 Nolan coachingWest Ham United in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kevin Anthony Jance Nolan[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1982-06-24)24 June 1982 (age 42)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Liverpool, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Northampton Town (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1997–1999 | Bolton Wanderers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1999–2009 | Bolton Wanderers | 296 | (40) |
| 2009–2011 | Newcastle United | 85 | (29) |
| 2011–2015 | West Ham United | 141 | (30) |
| 2016 | Leyton Orient | 14 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | Notts County | 0 | (0) |
| Total | 536 | (99) | |
| International career | |||
| 2002–2004 | England U21 | 2 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2016 | Leyton Orient | ||
| 2017–2018 | Notts County | ||
| 2024– | Northampton Town | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Kevin Anthony Jance Nolan (born 24 June 1982) is an English former professionalfootballer and coach, who managesNorthampton Town. He has represented England atunder-21 level.
After growing up inToxteth, Liverpool, Nolan signed forBolton Wanderers at the age of 16. Part of the team that beatPreston North End in the2001 First Division play-offs to gain promotion to thePremier League, he soon became a regular first-team player for the club. He scored as Bolton beatManchester United atOld Trafford in both of his first two seasons in thetop tier of English football, as well as important goals that helped Bolton regularly finish in the top half of the Premier League table.
Nolan was also a first team regular as Bolton qualified for theUEFA Cup for the first time in the club's history—where they reached the knockout stages. Following the departure ofJay-Jay Okocha in 2006, Nolan was appointed as theteam captain, and he led the team again to UEFA Cup qualification and, again, eventual progression to the knockout round of the competition.
Following the arrival ofGary Megson as Bolton manager, the team's and Nolan's performances were criticised by a section of the club's fans. This resulted in the midfielder completing a £4 million transfer to Newcastle United in the January 2009transfer window.He formed part of the team who were relegated to theChampionship at the end of the season, but his performances the following season were widely praised, as he scored 18 goals—including the firsthat-trick of his career—to help the club gain promotion back to the Premier League as the division's champions. Following promotion, Nolan was promoted to club captain.
In the summer of 2011 Nolan joinedWest Ham United on a five-year contract, joining up again withSam Allardyce, his former manager at Bolton. He was appointed captain soon after his arrival and led the team to an instant return to the Premier League. Nolan left West Ham United by mutual consent in August 2015, and the following January he took over asplayer-manager atLeyton Orient, losing his managerial role in April. In January 2017, he took the same position atNotts County. On 26 August 2018, Nolan parted company with Notts County.
Born on 24 June 1982 inLiverpool,Merseyside,[2] Nolan was brought up by a football-playing family inToxteth,[4] and wanted to be a footballer from a young age. He attendedLiverpool Blue Coat School and in 1996, he was playing for the City of Liverpool's schoolboys team.[5] As a child, he supportedCeltic andLiverpool,[6][7] although conversely, his favourite players wereEric Cantona andLee Sharpe ofManchester United.[7]
Nolan was invited to aBolton Wanderers youth team training 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, coinciding with the opening of Bolton's academy. A year later, he signed professional terms and made his first team debut.[8] He played the whole match, asBolton Wanderers beatPreston North End in the First Division play-off, winning promotion to thePremier League.[9]
In the2001–02 season, his first in the Premier League, Nolan scored eight league goals, including two atLeicester City on the opening day of the season.[2] He also scored Bolton's first goal as they beat Manchester United 2–1 atOld Trafford.[10] 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 saw Bolton record their second shock win at the ground in as many seasons, this time winning 1–0.[11] Manchester United managerAlex Ferguson was reported to have been seen scouting Nolan.[12] Despite that win early in the season, the club were only saved from relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the season with a win against Middlesbrough.[13]
