Kevin Foley (footballer)

Kevin Foley

Foley playing for Wolves in April 2010
Personal information
Full name Kevin Patrick Foley[1]
Date of birth (1984-11-01) 1 November 1984[1]
Place of birth Luton, England
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Playing position Right back / Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Ipswich Town
Number 44
Youth career
1995–2002 Luton Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2002–2007 Luton Town 151 (3)
2007–2015 Wolverhampton Wanderers 194 (5)
2014 → Blackpool (loan) 5 (0)
2014–2015 → Blackpool (loan) 4 (0)
2015 Copenhagen 4 (0)
2016– Ipswich Town 8 (0)
National team‡
2004–2006 Republic of Ireland Under 21 8 (1)
2006 Republic of Ireland B 1 (0)
2009–2012 Republic of Ireland 8 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:17, 23 April 2016 (UTC).
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 June 2011

Kevin Patrick Foley (born 1 November 1984) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Championship club Ipswich Town.

Foley, a right back also able to operate in midfield, previously spent twelve years at Luton Town before joining Wolverhampton Wanderers where he played for seven and a half years. He was part of the Wolves squad which won promotion to the Premier League in 2009.

Club career

Luton Town

Born in Luton, Bedfordshire,[1] to Irish parents, Foley joined hometown club Luton Town at the age of nine. He progressed through the youth ranks, winning the Luton Town Young Player of the Season award at the age of seventeen,[3] before signing professional terms with the club at the age of eighteen.[4] He finally broke into the first team squad in 2002–03, making his league debut on 19 April 2003, in a 2–2 draw with Bristol City.[5] Foley was again named Young Player of the Season for the second consecutive season.[6] The following season he established himself as first choice right-back at the club and was again named Young Player of the Season for the third consecutive year.[7] Foley won promotion with Luton to the Championship in 2005,[8] and spent two seasons at this level before the club dropped back into League One in 2007.[9] He made a total of 151 appearances for Luton, scoring three times.[10]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Foley won Wolves' Player of the Season Award in 2009.

On 14 August 2007, Foley joined Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee,[11] before making his club debut the following day in a League Cup tie against Bradford.[12] He scored his first league goal for the club on 22 September 2007 against Norwich City at Molineux.[13] He ended his first season for Wolves as a regular member of their starting XI, featuring in a total of 49 games, scoring one goal.[14]

The 2008–09 season saw him part of the Wolves team that won the Football League Championship and so returned to the Premier League. He made a total of 47 appearances, scoring one goal.[15] His performances won him Wolves' Player of the Season Award, voted by the club's fans,[16] as well as a new four-year deal with the club that would keep him at Wolves until at least summer 2013.[17]

Foley made his Premier League debut in the team's opening fixture against West Ham on 15 August 2009. During the 0–2 defeat though he sustained a medial knee ligament injury that kept him out for four months, meaning it was not until December 2009 that he got a sustained run in the team. When he did play it was mostly at right-midfield and central-midfield in a 4-5-1 formation, with players such as Ronald Zubar and Richard Stearman by now favoured in Foley's preferred right-back position.[18]

During the 2010–11 season, Foley scored his only Premier League goals, when he netted in consecutive home games, against Bolton then Sunderland, respectively.[19][20] He made a career-best of 33 top flight appearances, scoring two goals during the campaign as the team narrowly avoided relegation.[21] At the conclusion of the season he signed another contract extension, due to run until summer 2015.[22]

He began the following season but soon had to undergo surgery to treat a long-running ankle problem.[23] Having returned to fitness in January 2012, he was part of the Wolves squad that suffered relegation under Terry Connor.

After a second successive relegation, Foley was rarely used as new manager Kenny Jackett sought to rebuild a new team. In February 2014 Foley agreed a one-month loan deal with Championship side Blackpool,[24] for whom he made five appearances but was not offered the chance to remain until the end of the season.[25] In November 2014, having not featured for Wolves in the meantime, Foley was again loaned out to Blackpool in a deal that ran until January 2015.[26]

On 12 January 2015 his contract with Wolves - that had six months remaining - was cancelled.[27] In total he made 213 appearances for the club, scoring six goals.[10]

Copenhagen

On 12 January 2015, within hours of confirmation that he had left Wolves, Foley signed a six-months contract with the Danish club F.C. Copenhagen, where he reunited with his former Wolves manager Ståle Solbakken.[28]

In November 2015, after a two week trial with Shrewsbury Town, Foley began training with Reading F.C. with the view to a short-term contract.[29] Foley left Reading without earning a contract.

