Kevin Nolan Bio Send To Friend  

Kevin Nolan made a surprise exit from Bolton Wanderers in January 2009, joining Newcastle United for a fee of £4m.

The Trotters skipper had spent just short of ten years at the Reebok Stadium in a hugely successful spell. Though in the later years of his Bolton career he had come in for some criticism he was still thought to be very much part of manager Gary Megson's plans.

Nolan was the driving influence behind Bolton Wanderers even before he became the club's captain, but since being handed the role by former manager Sam Allardyce the midfielder proved himself to be a superb leader.

Never one to shirk responsibility on the pitch Nolan's indefatigable approach to the game, his dynamic runs into the box, tenacious tackling, range of passing and his tally of goals made him one Bolton's most important players.

Born in Liverpool, Nolan came through the youth system of his home-town team, but the Anfield coaching staff didn't feel he had what it took to make it at the very highest level.

However, Wanderers recognised his potential and snapped him up; he made his bow at the tender age of 17 in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Charlton Athletic in 1999.

Despite such an inauspicious begining Nolan went on to become one of the most important members of the Trotters' first team.

A former England youth and Under-21 international it is a bone of some contention among Bolton supporters that Nolan was not granted an opportunity to represent his country at senior international level.

Others point to Nolan's misfortune at his career has coincided with that of players such as David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick who are ahead of him in the pecking order.

He moved to Newcastle after playing 345 games, scoring 50 goals in the process.