The Profile
Kevin's story, told with respect to the facts.
Kevin Nolan was the kind of central midfielder every promoted side needed in the Premier League of the 2000s and 2010s. A box to box runner who scored goals from deep, a leader who could captain a dressing room, and a professional who got the best out of the players around him. His Bolton, Newcastle, and West Ham careers all overlapped with good-period teams where Nolan was the spine of the midfield.
He scored more than a hundred and twenty career goals, which for a central midfielder is an unusual tally, and won the Championship Player of the Year in his Newcastle promotion season. Post-playing he moved into management, and has been involved in the Notts County and Leyton Orient projects among others. His football is grounded and practical, which makes him a good speaker on the realities of the Premier League below the top six.
“Bolton in 2005 was the hardest place in English football to play. Not because we were great. Because we refused to lose the physical battle on any day of the week.”
Career highlights
- Premier League career spanning Bolton, Newcastle, West Ham and Leicester
- Championship title with Newcastle, 2010
- 123 career goals from midfield
- Championship Player of the Year, 2010
- Former Notts County and Leyton Orient manager
First hand
Kevin Nolan at Steam
Kevin has spoken at Steam twice, most recently alongside Tony Cottee and James Collins in February 2026 for an East End football themed event.