Cork City have announced the appointment of Colin O'Brien as their new Academy Director, filling the position left vacant by Liam Kearney's promotion to Director of Football. Colin O'Brien has most recently managed the Republic of Ireland U17 team in three memorable European and World Cup campaigns. He left the role shortly after reaching the last 16 of the 2025 U17 World Cup in Qatar, where they lost out to Switzerland. In his time as an international manager, O'Brien oversaw the development of many players who have gone on to play at senior international level. Colin O'Brien said he is delighted to accept the role of Academy Director, calling it a real full circle moment returning to Cork City FC. He looks forward to working in tandem with the various coaching teams, first team managers Barry Robson and Derek Coughlan, as well as Liam Kearney. Liam Kearney, Cork City FC's Director of Football, has welcomed the appointment, saying Colin knows the club extremely well and his reputation for nurturing young, and talented players at underage international level is fantastic. This role is funded through the League of Ireland Academy Investment Programme supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and Sport Ireland. Cork City FC would like to thank Minister Patrick O'Donovan and Minister Charlie McConalogue for their support in helping the club in this invaluable appointment. Colin O'Brien will commence the role of Academy Director at the start of July. He has a long association with the club as a player, spending virtually his entire League of Ireland career, from 1995 to 2008, with Cork City FC, and being voted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2009. The club has a strong history of producing young players who support the first team and play major roles for both European clubs and the international team. O'Brien's experience will be invaluable in developing the next generation of Cork City players. The appointment is a significant boost to the club's academy, which has already produced talented players under Liam Kearney's previous work as Head of Academy. With Colin O'Brien at the helm, the future of Cork City's academy looks bright. The club's fans will be eager to see the impact of O'Brien's appointment on the development of young players and the first team's performance. Colin O'Brien's return to Cork City FC is a major coup for the club, and his experience and expertise will be crucial in shaping the future of the academy.