Wes Hoolahan (M Cambridge Utd b.1982)

[Snoop Drog]

returning to training soon in Australia: https://www.newcastlejets.com.au/news/a-league-hoolahan-edging-closer-return

Wessinio finally started his first A League game on Sunday, with the Jets beating a hopeless Adelaide 3 nil. Wes played about 65 minutes before being subbed.

He had some class touches, set up one of the goals with a lovely over-the-top pass, but he was a bit anonymous for periods. For a first start though, he did enough.
Roy O'Donovan scored for Newcastle- his 3rd consecutive math that he scored in.
Former Cardiff and Celtic player Joe Ledley came off the bench for Wes.

Like every other league, the A League is under threat of being postponed/cancelled, so Wes' future at Newcastle is probably at risk I reckon.

[tetsujin1979]

Signed a one year contract with Cambridge United: https://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/news/2020/july/hoolahan-signs/

[tetsujin1979]

Interviewed with the Cambridge manager (who's younger than him!) in the Guardian last week: https://www.theguardian.com/football/football-league-blog/2021/feb/04/homegrown-hero-mark-bonner-and-wes-hoolahan-help-cambridge-to-the-top-league-two
Few interesting bits about how he trains to be able to play

[Exgrad]

Gary Waddock assistant manager!

[SkStu]

Wessi nominated for League Two player of the season. Not bad for a 38 year old!

https://www.irishpost.com/sport/wes-hoolahan-up-for-league-two-player-of-the-year-210730

[Razors left peg]

Wessi nominated for League Two player of the season. Not bad for a 38 year old!

https://www.irishpost.com/sport/wes-hoolahan-up-for-league-two-player-of-the-year-210730

I still think he could do a job for us. Zlatan back with Sweden at a similar age

[Fixer82]

I still think he could do a job for us. Zlatan back with Sweden at a similar age

I'd love to see him in an Ireland jersey again. It's probably not the right thing to do but I'm an old romantic at heart

[pineapple stu]

I suppose you could say that his legs were giving out 4/5 years ago when he last played. That's hardly likely to have changed now he's 39. Zlatan is knocking in the goals in Serie A still and isn't really a valid comparison.

[sbgawa]

I'd love to see him in an Ireland jersey again. It's probably not the right thing to do but I'm an old romantic at heart


He would be good for unlocking poor teams even for 45 minutes but given Kenny's apparent lack of faith in another luxury player (Jack Byrne) i think there is no chance of a recall.

[John83]

Yeah, I'd guess he'd only really be useful in situations where we're way on top, looking for a goal. I think we should sort out the way on top bit first before looking for an elderly cherry on top.

[Charlie Darwin]

He has to skip midweek games for Cambridge as it is. The idea he could fly across Europe for international games is fanciful.

[Eminence Grise]

He wouldn't have to fly. If he set off early enough he could walk across water.

[seanfhear]

He wouldn't have to fly. If he set off early enough he could walk across water.
Even then, would we pick him ?

[osarusan]

Wessi celebrating Cambridge's promotion.

https://i.imgur.com/BtpUi8V.jpg

[Trequartista20]

:love2:

[tetsujin1979]

Leaving Cambridge following the end of season, but doesn't say anything about retiring
https://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/news/2022/may/wes-hoolahan-leaves-cambridge-united-sky-bet-league-one-efl-english-football-league-tuesday-3rd-may-2022/

[Eirambler]

Hope he keeps going. Possibly the only remaining Irish full time professional footballer who is older than me!

Edit - Decided to do a search on Transfermarkt and there's actually one older Irish player - 40 year old Joe Murphy who is still playing regularly in goal for Tranmere in League 2, though his contract is up in June. Joe played against Man City among others for Tranmere in what is now the Championship back in 1999, incredible longevity.

He won 2 caps for Ireland playing a total of 18 minutes and also played twice in the Premier League, just a few months after Ireland's 2002 world cup odyssey (and a few months after Gavin Bazunu was born!).

He's also the last man standing of our 1998 European Championship winning under 16 and under 18 teams, he was the keeper for the Under 16s.

[third policeman]

Leaving Cambridge following the end of season, but doesn't say anything about retiring
https://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/news/2022/may/wes-hoolahan-leaves-cambridge-united-sky-bet-league-one-efl-english-football-league-tuesday-3rd-may-2022/

It’s a crime that his talent wasn’t recognised or utilised by Ireland much earlier in his career. You wonder whether there aren’t other Wes’s lurking just off the radar. Have always felt that Ronan is a player who would thrive at a higher level than he’s thus far played at.

[ontheotherhand]

Back to Shels I'd guess. It's a shame he isn't a decade younger. Too many dinosaurs in charge of the national side while he was at his peak. We should have been building around him.

[tetsujin1979]

Hope he keeps going. Possibly the only remaining Irish full time professional footballer who is older than me!

Edit - Decided to do a search on Transfermarkt and there's actually one older Irish player - 40 year old Joe Murphy who is still playing regularly in goal for Tranmere in League 2, though his contract is up in June. Joe played against Man City among others for Tranmere in what is now the Championship back in 1999, incredible longevity.

He won 2 caps for Ireland playing a total of 18 minutes and also played twice in the Premier League, just a few months after Ireland's 2002 world cup odyssey (and a few months after Gavin Bazunu was born!).

He's also the last man standing of our 1998 European Championship winning under 16 and under 18 teams, he was the keeper for the Under 16s.
Joe Murphy has played against Rory Delap, and Liam Delap

[seanfhear]

Joe Murphy has played against Rory Delap, and Liam Delap
An Over-Lap ! !

[pixiehead]

https://x.com/DoncasterCityFC/status/1758848875513753673?s=20
Signs for Doncaster City

[dynamo kerry]

https://x.com/DoncasterCityFC/status/1758848875513753673?s=20
Signs for Doncaster City


My admiration for wes endures.