Hornets release could not deter me, says O’Nien
SUNDERLAND skipper Luke O’Nien has lifted the lid on the devastation of his release from Watford almost a decade ago – and how it drove him forward in his career.
The 29-year-old has been an inspirational figure for the Black Cats since he joined from Wycombe Wanderers in 2018.
He now has 422 career appearances to his name, having been deemed by the Hornets to be not good enough.
O’Nien started out at the Watford academy but, having broken through into the first team, played just one game in the Championship.
Rather than dwell on disappointment, he chanced his arm with a trial at Wycombe and under Gareth Ainsworth later went on to clock up more than a century of appearances for The Chairboys.
O’Nien signed for Sunderland when Jack Ross was in charge after the club had been relegated to League One from the Championship.
While he struggled to make an impact in his first season, he has since made 265 appearances and become a fans’ favourite.
Reflecting on his departure from Watford on his Instagram account, O’Nien said: “Nine years ago, my dad came home with a call from Watford. I thought it was about a new contract.
“Instead, he told me I had been released, three weeks after the season ended, after being led to believe I was getting another year.
“Thirteen years at Watford, and my dad was the one who told me I was done. No meeting, no exit plan, no feedback – nothing. I was devastated.
“I could have pointed fingers and been bitter. Instead, I chose to take ownership and start the next chapter of my career.
“What could I control? I needed a new club but didn’t know where to start. My goal was to get a trial. I trained hard while everyone else took a holiday. I had no agent, so I contacted everyone I knew. My dad emailed every club in the EFL, but no one replied.
“Then, thanks to a good word from a manager during my loan at Wealdstone, I got a trial at Wycombe. Day one was a fitness test. I ran until I was the last man standing. In the in-house match, I gave everything. A week later, the manager signed me.”
O’Nien’s hard work and dedication paid off after enduring an uncertain time before signing that deal.
“Being out of contract is hard,” he added. “You doubt yourself and question everything. But you have to hang in there. Don’t wait for opportunities, create them. Knock down doors until someone gives you a shot. If Wycombe had said no, I would have kept going until I found another opportunity. I signed on the lowest salary but had a year to prove myself. “Three years later, I arrived at Sunderland. I faced adversity again and was out of the team for four months. But I remembered my lessons.
“When the manager asked if I’d played right-back, I said yes, even though I hadn’t. I played 50 games that season, including two at Wembley.”
He then listed three things that others wanting to make their way for themselves in the game should follow.
“1 Get a trial yourself. Use every contact; 2 Be ready for that trial; 3 Show the manager why he needs you.
“If you get signed, keep fighting to stay in the team. If not, find another trial and keep going until you can’t give any more. You’ve got this.”
It is that spirit that has served O’Nien well at Sunderland.
I was devastated. I could have pointed fingers and been bitter. Instead I chose to take ownership...
Luke O’Nien