Career
As a creative midfielder, she played for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team and was the first Irish female to play professional football outside Ireland. She began her professional career in France, with Stade de Reims, then settled in Italy where she found success with Serie A teams including Lazio and Trani. After qualifying as a coach at the Coverciano centre, O'Brien worked for the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and served Lazio as manager.
O'Brien joined Stade de Reims at the age of 17, after the French club toured Dublin. O'Brien enjoyed similar success in Italy, collecting six Scudetti and two Italian Women's Cups in a career spanning seven clubs and 18 years. Returning to Lazio and playing alongside Pia Sundhage, she lifted the Cup again in 1985.
The Dizionario del Calcio Italiano described O'Brien as an elegant midfield playmaker, adept at reading the game and capable of precise passing. She was bracketed alongside Rose Reilly, Conchi Sánchez and Susy Augustesen as one of the best foreigners to play women's football in Italy. In 2014 Italian football great Carolina Morace named O'Brien as one of the best players in the world and described her as an inspiration.
O'Brien endured a relatively inauspicious international career. Due to travel and accommodation costs, the poorly performing Irish national team only called her up for their most important fixtures after she had emigrated. In October 1973, O'Brien played for Ireland against France at the Parc des Princes in Paris.
Ireland were beaten 4–1 but O'Brien was named Player of the Match. In April 1990, while visiting Dublin, she played in Ireland's 0–0 1991 UEFA Women's Championship qualification draw against the Netherlands.
