Nick Colgan
An Irish goalkeeper whose career spanned continents and who now shapes future talents from the coach's box.
Born 1973 (age 53)·Irish footballer and coach·Birthday: September 19·Generation X
Biography
Born in Drogheda, Nick Colgan's professional journey in football began not with fanfare, but with a steady climb through the ranks. His playing career, primarily as a goalkeeper, saw him guard the net for clubs across Ireland, England, and Scotland, including notable spells with Chelsea, Hibernian, and Barnsley. While he earned a handful of caps for the Republic of Ireland, his true impact has been felt in the decades following his boots. Transitioning seamlessly into coaching, Colgan has become a respected specialist, a mentor to those between the posts. His technical eye and understanding of the position's unique pressures have made him a valued figure at clubs like Stockport County, where he cultivates the next generation of goalkeeping talent.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Nick was born in 1973, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Nick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Nick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
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
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Made over 100 appearances for Scottish club Hibernian during a four-year spell.
- Earned two senior international caps for the Republic of Ireland national team.
- Served as the goalkeeping coach for the Republic of Ireland senior men's national team from 2018 to 2020.
- Played in the English Premier League for Chelsea early in his career.
Did You Know?
He was part of the Chelsea youth system that won the FA Youth Cup in 1992.
Colgan made his senior international debut in a friendly against the Czech Republic in 2002.
He played for 14 different clubs during his professional playing career.
“A goalkeeper's mistake is the only one everyone remembers.”
