Pass Master: Football, Fergie, Big Jack and My Life in the Beautiful and Sometimes Brutal Game

by Liam O'Brien, Jimmy Geoghegan

Former Newcastle, Manchester United and Republic of Ireland midfielder Liam O’Brien lifts the lid on his eventful playing career and shares previously untold behind-the-scenes stories.

Written with veteran journalist Jimmy Geoghegan.

Liam grew up in working-class Dublin, but he didn’t become a full-time professional until signing for Manchester United at age 22. Two years later, despite being offered a new contract by Alex Ferguson, Liam made the brave call to leave Old Trafford and join struggling Newcastle United instead.

Read this gripping memoir to

What life was like at Manchester United in the 1980sWhat it was like to play under Sir Alex Ferguson as he rebuilt Manchester UnitedWhat it was like to play for the Magpies as Kevin Keegan sparked a dramatic change in the club’s fortunes – to this day, Newcastle fans still sing a song about Liam and the famous goal he scored against SunderlandAn insider account of playing under Jack Charlton, Jim McLoughlin and Johnny King as well as Ferguson and KeeganThe story of his spells playing for Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers, Tranmere Rovers and the Republic of IrelandWhat day-to-day life in football was like for a player in the 1980s, before the game was flooded by moneyHow Liam fought back from a serious leg injury that threatened his career, and how he made a new life for himself, in and outside football, after his playing days were overA must-read for Manchester United and Newcastle fans, this is a story of 1980s and 90s football, of exhilarating highs but also crushing lows.

321 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2025

Reviews

[Conor Heffernan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really interesting insight into one of my favourite players growing up. Coming from the League of Ireland, Liam made a late start to the professional game in England but nevertheless spent several years performing for Man United, Newcastle and later Tranmere. A dedicated professional, this book is a fascinating insight into the landscape of football on the cusp of big money and institutional change as well as the various managers and club cultures Liam inhabited. I was in a reading slump before this and managed to read the whole thing in 3 days.

Football biographies are a dime a dozen these days but I would count Liam's as one absolutely worthwhile reading.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liam O’Brien was in the Newcastle team when I first started going to games regularly in the Jim Smith era. Remember him as a decent midfielder and his goals against Sunderland. Hadn’t really known what he was up to these days so when this out I thought I’d give it a try. Hadn’t previously known too much about his early career in Ireland, knew he had played for Man Utd before us. Comes across as a level headed, decent fellow and I enjoyed the read.