Ireland legend Wes Hoolahan has got his boots on once again, after it was announced that he has signed for Central Midlands Alliance side Doncaster City.
The Central Midlands Alliance is an 11th-tier league on the English football pyramid and it will now be graced with one of the most skilful players to pull on a green shirt for Ireland.
With Doncaster City due to line out against Dearne & District FC on Saturday afternoon, the club stunned its social media followers with the announcement that 41-year-old Hoolahan had signed for them. An hour later, it was also confirmed that Hoolahan was in the starting XI for the fixture.
He is joined in the line-up by Scotland veterans Charlie Mulgrew and Ross McCormack, as Doncaster clearly look to become the Galacticos of the 11th tier.
Welcome to Doncaster City FC Wes Hoolahan✍️
We’re delighted to welcome the former Norwich City and Republic of Ireland International to the club🤝#TheCityisBlue pic.twitter.com/APy0SdpTnh— Doncaster City FC (C) (@DoncasterCityFC) February 17, 2024
Wes Hoolahan makes stunning club return
Hoolahan most recently spent two seasons at Cambridge United, helping them to promotion from League Two before making 26 appearances in League One during the 2021/22 campaign.
In club football, Hoolahan is mostly known for lighting up the Premier League and Championship during his time with Norwich City, a period during which he also became an Ireland cult hero.
After making his name during Shelbourne's European run in 2004/05, Hoolahan made the move to Livingston and then Blackpool before settling at Norwich, where he would spend 10 seasons.
There were reports that he would make a return to the League of Ireland with Shelbourne around the time he was leaving Cambridge, but that move never materialised.
What a moment in the Stade de France from this man!
Happy birthday, Wes Hoolahan! #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/veaYBQuaf0— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) May 20, 2017
Ignored by Martin O'Neill
He was first called up to the Ireland squad by Giovanni Trapattoni in 2008 before becoming the subject of much national debate during the Martin O'Neill era.
Many supporters felt that O'Neill should have made better use of Hoolahan's talents and they were vindicated at Euro 2016 when he scored the opener in a 1-1 draw against Sweden before providing the sumptuous ball for Robbie Brady to head home a famous winner against Italy.
The great man clearly can't stay away for long and we'll certainly be keeping an eye on Doncaster City's fortunes over the next while.
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