Ham United F.C.|website=www.whufc.com}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{NFT player|35827|accessdate=27 November 2018}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]]
|1952||1||0
|-
|1953||2||2
|-
|1955||3||0
|-
|1956||1||0
|-
|1957||1||0
|-
|1959||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!9||2
|}

:''Scores and results list Republic of Ireland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each O'Farrell goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Frank O'Farrell
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| align="center"|1 || 25 March 1953 || [[Dalymount Park]], [[Dublin]], Ireland || {{fb|Austria}} || align="center"|4–0 || align="center"|4–0 || Friendly || <ref name=afsaus/>
|-
| align="center"|2 || 4 October 1953 || Dalymount Park, Dublin, Ireland || {{fb|FRA}} || align="center"|3–5 || align="center"|3–5 || [[1954 FIFA World Cup qualification Group 4|1954 FIFA World Cup qualification]] || <ref name=afsfra/>
|}

==Managerial statistics==
{{hatnote|Sources:{{Thinsp}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.teammelli.com/Coaches/frank_ofarrell.htm |title=Frank O'Farrell&nbsp;– Iran Career |access-date=14 November 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/managers/ofarrell.html |title=United under Frank O'Farrell |access-date=4 February 2009 |website=StretfordEnd.co.uk }}</ref><ref>{{soccerbase (manager)|id=444|name=Frank O'Farrell}}. Retrieved 4 February 2009.</ref>}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|From
!rowspan="2"|To
!colspan="5"|Record
|-
!G!!W!!L!!D!!Win %
|-
|align=left|[[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay United]]
|align=left|1 May 1965
|align=left|31 December 1968
|162||76||52||34||{{#expr: 76/162 * 100 round 2}}
|-
|align=left|[[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]
|align=left|1 December 1968
|align=left|30 June 1971
|114||51||28||35||{{#expr: 51/114 * 100 round 2}}
|-
|align=left|[[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
|align=left|1 July 1971
|align=left|19 December 1972
|81||30||27||24||{{#expr: 30/81 * 100 round 2}}
|-
|align=left|[[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]]
|align=left|13 November 1973
|align=left|30 April 1974
|27||8||10||9||{{#expr: 8/27 * 100 round 2}}
|-
|align=left|[[Iran national football team|Iran]]
|align=left|September 1974
|align=left|September 1975
|15||10||3||2||{{#expr: 10/15 * 100 round 2}}
|-
|align=left|[[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay United]]
|align=left|28 November 1976
|align=left|1 March 1977
|13||4||7||1||{{#expr: 4/13 * 100 round 2}}
|-
|align=left|[[Al-Shaab CSC|Al-Shaab]]
|align=left|1980
|align=left|1980
|10||6||3||1||{{#expr: 6/10 * 100 round 2}}
|-
|align=left|[[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay United]]
|align=left|1 June 1981
|align=left|30 June 1982
|46||14||19||13||{{#expr: 14/46 * 100 round 2}}
|}

==Honours==
===Manager===
'''Weymouth'''
*[[Southern Football League|Southern League]]: [[1964–65 in English football|1964–65]]<ref name=dorsetecho />

'''Torquay United'''
*[[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]]: [[1965–66 in English football|1965–66]]<ref name=tu />

'''Leicester City'''
*[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]: [[1970–71 in English football|1970–71]]<ref name=lc />

'''Cardiff City'''
*[[Welsh Cup]]: 1974<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Jordan |title=List of Welsh Cup winning managers - 1887 to 2019 |url=https://clwbpeldroed.org/list-welsh-cup-winning-managers/ |website=Y Clwb Pêl-droed - Your home for Welsh football |access-date=11 March 2022}}</ref>

'''Iran'''
*[[Asia Games]]: 1974<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asgames74.html "Asian Games 1974"], RSSSF.</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|first=Frank|last=O'Farrell|title=All Change at Old Trafford: The Frank O'Farrell Story|year=2011|publisher=Backpass|isbn=978-0-9570118-0-9}}
*{{cite book|last=McCartney|first=Iain|title=Manchester United: Busby's Legacy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D__BBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT190|year=2014|publisher=Amberley Publishing|isbn=978-1-4456-3907-9}}

{{Asian Games men's football winning managers}}
{{Weymouth F.C. managers}}
{{Torquay United F.C. managers}}
{{Leicester City F.C. managers}}
{{Manchester United F.C. managers}}
{{Cardiff City F.C. managers}}
{{Iran national football team managers}}{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ofarrell, Frank}}
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:People educated at Coláiste Chríost Rí]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers]]
[[Category:Association footballers from Cork (city)]]
[[Category:Men's association football wing halves]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Cork United F.C. (1940–1948) players]]
[[Category:League of Ireland players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:West Ham United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Preston North End F.C. players]]
[[Category:Weymouth F.C. players]]
[[Category:Weymouth F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Torquay United F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Leicester City F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Manchester United F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Cardiff City F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Al-Shaab CSC managers]]
[[Category:Iran national football team managers]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland association football managers]]
[[Category:English Football League managers]]
[[Category:Southern Football League managers]]
[[Category:Everton F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Bolton Wanderers F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Association football scouts]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland expatriate men's association footballers]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland expatriate association football managers]]
[[Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in Wales]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Wales]]
[[Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in Iran]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Iran]]
[[Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:20th-century Irish sportsmen]]