Daniel O'Shaughnessy
Daniel Michael O'Shaughnessy (born 14 September 1994) is a Finnish-Irish professional footballer who plays for Karlsruher SC and the Finland national team as a defender. He began his career in the youth systems at Honka, HJK and Metz and also played in England for Braintree Town and Cheltenham Town. After rising to prominence during his second spell with HJK, O'Shaughnessy transferred to German club Karlsruher SC in 2022. Early life. O'Shaughnessy was born in Riihimäki on 14 September 1994, the son of a Finnish mother and an Irish father (Robert, a painter from Galway). He holds dual  Finnish-Irish citizenship. His older brother Patrick is a former professional footballer. Club career. Youth years. A central defender, O'Shaughnessy began his career in Finland alongside his brother Patrick at Honka and was part of the youth team which made an impressive showing at the 2008 Nike Premier Cup. Both brothers joined Veikkausliiga club HJK in early 2009. O'Shaughnessy broke into the club's reserve team the following year, making 23 appearances and scoring two goals during the 2011 Kakkonen season, missing out on promotion to the Ykkönen after a playoff semi-final defeat to BK-46. After trials at Premier  League clubs Liverpool, Manchester United, Sunderland and Scottish Premier League club Celtic, O'Shaughnessy moved to French Ligue 2 club Metz on a -year contract in early January 2012. He made 40 appearances and scored one goal for the club's reserve team and helped the team to the 2013–14 Championnat de France amateur 2 Group C title. O'Shaughnessy departed Metz at the end of the 2013–14 season, having failed to receive a call into the first team squad. Brentford. O'Shaughnessy joined newly-promoted Championship club Brentford on trial in July 2014 and made a 30-minute cameo in a 4–0  pre-season friendly defeat to Osasuna on 29 July. On 1 August, it was announced that O'Shaughnessy had signed a two-year professional contract. He was an unused substitute during Brentford's two League Cup ties in August 2014, but instead spent the 2014–15 season in the Development Squad, for which he made 23 appearances and scored one goal. O'Shaughnessy began the 2015–16 season in the Development Squad and made 13 appearances and scored one goal before leaving on loan for the rest of the season in late January 2016. He was released in May 2016, having failed to make  a first team appearance during two seasons at Griffin Park. Braintree Town (loan). On 22 September 2015, O'Shaughnessy joined National League club Braintree Town on a one-month loan. His only appearance for the club came later that day as a half time substitute for Sam Habergham during a 2–1 win over Woking. Midtjylland (loan). On 28 January 2016, O'Shaughnessy joined Danish Superliga club Midtjylland on loan until the end of the 2015–16 season. He won his maiden first team call-up for a league match versus Copenhagen on 3 March and remained an unused substitute during the 1–0 defeat . After four further substitute appearances, O'Shaughnessy made his debut in the final match of the season versus Nordsjælland and replaced Kian Hansen after 59 minutes of the 4–1 victory. Cheltenham Town. On 12 July 2016, O'Shaughnessy joined League Two newcomers Cheltenham Town on a one-year contract. During a 2016–17 season in which the Robins narrowly avoided being relegated straight back into non-League football, he made 36 appearances and scored four goals. O'Shaughnessy signed a new one-year contract in June 2017, but he was down the defensive pecking order during the first half of the 2017–18 season and  he departed the club on 2 January 2018. O'Shaughnessy made 49 appearances and scored four goals during 18 months at Whaddon Road. Return to HJK. On 2 January 2018, O'Shaughnessy returned to Finland to re-join reigning Veikkausliiga champions HJK on a two-year contract, with the option for a further year. Despite missing the final three months of the 2018 season with a knee injury, O'Shaughnessy made 24 appearances, scored three goals and in his absence, HJK were crowned Veikkausliiga champions. O'Shaughnessy was a near ever-present during the 2019 season and finished the campaign with 31 appearances and  three goals. During a period while he was conducting his national service, O'Shaughnessy signed a new two-year contract in October 2019 and made 28 appearances during HJK's double-winning 2020 season. O'Shaughnessy made 35 appearances and scored one goal during the 2021 season, in which he captained the team to the Veikkausliiga championship. 2021 was O'Shaughnessy's final season at the Bolt Arena and he ended his career with the club on 118 appearances and 9 goals. Karlsruher SC. On 30 August 2021, it was announced that O'Shaughnessy would join 2. Bundesliga club Karlsruher SC on 1 December  2021, on a contract running until June 2023. International career. O'Shaughnessy represented Finland at all age-groups from U15 up to U21 level. He won his maiden call into the senior team for a friendly versus Estonia on 9 June 2015, but remained an unused substitute during the 2–0 defeat. O'Shaughnessy made his full international debut as a late substitute for Ville Jalasto in a 3–0 friendly defeat to Sweden in Abu Dhabi on 10 January 2016. He made his first start three days later versus Iceland and played the full 90 minutes of a 1–0 defeat. Two years after  his first call-up to the senior team, O'Shaughnessy won his third cap as a half time substitute in a 2–1 friendly win over Jordan on 11 January 2018. He won his first competitive cap with a start in a 1–0 2020–21 UEFA Nations League B defeat to Wales on 3 September 2020. O'Shaughnessy was named in the Finland squad for Euro 2020 and was the only domestic-based player in the selection. He started in each of the Finns' three group stage matches, prior to the team's elimination. Honours. Klubi 04 Metz B HJK