In the2003–04 season, Nolan's goals againstAston Villa andTottenham Hotspur helped Bolton finish eighth in the league. He also scored as the club beat Villa 5–2 in the semi-finals of theLeague Cup,[14] and was part of the team that was defeated 2–1 byMiddlesbrough in the final.[2][15][16] Despite this defeat, Nolan's goals—a career-best 12 in all competitions—helped Bolton to their highest Premier League finishing position in over forty years.[2][13]
The following season, Nolan was part of the team who reached the FA Cup quarter-final, before being defeated by Arsenal at theReebok Stadium. Bolton also progressed in the league, with a 1–1 draw with Portsmouth in the final game of the season, and Nolan's four league goals helping to secureUEFA Cup qualification for the first time in their history.[2][17] The club reached the last 32 of the UEFA Cup the following season, with Nolan's goal in the first round defeat ofLokomotiv Plovdiv helping the club reach the group stages. He scored the winner as the club overcameZenit St. Petersburg 1–0 in the group stages,[18] and a further nine in the league to help Bolton finish eighth, missing out on European qualification.[2]
The2006–07 season saw Nolan take over from the departedJay-Jay Okocha as club captain.[8] His three league goals helped Bolton to again qualify for the UEFA Cup. Nolan's longthrow-in set up a goal, which helped Bolton achieve a 2–2 draw away against German championsBayern Munich, who dominated the match.[19] Despite reaching the first knockout round, Bolton's league form suffered as they were pulled into a relegation fight,[20] eventually finishing the season one point above the relegation zone in 16th. Nolan scored in the 2–0 win over Sunderland in May that virtually secured the club's Premier League status.[21]
Having made 323 league appearances for the club, in January 2009, Nolan began talks with representatives ofNewcastle United over a move to the north-east club, following perceived criticism of his performances by some of the club's supporters.[22]
On 29 January 2009, it was revealed that Newcastle had agreed a £4 million fee with Bolton Wanderers,[23] which was confirmed the next day, with Nolan travelling to Tyneside to discuss terms and undergo a medical.[24] Nolan completed his move on the same day, signing a4+1⁄2-year contract.[25] On 22 February, Nolan received his first red card playing for Newcastle United in a home match against Everton for a two-footed foul onVictor Anichebe.[26] At the end of the season, Newcastle were relegated to the English Championship. Nolan was noted as 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.[27]
Nolan played a key role in Newcastle's push for promotion the following season;[28] he scored his first league goal for Newcastle on 22 August againstCrystal Palace,[29][30] and the first hat-trick of his career, as part of a 4–0 away win againstIpswich Town on 26 September.[31][32]Nolan captained Newcastle for the first time in a 5–1 win againstCardiff City taking over for the absentNicky Butt andAlan Smith.[33] After an 11-game goal drought, Nolan picked up his 11th league goal of the season on 20 February against Preston North End in a 3–0 win. He followed this up with the final goal in Newcastle's 6–1 home drubbing ofBarnsley two games later.[34] He was voted as the Championship Player of the Year at theFootball League Awards on 16 March.[33] On 5 April 2010, Newcastle United secured automatic promotion to the Premier League, after fellow contendersNottingham Forest failed to beat Cardiff City.[35] Newcastle took to the field hours later, in front of 48,750 fans, and Nolan scored the winner with a scissor-kick in the 2–1 win overSheffield United.[36]
Nolan was named as the new Newcastle United club captain for the2010–11 season, succeeding the retired Nicky Butt.[37] Nolan scored his first goals of the season as he netted a brace in Newcastle's 6–0 win against Aston Villa in their first home game.[38] On 31 October 2010, Nolan scored his firstPremier League hat-trick, achieving the feat in theTyne–Wear derby againstSunderland in a 5–1 home win.[39] Nolan scored the opener against Liverpool in new managerAlan Pardew's first game in charge on 11 December 2010, which Newcastle went on to win 3–1.[40] Nolan scored the opening goal in the second derby of the season against Sunderland on 16 January, which finished 1–1.[41] On 26 February 2011, Nolan scored his 50th Premier League goal, against his former club, Bolton Wanderers atSt James' Park, which finished 1–1.[42]
