‘It’s crazy’: Jake O’Brien, the Irishman at the heart of Lyon’s miracle season

'Big Jake’, the €1m defender signed to be a bit-part player, has become a hero as Lyon have climbed up the Ligue 1 table

Lyon's Irish defender Jake O'Brien celebrates after scoring against Toulouse.

Jake O’Brien arrived at Lyon as an unknown quantity, even to the club’s manager. “Jake? He’s under evaluation” responded Laurent Blanc in late August, a fortnight after the Irishman had signed from Crystal Palace for €1m. “If he has come to Lyon, it is to be second, or third choice. If it is to be fourth then there is no point, for him as well as for us. We will talk. The transfer window closes next week,” he added, alluding to a potentially short stay.

By early September, and with Lyon yet to win a game, Blanc departed. O’Brien had outlasted the manager. Since then, he has become a protagonist in one of the great comeback stories in French football.