Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Caleb Colman Folan [1] | ||
Date of birth | [1] | 26 October 1982||
Place of birth | Leeds, England | ||
Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) [2] | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Youth career | |||
?–2001 | Leeds United | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2001–2003 | Leeds United | 0 | (0) |
2001 | → Rushden & Diamonds (loan) | 6 | (0) |
2001 | → Hull City (loan) | 1 | (0) |
2003–2007 | Chesterfield | 102 | (15) |
2007 | Wigan Athletic | 15 | (2) |
2007–2011 | Hull City | 55 | (12) |
2009 | → Middlesbrough (loan) | 1 | (0) |
2011 | Colorado Rapids | 26 | (6) |
2012 | Birmingham City | 0 | (0) |
2013 | T-Team | 10 | (0) |
2013 | Bradford City | 6 | (0) |
2014–2015 | Kanbawza | 17 | (13) |
Total | 239 | (48) | |
International career | |||
2008 | Republic of Ireland B | 1 | (1) |
2008–2009 | Republic of Ireland | 7 | (0) |
Medal record | |||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Caleb Colman Folan (born 26 October 1982) is a former professional footballer who played as a forward. Born in England, he represented the Republic of Ireland in international football, qualifying through grandparents on his maternal side from Galway.
Born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Folan started his career at hometown club Leeds United, spending brief spells on loan at Rushden & Diamonds and Hull City before making a permanent move to Chesterfield in February 2003. [1]
In April 2006 he underwent a cartilage operation on a recurring knee injury. [3] In October, he scored the winning goal against West Ham United in Chesterfield's League Cup victory, [4] after which he signed a one-year contract extension. [5]
After a series of impressive performances for Chesterfield, Folan was linked with a January transfer to Premier League side Wigan Athletic, and on 26 January 2007 he completed a £500,000 transfer, signing a three-and-a-half-year deal. Wigan manager Paul Jewell stated: "He's strong, he's aggressive, he's got a finisher's instinct and I think he will add competition in an area where the squad needs bolstering." [6] He made his debut for Wigan against Reading on 30 January 2007, [7] and on 21 February, scored his first goal for the club, an equaliser against Watford. [8] On 3 March he scored the winner against Manchester City away at the City of Manchester Stadium in a 1–0 victory. [9]
Championship team Hull City revealed their interest in signing him in August 2007. [10] However, Wigan manager Chris Hutchings said he was not looking to transfer Folan. [11] On 31 August Folan eventually did return to Hull on a three-year contract for a fee of £1 million, which broke the record highest fee paid by the club. [12] After signing, he insisted he was not going to let the price tag pile pressure onto him and that he had arrived at the club to score goals. [13]
On his debut for Hull in a 2–1 defeat against Blackpool in September, Folan was taken to hospital after being stretchered off the pitch wearing a neck brace. [14] He was kept overnight at Victoria Hospital in Blackpool. [15] An ankle injury caused him to miss several more matches, [16] and in March 2008 he incurred a three-match ban after being sent off in a game against Burnley. [17]
He returned to score several goals from the bench during Hull City's successful run-in. On the first day of the Premier League season, Hull played their first ever game in that league against Fulham, and Folan came on as a substitute and scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory for Hull. [18] He was sent off against Liverpool on 25 April 2009 for kicking out at Martin Škrtel. [19]
On 17 September 2009, Folan was loaned for three months to Middlesbrough of the Championship, [20] and he made his debut as a substitute in a 5–0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion. [21] Just nine days later Folan suffered a torn hamstring. [22] After Hull manager Phil Brown criticised Folan on his appearances for Hull during the 2009–10 season, Folan hit back by saying Brown's comments were "laughable and childish". However, upon Folan's return to Hull, Brown offered him a "clean slate". [23]
After a lengthy negotiation with Hull City, Folan was able to complete a transfer to Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer on 16 March 2011. [24] He made his MLS debut on 26 March in a 1–0 victory over Chivas USA, [25] and scored his first goals in Major League Soccer on 3 April in a 4–1 win over D.C. United. [26]
Folan scored six goals during the 2011 season before moving on prior to the 2012 preseason. [27] The Rapids announced on 3 February 2012 that the club had parted ways with Folan by mutual consent. [27]
After a trial, Folan signed for Championship club Birmingham City on 29 February until the end of the season. [28]
Folan suffered a setback during his training program at Birmingham City picking up a nerve injury, which eventually would go on to rule him out of playing football for the good part of a year. As a result, he was unable to appear for the blues and was never included in the 16-man matchday squad, Folan was released when his contract expired. [29]
On 1 December 2012, after a lengthy period sidelined due to a previous injury, Folan announced on his official Twitter page that he had joined T-Team in the Malaysia Super League and it was confirmed shortly after. [30] Folan scored in the team's first pre-season game against Malaysia Super League outfit ATM FA and again on his home debut in a 2–2 draw against close rivals Terengganu FA.
