Biography
Who is Wes Hoolahan?
Early life and career
Wesley Patrick Hoolahan was born in Dublin, Ireland, on May 20, 1982. He began his path in football as a schoolboy for Belvedere, where he also participated in futsal. His professional senior career started at Shelbourne, where he secured three League of Ireland Premier Division championship titles. During his time at Shelbourne, he stood out for his performance in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds. He was honored as the PFAI Young Player of the Year during his early professional years.
After his success in Ireland, Wes moved to Scotland for a brief period with Livingston. In 2006, he joined Blackpool on a season-long loan agreement. His time with the club involved a complex transfer dispute that eventually required intervention from FIFA. The governing body ruled in favor of Blackpool in August 2007, confirming his status as a player for that team. During his tenure there, he scored goals against opponents like Leyton Orient and Scunthorpe United.
Time at Norwich City
In June 2008, Wes Hoolahan signed with Norwich City. He remained with the club for ten years, playing more than 350 matches. Fans often referred to him as the Irish Messi or Wessi. His first goal for the club occurred in January 2009 during a match against Barnsley. Throughout his decade with the team, he experienced both Premier League and lower division football. In 2011, he signed a contract extension keeping him with the club until 2014, and he was inducted into the Norwich City Hall of Fame in March 2012.
During the 2015-16 season, Wes made 32 appearances for Norwich. He continued to contribute to the team, and in May 2017, he was named the Norwich City Player of the Season. His final home match for the club took place in April 2018 against Leeds United, where he received a guard of honor. During that game, he scored a goal and provided an assist for teammate Josh Murphy. He left the club at the end of that season.
International and later career
Wes Hoolahan made his senior debut for the Republic of Ireland in 2008 during a 1-0 victory over Colombia. He earned 43 caps for his country and scored 3 goals. A major highlight of his international career was representing Ireland at UEFA Euro 2016. Before reaching the senior level, he also played for the Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team.
Following his departure from Norwich, he had short stints at West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle Jets. In July 2020, he joined Cambridge United on a one-year deal. He helped the team earn promotion from League Two, earning a spot on the EFL League Two Team of the Season. He was released by Cambridge United in May 2022. Most recently, he joined the eleventh-tier club Doncaster City in February 2024.
Birthday and age
Wes Hoolahan was born on May 20, 1982, which makes Wes 44 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Wes shares the date with 27 other famous people.
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