Kevin Anthony Jance Nolan
(born 24 June 1982 in Liverpool
, Merseyside) is an
English
footballer who
currently plays for Newcastle
United of the Football
League Championship, and has also represented England at
under-21
level. He is a central midfielder.
Career
Bolton Wanderers
Nolan was brought up in a football playing family, and wanted to be
a footballer from a young age.
By the age of 14, he was playing for the City
of Liverpool's schoolboys team. As a child, he supported
Liverpool, although, conversely, his
favourite players were
Eric Cantona and
Lee Sharpe of
Manchester United.
He was asked to come to a Bolton youth team session by a friend,
and was soon signed up to the club's books. At the age of 16 he was
handed a year-to-year contract, co-inciding with the opening of
Bolton's academy. At the age of 17 he signed professional terms and
made his first team debut.
In his first season in the Premiership (
2001-02), Nolan scored 8 goals
in the league including 2 at
Leicester City on the opening day of the
season.
He
also scored Bolton's first goal as they beat Manchester United 2-1
at Old
Trafford
.
The
following season he scored at Old Trafford again, Nolan's only goal
of the season was the winner at Old
Trafford
in the game which Bolton recorded their second
shock win at the ground in as many seasons, this time winning
1-0. Manchester United manager
Alex
Ferguson has been seen scouting Nolan. In his third season he
amassed a total of 12 goals as Bolton had their best season for 45
years.
Newcastle United
On 29 January 2009 it was revealed that Newcastle had agreed a £4
million fee with Bolton, which was confirmed the next day with
Nolan travelling to Tyneside to discuss terms and have a medical.
Nolan completed his move on the same day, describing it as
impossible to turn down, signing a four and a half year contract.
On 22 February, Nolan received his first red card playing for
Newcastle United in a home match against Everton for a foul on
Victor Anichebe. At the end of the
season, Newcastle were relegated. Nolan would be one of the more
vocal Newcastle players over the summer, demanding an end to the
off the field distractions at the club, and suggesting the club
should be looking to acquire players for an immediate return to the
Premier League.
Nolan scored his first league goal for Newcastle on 22 August
against
Crystal Palace.
Due to a small squad size and numerous injuries, Nolan has been
used on many occasions in the 2009-10 as a
striker instead of his preferred position of
central midfield. He scored the
first hat trick of his career as part of a 4–0 away win against
Ipswich Town on 26
September.
International career
Nolan has previously been called-up to the
England Under-18s
and
Under-21s and some
commentators have acknowledged that he could be a future candidate
for the England squad.. Reports have claimed that Nolan could be
called up to the
Republic of
Ireland or
Dutch squads due to his
ancestry.
Personal life
Nolan has been in a relationship for the last nine years. He became
engaged in 2005, and married in the summer of 2008. He and his
fiancee Hayley welcomed a daughter, Jasmine Elizabeth, in November
2006.
Nolan grew
up in Toxteth, Liverpool and was educated at the Liverpool Blue
Coat School
.
During the summer break between the footballing season Nolan is
known to travel to Africa to teach English to disadvantaged
children. So far he has raised £45,000 to help the building of
schools in these areas.
Career statistics
Club Playing Honours
- Bolton Wanderers:
References
External links
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