Kevin Nolan
A combative English midfielder turned manager, known for his tactical nous on the pitch and a passionate, direct approach from the dugout.
Born 1982 (age 44)·English football manager·Birthday: June 24·Millennials
Biography
Kevin Nolan's football life has been defined by a sharp football brain and an undeniable knack for arriving in the goalmouth at the perfect moment. As a player, he was a goalscoring midfielder, a rare breed who captained Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League and became a cult hero at West Ham United, often celebrated for his trademark 'chicken celebration' dance. His leadership was instinctive, organizing teams from the center of the park with a mix of grit and clever movement. Transitioning to management, first at Leyton Orient and then Notts County, Nolan channeled that same passionate, street-smart understanding of the game, achieving promotions and proving he could motivate a dressing room, though his later spells presented the harsh challenges endemic to the lower league managerial circuit.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Kevin was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kevin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Kevin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored over 50 Premier League goals as a midfielder, a notable tally for his position.
- Captained Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League and later West Ham United.
- As a manager, he achieved promotion from the National League with Leyton Orient in the 2018-19 season.
- Led Notts County to the National League playoff finals in 2020.
Did You Know?
He is famous for a celebratory dance inspired by the song "The Chicken Dance".
Nolan represented England at the under-21 level.
He scored a hat-trick for Bolton against Everton in 2004, a rare feat for a midfielder.
His first managerial role was as a player-manager for Leyton Orient.
“The ball just seems to fall to me in the box; it's about being in the right place.”
