Who is JJ Gabriel's Dad? Ex-Ireland International Who Played for Arsenal

· GiveMeSport

Everything you need to know about Joe O'Cearuill, the former Republic of Ireland defender whose son JJ Gabriel is causing a stir at Manchester United

JJ Gabriel is deemed to be one of the brightest young prospects in world football and Manchester United face a battle to keep him on their books , with some of Europe's elite clubs circling for the signature of a player who has drawn comparisons to both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo .

It is hardly a surprise to learn that Gabriel, who sports the name 'Gabriel Jr' on his shirt, is strongly supported and influenced by his father, who has been a vocal advocate throughout his career, including - to the chagrin of some - on social media. It is fair to say that the player's father occupies a significant role in his career.

Here, GIVEMESPORT brings you all you need to know about JJ Gabriel's father.

Joe O'Cearuill (sometimes written Ó Cearúill ) is the father of JJ Gabriel. Born in north London on February 9, 1987, O'Cearuill was a professional footballer whose career spanned around 12 years and saw him play for clubs across England and Ireland.

His football CV includes clubs such as Arsenal , Watford, Brighton, Barnet and Forest Green Rovers, as well as full international honours with the Republic of Ireland.

- Full Name: Joseph Delpesh O'Cearuill - Date of Birth: February 9, 1987 - Place of Birth: Edmonton, North London, England - Playing Position: Defender - Notable Teams: Arsenal, Brighton, Forest Green Rovers, Republic of Ireland

O'Cearuill was a defender during his career, featuring in the centre-back and right-back positions - a stark contrast to his son, who is very much an attacker inspired by the likes of Messi and Ronaldo.

Though born in England, O'Cearuill has links to Trinidad and Tobago through his father and Ireland through his mother, whose connection is to the south-western county of Cork.

JJ Gabriel's real full name is Joseph Junior Andreou O'Cearuill. According to reports, his name was changed in a bid to make it more marketable .

O'Cearuill began his football journey in 2004 as a youth player for Leyton Orient before moving on to Watford and eventually earning a professional contract with Arsenal in 2006.

He played mostly for the Gunners' reserve teams, but trained with the first team and featured on the bench in a number of games. While on the books at Arsenal, he spent a brief spell on loan at Brighton, who were then playing in League One, and featured in a testimonial game for Dennis Bergkamp.

During his time as an Arsenal player, O'Cearuill earned call-ups to the Ireland Under-21 and senior squads. He made two senior appearances for the Boys in Green under Steve Staunton, playing in friendly games against Ecuador and Bolivia in the United States. The image above shows him in action against Aaron Lennon and the England U-21s.

As well as playing for clubs across England, O'Cearuill had a short spell in Ireland with St Patrick's Athletic in 2008, which saw him play for the club in the UEFA Cup against the likes of Hertha Berlin.

O'Cearuill is generally perceived as a 'journeyman' footballer, due to the fact that he played for a large number of teams and spent relatively brief periods at each. He concluded his playing days in 2016 at Haringey Borough.

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