West Ham confirmed the signing of Nolan on 16 June 2011 for an undisclosed fee on a five-year contract, taking over the vacant number 4 shirt.[43] Due to the departure of the previous West Ham captain,Matthew Upson, who moved toStoke City, Nolan was immediately made captain. His league debut came on 7 August 2011 in a 1–0 home defeat to Cardiff City.[44] Nolan scored his first goal for West Ham on 13 August 2011 in a 1–0 away win againstDoncaster Rovers; his firsthome goal coming on 26 November, when scored a 25-yardvolley in a 3–1 win againstDerby County.[45][46] On 7 May 2012 en route to the play-off final atWembley, Nolan scored his thirteenth goal for the club against Cardiff City in a 3–0 win, sealing West Ham's Wembley appearance.[47] On 19 May 2012 he captained West Ham in the2012 Championship play-off final againstBlackpool. West Ham won the match 2–1 with goals fromCarlton Cole andRicardo Vaz Tê sending them back to thePremier League after a one-season absence.[48]
Nolan continued his good form into the 2012–13 season and scored his first goal of the season on the opening day, scoring the only goal of the game in a 1–0 win againstAston Villa.[49] On 1 September, he scored inside one minute during a 3–0 win at home toFulham.[50] He scored his third goal of the season on 22 September, rescuing a point for West Ham by scoring in added time in a 1–1 draw at home toSunderland.[51] On 20 April 2013 Nolan scored his 100th career goal, netting the second goal in a 2–0 home victory againstWigan Athletic.[52] Nolan wrapped up the 2012–13 season by scoring his second Premier Leaguehat-trick in a 4–2 win againstReading on 19 May 2013.[53] This hat-trick meant that Nolan had scored 10 league goals in a season for the fourth season in succession.
Nolan started the 2013–14 campaign by scoring in the first game of the season again, in a 2–0 home win against Cardiff City.[54] West Ham struggled in the first half of the season and Nolan's influence on games was described as "low key".[55] In December 2013 he was sent-off atAnfield in a defeat by Liverpool for a foul onJordan Henderson.[56] After serving a three match ban he was dismissed again, in only his second match back, for a foul onFulham'sFernando Amorebieta in a 2–1 defeat atCraven Cottage.[57] He was fined two weeks wages, £100,000, by West Ham with manager Sam Allardyce considering removing the captaincy of the club from Nolan.[58] Nolan finished as top scorer for West Ham in the2013–14 season.[59]
At the start of the2014–15 season he played in the first game, a 1–0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur but before their second game he fractured his shoulder in training, an injury which was expected to keep him out of football for at least six weeks.[60] Nolan played 29 games for West Ham in the 2014–15 season, 10 after coming on as a substitute. Having been top scorer in the previous two seasons, he scored a single goal, in a 2–1 away win againstWest Bromwich Albion in December 2014.[61] Nolan received criticism for some of his performances during the season, notably from someWest Ham supporters and from Jack Sullivan, the son of West Ham's co-chairman,David Sullivan.[62][63]
His last game for the club came on 22 August 2015 againstAFC Bournemouth. Starting the game, Nolan was substituted forMatt Jarvis at half-time with his side already 2–0 behind in an eventual 4–3 home loss.[64] Five days later, Nolan left West Ham United by mutual consent after four years at the club.[65] He had played 157 games for West Ham in all competitions, scoring 31 goals.[66]
On 21 January 2016, Nolan was announced as the player-manager ofLeyton Orient, signing a2+1⁄2-year deal with the club.[67] Two days later, he won his first match as manager inLeague Two, 2–0 atWycombe Wanderers, with himself as an unused substitute.[68] On 26 January, againstNewport County atBrisbane Road, he made his debut in the 79th minute forCalaum Jahraldo-Martin, and sent in the cross from which the O's won apenalty kick whichJay Simpson converted for the only goal of the game.[69] He made his first start for the club in the away game against Portsmouth on 6 February, where he played 70 minutes in a 1-0 victory for Leyton Orient.[70]
Nolan's Orient team won three of the four league games in his first full month of management, only losing to league leaders,Northampton Town, and keeping three clean sheets. This led to him being nominated for February's manager of the month award, which eventually went toChris Wilder of Northampton.[71][72] On 12 April 2016, with the team two points off the play-offs, Nolan was relieved of his duties as manager of Orient, the role transferring toAndy Hessenthaler.[73] He left the club altogether on 6 July.[74]
On 12 January 2017, Nolan was appointed manager of Notts County, replacing the sackedJohn Sheridan.[75] He inherited a team that had lost its last ten matches and was a point from the relegation places in League Two.[76] Two days later in his first game in charge, the "Magpies" earned a goalless draw at home toNottinghamshire rivalsMansfield Town.[77] On 30 January, Nolan registered as a player,[78] though he did not play during his time at Notts. Under his management, the team avoided relegation.[79]
