Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 8y

Barcelona, Real Betis to honour former manager Patrick O'Connell

Former Barcelona and Real Betis manager Patrick O'Connell is to be honoured ahead of the two clubs' La Liga meeting at the Camp Nou on Wednesday evening.

The grandson of "Don Patricio," Michael O'Connell, and his wife are reportedly set to meet with Blaugrana president Josep Maria Bartomeu before kickoff, as the former Ireland international and one-time Manchester United defender enters the Catalan club's "Hall of Fame."

In 1935, Dublin-born O'Connell led Betis to their only ever La Liga title, before then guiding Barca on a tour of Latin America after the Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936. He also coached La Liga sides Racing Santander and Sevilla.

After returning to the UK he died in London in 1959 and was buried in an unmarked grave.

As a player, O'Connell lead Ireland to the British Home Championship in 1913-14, while as Manchester United captain he was caught-up in a match-fixing scandal following a game against Liverpool in 1915.

The Belfast-based Patrick O'Connell Memorial Fund has for some years been working to gain recognition of O'Connell's achievements, and their project has gained support from both Barca and Betis in recent times.

Barca previously spoke of their links to O'Connell during a St. Patrick's Day message to their fans in March 2015.

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