The last 12 months have been quite the rollercoaster for Jake O'Brien.
This time last year, he was coming off the back of a season on loan at Belgian second tier side RWD Molenbeek, helping to the club to promotion and earning a spot in the division's team of the season.
However, his future looked uncertain. The centre back had not been given many opportunities to shine at parent club Crystal Palace and it was unclear if any would be on the horizon. In the end, he would make a shock £2million move to Lyon, who had clearly been impressed with his form in Belgium.
Since then, things could hardly have gone better for the 23-year old.
With Lyon struggling early in the season, O'Brien would be drafted into the team back in early October. He would miss only one game over the remainder of the campaign, helping the club to Europa League qualification and French Cup final berth (where he would score in a loss to PSG).
His form was rewarded with an Ireland debut earlier this week, with the defender massively impressive as he played 45 minutes off the bench in the 2-1 win over Hungary.
As has been the case with everything that has happened over the last number of months, O'Brien very much took it in his stride.
To be honest, no I wasn’t (nervous). I’ve had a rollercoaster season but these are the moments you relish. I love being under pressure because it brings out the best in me. It was great to make my debut.
I had some family here and I’m sure they’re proud. Even at home I had friends and family watching on TV...
Playing for your country is a moment I dreamt of and to do it is great. There’s no better feeling to put on the jersey in front of friends and family. This moment will stay with me forever.
4 June 2024; Jake O'Brien of Republic of Ireland comes onto the pitch during the international friendly match between Republic of Ireland and Hungary at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
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Jake O'Brien loving every moment of meteoric rise
Jake O'Brien's class was apparent from the second he stepped onto the pitch.
His physical gifts are obvious, with the Youghal man standing at around 6'6" and having the build to fill out that sizeable frame. What was perhaps even more impressive was his ability on the ball, with the player producing some wonderful incisive passes into the middle third against the Hungarians.
Those talents served him well this season, with O'Brien enjoying every part of his French experience so far.
It was a rollercoaster season, a lot of things happened, good and bad. But you just take things as they come really and hopefully, there are many good things to come as opposed to bad things, but it's just... That's the way football is...
I think just for me, it probably suited me more to play in Europe. The style of football suits me better. I'm just suited to different cultures and learning different things from top players because there are many top players in the team and a lot of people to learn from.
I just thought for me, I'm very open-minded, why not try my hand in a different league? It's one of the top leagues and there are very good teams and players there. It's just about going out and showing what I can do in these leagues.
4 June 2024; Jake O'Brien of Republic of Ireland during the international friendly match between Republic of Ireland and Hungary at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Lyon were lingering around the Ligue 1 relegation zone at the time Jake O'Brien came into the team, an area of the table they are not accustomed to as one of the most successful clubs in French football.
He would play a major role in helping them up the league, ultimately finishing sixth and securing Europa League football for next season. That is something that has reportedly drawn the interest of some big names clubs, with Borussia Dortmund the latest club said to eyeing a summer move for the Irishman.
His end to the season would be a mixed one. While he would score a brilliant header in the French Cup final against PSG, his side would ultimately come out on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline.
That fixture would also prove to be Kylian Mbappe's final game in French club football, although the O'Brien never considered attempting to swap jerseys with the Real Madrid bound superstar.
No, I’m not someone who asks for jerseys, especially after losing. I’m not the best person to come up to.
It was a great game. PSG are a great team and we stayed in the final. On another day, we could have got that win.
That’s just the way I’m brought up. I’m cool and calm, don’t get fazed by these moments and don’t get overexcited. I like to take things as they come. Big moments like this, playing under pressure, is what I like to do.
He's obviously one of the best players in the world. I think it's just about the focus for the full game, little sharp movements. But I studied a lot of him before the game and I think the main thing is just to be focused because you take your eye off him for two seconds and he's in behind.
That attitude is sure to serve Jake O'Brien well in the future.
If his Ireland debut was anything to go by, he looks set to have a long and successful career in green.
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