Soccer hero O'Leary to sell his luxury Barbados villa...and buy a bigger one

The former Ireland player wants €934,000 for the 234sqm villa on the exclusive Royal Westmoreland estate.

Barbados has always been a popular celebrity destination and Royal Westmoreland has its fair share of famous owners from the world of sport who visit and buy on the estate to enjoy a greater sense of privacy.

Manchester United player Wayne Rooney has a six-bedroom home in Royal Westmoreland, the largest on the estate, and his team-mate Rio Ferdinand has also bought there.

Former Republic of Ireland and Arsenal star O'Leary -- who appeared a record 722 times for the London club in a career spanning 20 years and who scored a famous penalty for Ireland against Romania at Italia '90 -- is upscaling.

The villa he is selling has three bedrooms and an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area.

Outside, there is a double car parking space and golf buggy parking facilities. And it comes with access to a neighbourhood 60ft infinity pool with a separate children's pool.

He bought the villa in 2006.

Although playing for or managing other clubs -- most notably Leeds United and Aston Villa -- O'Leary is still regarded as one of Arsenal's greatest legends.

hnews@herald.ie