Patrick O'Connell began his professional footballing career at Belfast Celtic

FC Barcelona "would not exist today" if it wasn't for the actions of an Irish footballer, as a blue plaque was unveiled in his honour in Belfast.

A celebration of the remarkable life of Patrick O'Connell was celebrated at Albert Street today, at the house he lived in when he began his professional football career with Belfast Celtic in 1908.

O'Connell's grandson Michael unveiled the Ulster History Circle tribute, describing it as a "very proud day".

"I personally am quite overwhelmed, I have discovered all kinds of feelings," he said.

"When Patrick came to this house to begin his career, little did he know that 100 years later there would be all these people, including a representative from Catalonia stood on his doorstep."

Originally from Dublin, O'Connell lived in the lower Falls area before becoming captain of the Ireland team which secured the British Home Championship at Windsor Park in 1914.

Fergus O'Dowd heads the ball to Michael O'Connell as Alan McClean and Marti Estruch Axmacher look on. Picture by Mal McCann

He was the first Irishman to captain Manchester United, with an unheard of transfer fee of £1,000, before moving to Spain where he guided Real Betis to victory in 1934/35 - the only Irish manager to win a La Liga title.

O'Connell managed FC Barcelona from 1935 to 1940 and is credited with saving the club from financial ruin during the Spanish Civil War. He was given the title of honorary consul by the last republican government of Spain, but later moved to London where he died destitute in 1959.

Marti Estruch Axmacher of the Public Diplomacy Council of Catalonia said O'Connell was a "saviour" of FC Barcelona.

An Ulster History Circle blue plaque was unveiled outside the former home of Patrick O'Connell in Albert Street in west Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann

"He is very important. Everybody knows Messi, Cruyff, Guardiola and all the present heroes from FC Barcelona, but all this would not exist if it was not for O'Connell who managed to save the club when the civil war arrived.

"Patrick O'Connell has a very specific and special place in the history of Barcelona, he was a saviour of the club who managed to save it in the very difficult period."

The Patrick O'Connell Memorial Fund was established by Fergus Dowd and Alan McLean to ensure his name would never be forgotten by future generations.

Mr Dowd said: "This is where he lived and where he began his football career, he probably never thought he would end up at Barcelona, win La Liga and captain Manchester United.

"Belfast is the epicentre of the story and it is where he received a telegram from Barcelona football club to say the Spanish Civil War had broke out.

An Ulster History Circle blue plaque was unveiled outside the former home of Patrick O'Connell in Albert Street in west Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann

"It's such a fantastic story that we have a mural down the road and now a blue plaque, people can follow Patrick's trail."

Chris Spurr from the Ulster History Circle said they were "delighted" to commemorate the achievements of Patrick O'Connell 130 years after his birth.