Corey O'Keeffe

Corey James John O'Keeffe (born 5 June 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a full back or midfielder for EFL League Two club Rochdale, on loan from Mansfield Town.

O'Keeffe began his career with Birmingham City, made his senior debut in 2016, and spent time on loan at Solihull Moors of the National League in 2018 and at League Two club Macclesfield Town in 2019–20. He was released by Birmingham in 2021 and signed for Mansfield Town.

Born in England, O'Keeffe has represented the Republic of Ireland at levels from under-16 to under-19.

Club Career

Early life and career

O'Keeffe was born in Birmingham, where he attended Stirchley Primary School and Baverstock School in the Druids Heath area. He was noticed by representatives of Birmingham City when playing for Cadbury Athletic, and joined their Academy in 2008. He took up a scholarship with the club in July 2014. Interviewed later that year, he assessed his strengths as attacking and heading, and felt he needed to improve his weaker foot. O'Keeffe signed his first professional contract, of two years, in May 2016, and was an unused substitute for the Birmingham reserve team that lost the 2016 Birmingham Senior Cup final to National League North champions Solihull Moors.

First-team football with Birmingham City and on loan

After impressing both for Birmingham's under-23 side and when training with the first team, O'Keeffe was given squad number 30 in December 2016. He made his senior debut in the Championship visit to Newcastle United on 10 December, as a 74th-minute substitute in a 4–0 defeat. That was his only first-team appearance in 2016–17.

O'Keeffe signed a new three-year contract in August 2017. Having made no first-team appearances in 2017–18, he joined National League club Solihull Moors on loan until 17 February 2018. He went straight into the starting eleven for the following day's match, playing the whole of a 2–2 draw at home to Sutton United, but was not