But, on 27 March 2013, after struggling to find his previous form, Folan left the club by mutual consent after failing to score in 10 appearances. [31]
On 28 September 2013, after training with Bradford City, Folan signed a three-month contract with the club. [32] He made his debut on 5 October, in a 2–0 win against Walsall. [33] Folan left Bradford City on 26 December 2013. [34]
In March 2014 Folan turned down an offer to play for the North American Soccer League Canadian based outfit FC Edmonton [35] in pursuit to return and play his football in Asia.
Folan spent the 2015 season with Kanbawza FC of the Myanmar National League; [36] [37] he scored 13 goals from 17 league appearances. [38]
Through his grandfather, who was from Inis Mór, and his grandmother, from Galway, Folan is eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland. [2] In March 2007, manager Steve Staunton called on the 'granny rule' to bring Folan into his squad for the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, after a passport was issued at the 11th hour. The decision attracted comment for overlooking other in-form strikers playing outside the Premier League and with closer ties to the Republic of Ireland. [39] [40]
However, Folan was forced to pull out of the squad due to injury. [41] A hamstring tear also forced Folan out of the Republic's squad for games against Ecuador and Bolivia in May 2007. [42]
In October 2008, under new manager Giovanni Trapattoni, Folan was one of several uncapped players selected to play for a Republic of Ireland XI in a challenge match against Nottingham Forest, scoring the first goal in a 2–0 win. [43] He was added to the squad for the subsequent 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Cyprus [43] and appeared as an injury-time substitute. [44] He was brought on as a substitute against Italy in the World Cup qualifiers, and set up the equalising goal scored by Robbie Keane in the 87th minute. [45]
Hull City
Paul Jewell is an English football manager and former player, who was most recently director of football at Swindon Town.
Shaun Richard Maloney is a Scottish football coach, who is the current manager of Wigan Athletic, and former player. Maloney played for Celtic, Aston Villa, Wigan Athletic, Chicago Fire, Hull City and the Scotland national team as an attacking midfielder or winger.
David James Connolly is a former professional footballer who played as a striker. He played for various clubs including Feyenoord and Excelsior in the Netherlands as well as Wigan Athletic and Sunderland in the Premier League. Born in England, Connolly represented the Republic of Ireland national team at international level. He was a member of Ireland's 2002 FIFA World Cup squad that lost to Spain in the knockout stage where his penalty kick was saved by Iker Casillas during the shootout.
Kevin Daniel Kilbane is a former professional English-born Irish footballer who played as a left winger or full back. Kilbane won 110 caps for the Republic of Ireland national team, fourth behind only Robbie Keane, Shay Given and John O'Shea as the most capped Irish player of all time.
Alex Stephen Bruce is a former professional footballer who is currently first-team coach at Salford City.
Darron Thomas Daniel Gibson is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played for the Republic of Ireland national team.
Shane Patrick Long is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a striker.
Andrew Declan Keogh is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for semi-professional side Dianella White Eagles in Western Australia's second tier. Born in Dublin, Keogh played the first several years of his professional career playing for a number of clubs in England, including Wolverhampton Wanderers, for whom he made over 100 appearances. In 2014, Keogh moved to Australia to play for Perth Glory. He left the Glory for one year to play in the Thai Premier League for Ratchaburi before returning in early 2016, and again in 2020, after leaving in 2019, for Al-Qadsiah.
Dean Windass is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker. He played spells at Bradford City and contributed to his hometown team Hull City's promotion to the Premier League in 2008.
James Patrick McCarthy is a professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder.
Anthony Neil James Pilkington is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a winger.
Maynor Alexis Figueroa Róchez is a Honduran former professional footballer who played as a left-back or centre-back. He is best known for his time at Wigan Athletic, where he made 179 Premier League appearances and won the 2013 FA Cup. Figueroa made over 180 international appearances between 2003 and 2022, including appearances at seven CONCACAF Gold Cups, two FIFA World Cups and the 2012 Summer Olympics.
William Henry Atkinson is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Mickleover.
Joshua Brendan David Magennis is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a striker for EFL League One club Exeter City and the Northern Ireland national team. Having spent the majority of his youth career as a goalkeeper, he switched to striker in 2008 before turning professional in 2009. Magennis has previously played for Cardiff City, Grimsby Town, Aberdeen, St Mirren, Kilmarnock, Charlton Athletic, Bolton Wanderers, Hull City and Wigan Athletic.
Callum Henry McManaman is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for EFL League One side Wigan Athletic.
Jamie Martin Devitt is an Irish former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He is currently the Professional Development Phase Coach at Carlisle United.
James Joseph McClean is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger for EFL League One club Wrexham.
During the 2007–08 English football season, Hull City A.F.C. competed in the Football League Championship.
William David Keane is a professional footballer who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder for EFL Championship club Preston North End and the Republic of Ireland national team.
Gareth "Gaz" O'Brien is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback, scrum-half or stand-off for the Leigh Leopards in the Betfred Super League.