ROAD LESS TRAVELLED IS PERFECT FOR O’DEA
AT just 24, Darren O’Dea hopped across the pond to play for Toronto in the MLS. His next stop was Metalurh Donetsk in Ukraine. Most recently, he’s been earning a crust playing for Mumbai City in the Indian Super League. It’s perhaps easy to deduce, then, that the former Celtic defender has been embracing the wilderness years rather ahead of his time. That financial reward has long been prioritised above his football development. Upon signing for Dundee yesterday, however, the 28-year-old was only too happy to kick the legs from underneath that particular theory. ‘In Ukraine, I felt I developed more as a player in my career than elsewhere. But no one knew,’ said the Dubliner. ‘Hopefully I can show that.’ Signed by former Celtic team-mate Paul Hartley at short notice following James McPake’s season-ending knee injury, O’Dea is preparing to take his first steps on Scottish shores since leaving Parkhead in 2012. It would be a gross mistake, though, to believe that it will take some time to reacquaint himself with the passion and fervour our game believes to be its own property. ‘At my first game in India, I played in front of 63,000 people,’ he said. ‘I was playing with players like (Nicolas) Anelka. ‘There were a lot of great players, some of them coming towards the end of their careers. It is a league that is growing. There is a lot of money. I really enjoyed my time there. ‘It was fantastic. What a place. We were looked after better than I have ever been at any club. The people went out their way. Very, very different obviously but an experience I am delighted I had. It is something I might revisit.’ Clearly a man who enjoys broadening his life horizons, O’Dea harbours no regrets about spending much of the past four years in farflung environments. His colourful career path has come from choice — not through necessity. ‘For me, one of the big attractions was being able to see places like India,’ he explained. ‘I could potentially have stayed in England or Scotland and played the same teams every week, the same players. But I decided to go down a bit of a different route. ‘I would not say it is unique but it is something I have enjoyed. I have seen a lot of the world. And who knows, I might see a bit more.’ For the next five months, though, he is more than happy to drop anchor by the River Tay. Hartley did not have to push too hard. ‘Yes, he was a big part,’ he said. ‘I’d say the main things were being able to be based in Scotland, the manager and, if you look at attendance records in Scotland, Dundee are near enough the top of it. So, all in all, it was a perfect fit.’