O'Neill's roller-coaster soccer journey has led him to Toronto FC

TORONTO — Just 28, Shane O'Neill has moved from Major League Soccer to Cyprus, Belgium, England, the Netherlands and back again.

Now part of a revamped Toronto FC defence, the Irish-born Colorado-raised centre back is looking to put down some roots.

O'Neill joined TFC in December as a free agent, signing through 2024 after spending the last two seasons with the Seattle Sounders and two before that with Orlando City. He started his pro career with the Colorado Rapids before heading to Europe in 2015.

In 127 regular-season and playoff games over eight MLS seasons, he has played just once at BMO Field — in a 1-0 win for the Colorado Rapids in 2014 when he partnered Drew Moor in front of goalkeeper Clint Irwin. All three went on to wear Toronto red.

O'Neill saw new coach Bob Bradley as one of Toronto's biggest selling points.

"I just wanted to see what it was all about, see what his regime's all about and learn and grow as a player," O'Neill said.

Given he was leaving a known and positive situation in Seattle, the move north of the border was another "leap of faith" in a career that has been full of them.

O'Neill speaks fondly of his time in Seattle.

"I owe a lot to coach (Brian) Schmetzer and the staff up there." he said. "It was fantastic for me personally. And just the teammates, a really good group of guys — really competitive. I really enjoyed that."

But when his contract expired at the end of 2021, when he made 27 appearances including 19 starts, O'Neill saw an opportunity.

"I just had a feeling like this could be one of my last chances to really change it up and try and take steps in my career and see if I could learn," he said.

In Toronto, O'Neill is part of a retooled backline as Bradley looks to shore up a defence