VANCOUVER, B.C. – Andy O'Brien has experienced plenty during his 18-year pro career, but he has no intention of calling time on his playing days just yet.
O'Brien was a key component to a Vancouver Whitecaps defense that recorded 13 shutouts this season, forming a formidable central defensive pairing with Kendall Waston during the run-in to the MLS Cup Playoffs, presented by AT&T, and it's been a campaign that's left the 35-year-old eager to experience more.
"I’m disappointed that the season is over," O'Brien told reporters at the Whitecaps end-of-season testing Monday. "I said before we went out of the playoffs that we wanted to continue as long as possible because the atmosphere is great in terms of wanting to come to work.
"Physically I feel great, and mentally I feel great. I think by virtue of the fact that I’m looking forward to next year speaks volumes to how I feel."
But the former Irish international now finds himself out of contract after three seasons in MLS and is one of a number of players giving Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson a quandary this offseason in terms of contract negotiations. But both parties would like nothing more than to have O'Brien back in Vancouver again for 2015.
"I think he’s been fantastic this year," Robinson's said of the veteran center back. "He’s got stronger as the year has gone on. I’ll sit down with Andy this week, and I’ll tell him what my view is. I’d like to try to keep Andy in some capacity if I can because I think he’s a very good leader. Obviously, because we’re in a salary-cap league, it depends on the financial side of it as well."
For O'Brien, after a career that's seen him play at the highest levels for club and country, money is not the driving factor. Feeling happy and contented is more important, and that's what life in Vancouver and MLS has afforded him.
"I've yet to speak with the club with regard to my contract situation," O'Brien admitted. "… It’s not all about money. I think it’s about being wanted, and I get as much buzz [from that] as I do for the dollars.
"I’ve been very blessed to have had the career that I’ve had. At this stage of my career, it’s not necessarily about the money. It’s about being made to feel welcome, and certainly since day one that I’ve been here with the supporters, with the boys, with the manager, I’ve felt that. It remains to be seen what happens."
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Whatever does happen, O'Brien has no regrets about making the move to Major League Soccer in 2012.
"Coming over here, it was a big step because it was 5,000 miles away from home, in a place I'd never been," O'Brien said. "But one thing I would say is that the European model can learn a lot in terms of the North American model. The supporters can learn a lot in terms of the word support. I think it's a good environment to be part of."
