O’Brien’s ‘Time’ in the spotlight

Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi and Franklin D Roosevelt: three men whose achievements were nearly eclipsed by a midfielder who made just six appearances for Dundee United.

Ronnie O’Brien, 37, enjoyed a successful career in the MLS, where he coaches FC Dallas’s youth teams.

But it was a surprise switch to Italian giants Juventus at the start of his career that saw the Irishman nearly become Time Magazine’s Most Important Person of the Century.

Signed by Middlesbrough as an 18-year-old, O’Brien was released on a free transfer two years later.

Incredibly, he was then offered a five-year deal by Juventus in 1999.

This led to an email campaign urging people to vote for O’Brien in Time’s 1999 online poll for Most Important Person of the 20th Century.

Eventually, with O’Brien the clear front-runner, Time decided to exclude “whimsical” candidates. Einstein was eventually named winner of the poll.

O’Brien’s career in Italy stalled and he was loaned out to a number of clubs, including Dundee United.

O’Brien in action at Tannadice.