UK’s most notorious hooligan unrecognisable after being employed by Man Utd star 

After Kobbie Mainoo put Manchester United 2-0 up in the FA Cup final against Manchester City, one relieved football YouTuber said the words: “There is a god.”

The ecstatic supporter was Tony O’Neill and he was doing a watch-along with his son on the Webby & O’Neill channel where he has 71,000 subscribers.

Over the years he has interviewed the likes of Jamie Carragher, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes on the platform – but his current way of life is a complete contrast to his dark past.

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He was once regarded as the most infamous hooligan in the country – before a Manchester United legend hired him.

Who is Tony O’Neill?

Tony O’Neill, now in his 60s, referred to himself as the ‘general’ back in the 1970s when he became the key figure in two Manchester United firms called Red Army and later the Casuals.

He is originally from Wythenshawe, once the largest council estate in Europe, and he started watching the Red Devils home and away as a teenage boy.

He even met Denis Howell, the then sports minister, when he was just 17, to talk about the mindset of a football hooligan.

But while he became one of the most feared men on the terraces, his football related thuggery landed him in jail three times.

His first offence was in the 1970s and his last one came in 2001, before he started to run a travel company organising for fans to go to Manchester United matches.

O’Neill, who was called ‘Target Kilo’ by police, also wrote books about his exploits – Red Army General and The Men in Black – before speaking to students about making the right choices in life.

He had a near death experience in 2004 when he was shot in the stomach in the Sedge Lynn pub in Chorlton. The former managing director of Champion Sports Travel was in a serious condition but survived.

Hired by United legend

It was revealed in 2017 that O’Neill had started working at Hotel Football – a hotel outside Old Trafford owned by Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs.

Neville picked O’Neill, who was banned from going to matches because of his previous offences, to work security.

And speaking about being headhunted by the former defender, he said: “Gary, who runs the hotel, through the management, he came to me.

“They said Gary Neville wants to move on with the hotel and wants to create more for the fans. He turned to me and the missus, Debbie, and we fit the bill because of our understanding – regardless of what people think.

“The hotel management turned round and said, ‘This is what we want and we think you’re the one to do it’.”

And as for his role, he added: “I’ve stopped going to games. Me and my wife Debbie do the rooftop at Hotel Football on a match day.

“The whole idea is to make it about the supporters’ clubs. The Hotel is a four-star, but the intention of the hotel was to be where the fans could mix.

“The whole idea was to make it accessible, near Old Trafford, for the fans. I get the supporters clubs in. I get the right people in. People love to mix and see proper United fans.”

When the news was revealed, one source told The Sun it was “shocking” before adding: “He is the biggest football hooligan in this country – vicious and violent. Why on earth would they want him mixing with young children? It’s madness that he’s now in charge of who can and can’t get into the hotel. He’s a criminal.”

Over the years, O’Neill has continued to make a name for himself on YouTube, and he has interviewed some of United’s greatest ever stars, with some taking place in Hotel Football.