On 20 September 2017, with Notts County in second place inLeague Two, Nolan signed a new three-year contract. County owner Alan Hardy said: "Kevin has brought real pride, optimism and stability to this club which has not been seen for many years".[79] In addition, he won theEFL League Two Manager of the Month award, the first honour of his managerial career.[80]
On 26 August 2018, Nolan was dismissed as manager of Notts County after a six-game winless run.[81]
In February 2020, Nolan was appointed as first team coach at West Ham United.[82]Upon the departure of club manager,David Moyes in May 2024, Nolan left the club with other coaches and back-room staff.[83]
In August 2024, Nolan was appointed interim assistant head coach of theEngland U20 team, supportingPaul Nevin whom he had coached with at West Ham United.[84]
On 23 December 2024, Nolan was appointed as manager ofNorthampton Town on a two-and-a-half-year contract, replacingJon Brady who had resigned three weeks earlier.[85]His first game as manager, on 26 December ended in a 4–1 defeat away toReading.[86]
Nolan has previously been called up to theEngland Under-18s[87] andUnder-21s[87] and some commentators acknowledged that he could be a future candidate for the England squad.[88] Reports have claimed that Nolan could be called up to theRepublic of Ireland[87] orNetherlands squads due to his ancestry.[89]
On 12 November 2012, Nolan was quoted saying he has been left hurt by being regularly overlooked by England managers.[90] He held the record for the most Premier League appearances without winning an England cap (401 appearances),[91] but has since been overtaken by former West Ham teammate,Mark Noble.[92]
Nolan became engaged in 2005, and married his fiancée Hayley in the summer of 2008. The couple had their first child, a daughter, in November 2006. Their second child, a son, was born in January 2010.[93][94]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Bolton Wanderers | 1999–2000[95] | First Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2000–01[96] | First Division | 31 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[a] | 0 | 37 | 3 | ||
| 2001–02[97] | Premier League | 35 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 8 | |||
| 2002–03[98] | Premier League | 33 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 1 | |||
| 2003–04[99] | Premier League | 37 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 44 | 12 | |||
| 2004–05[100] | Premier League | 36 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 42 | 4 | |||
| 2005–06[101] | Premier League | 36 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7[b] | 2 | — | 48 | 11 | ||
| 2006–07[102] | Premier League | 31 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 34 | 5 | |||
| 2007–08[103] | Premier League | 33 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[b] | 0 | — | 39 | 5 | ||
| 2008–09[104] | Premier League | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 22 | 1 | |||
| Total | 296 | 40 | 20 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 345 | 50 | ||
| Newcastle United | 2008–09[104] | Premier League | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||||
| 2009–10[105] | Championship | 44 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 48 | 18 | |||
| 2010–11[106] | Premier League | 30 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 12 | |||
| Total | 85 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 91 | 30 | ||||
| West Ham United | 2011–12[107] | Championship | 42 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 3[c] | 1 | 46 | 13 | |
| 2012–13[108] | Premier League | 35 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 10 | |||
| 2013–14[109] | Premier League | 33 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 7 | |||
| 2014–15[110] | Premier League | 29 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 1 | |||
| 2015–16[70] | Premier League | 2 | 0 | — | — | 3[d] | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 141 | 30 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 157 | 31 | ||
| Leyton Orient | 2015–16[70] | League Two | 14 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 0 | ||||
| Notts County | 2016–17[111] | League Two | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 536 | 99 | 29 | 4 | 22 | 5 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 607 | 111 | ||
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Leyton Orient | 21 January 2016 | 12 April 2016 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 046.7 | [67][73][112] |
| Notts County | 12 January 2017 | 26 August 2018 | 84 | 35 | 23 | 26 | 041.7 | [112] |
| Northampton Town | 23 December 2024 | present | 17 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 029.4 | [112] |
| Total | 116 | 47 | 31 | 38 | 040.5 | |||
Bolton Wanderers
Newcastle United
West Ham United
Individual
Individual