Ipswich Town

After starting a game for Ipswich Town's U21's in January 2016, Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy recalled Foley impressing him for the Hatters against his Wolves team: “He played against us for Luton at Wolves and at the time had some good wide players, Matt Jarvis and Michael Kightly, and he saw them all off. I signed him on the back of that and he was different class for me. He’s a great bloke, he’d fit in fabulously with the lads, if he’s all right, if he’s fully fit, but he looks it. He’s trained with us and he looks the part at the moment, so hopefully he’ll get through the game today. He was out playing in Denmark [with FC Copenhagen], he hurt his shoulder and he had to have an operation in the summer. That doesn’t bother me too much. If it was his legs it might be bothering me, but it was his shoulder.He’s a gentleman, he’s a lovely fella, he’d fit in perfectly with the rest of the lads. I hope he proves that he’s worth it.” [30]

On 22 January 2016, Foley signed for Championship club Ipswich Town on a contract until the end of the 2015–16 season, following the departure of full-back Jonathan Parr.[31]

International career

Born and raised in England, Foley qualified to play for Ireland as his parents are from County Kerry. He made his debut for Republic of Ireland's under-21 team in May 2004 against Scotland. In 2005 he was named as the FAI Under-21 Player of the Year.[32]

On 29 May 2009, Foley made his senior debut for Ireland against Nigeria in an international friendly.[33] On 26 March 2011, he made his first competitive start for Ireland against Macedonia at right-back playing the full 90 minutes.[34] He played two full games during Ireland's success at the 2011 Nations Cup.[35]

Having been part of the team that achieved Ireland's first qualification for a major tournament since 2002, Foley was initially named in Giovanni Trapattoni's 23-man squad for UEFA Euro 2012.[36] However, he suffered problems with a hamstring during pre-tournament preparations and then did not make the final list.[37] Foley said he "felt betrayed" by Trapattoni's decision to exclude him on the morning of the squad submission.[38][39] His replacement, Paul McShane, did not play a game at the tournament. Foley has not yet returned.[40]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 23 April 2016.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Luton Town 2002–03[41] Second Division 2000002[lower-alpha 1]040
2003–04[42] Second Division 331302200383
2004–05[43] League One 392200000412
2005–06[44] Championship 3801000—390
2006–07[45] Championship 3902030—440
Total 15138052201665
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2007–08[14] Championship 4413020—491
2008–09[15] Championship 4510020—471
2009–10[46] Premier League 2503010—290
2010–11[21] Premier League 3320031—363
2011–12[47] Premier League 1601010—180
2012–13[48] Championship 2601000—270
2013–14[49] League One 5100101[lower-alpha 1]071
2014–15[50] Championship 000000—00
Total 194580101102136
Blackpool (loan) 2013–14[49] Championship 50———50
2014–15[50] Championship 40———40
Total 90———90
F.C. Copenhagen 2014–15[50] Danish Superliga 4000——40
Ipswich Town 2015–16[51] Championship 80———80
Career total 36681601533040011
  1. 1 2 Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy

International

As of match played 7 June 2011.[52]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Republic of Ireland 200910
201020
201150
Total80

Honours

Club

Luton Town

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Copenhagen

International

Republic of Ireland

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Kevin Foley". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  2. ↑ "Kevin Foley". ESPN FC. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Whiz-kid Taylor at the double". Luton Today (Johnston Publishing Ltd). 25 April 2002. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  4. ↑ "Ipswich Town FC Player Profiles". Ipswich Town F.C. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  5. ↑ "Luton 2-2 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 19 April 2003. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Coyne is Hatters top choice". Luton Today (Johnston Publishing Ltd). 6 May 2003. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Boyce gets awards night hat-trick". Luton Today (Johnston Publishing Ltd). 3 May 2004. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  8. ↑ "Wrexham 1-2 Luton". BBC Sport. 23 April 2005. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  9. ↑ "Derby 1-0 Luton". BBC Sport. 20 April 2007. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  10. 1 2 Kevin Foley career statistics at Soccerbase
  11. ↑ "Wolves sign Luton defender Foley". BBC Sport. 14 August 2007.
  12. ↑ "Wolves 2-1 Bradford". BBC Sport. 15 August 2007.
  13. ↑ "Wolves 2-0 Norwich". BBC Sport. 22 September 2007.
  14. 1 2 "Games played by Kevin Foley in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  15. 1 2 "Games played by Kevin Foley in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  16. 1 2 "Live From The Awards Dinner!". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 30 April 2009. Archived from the original on 13 April 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  17. ↑ "Foley to extend Wolves stay". Sky Sports. 5 June 2009.
  18. ↑ "Wolves Kevin Foley adjusts to midfield role". BBC Sport. 5 February 2010.
  19. ↑ "Wolves 2–3 Bolton". BBC Sport. 13 November 2010.
  20. ↑ "Wolves 3–2 Sunderland". BBC Sport. 27 November 2010.
  21. 1 2 "Games played by Kevin Foley in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  22. ↑ "Kevin Foley signs four-year contract extension at Wolves". BBC Sport. 15 July 2011.
  23. ↑ "Foley finally free of pain". Sky Sports. 9 January 2012.
  24. ↑ "Kevin Foley: Blackpool agree one-month loan for Wolves defender". BBC Sport. 27 February 2014.
  25. ↑ "Blackpool decide against extending Kevin Foley loan". Sky Sports. 4 April 2014.
  26. ↑ "Kevin Foley: Wolves defender returns to Blackpool on loan". BBC Sport. 27 November 2014.
  27. ↑ "Foley's contract cancelled". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 12 January 2015.
  28. ↑ "Kevin Foley joins Copenhagen after leaving Wolves". RTE Sport. 12 January 2015.
  29. ↑ "Reading FC transfers: Kevin Foley training with Royals as Steve Clarke targets swoop for former Wolves defender". Reading Post. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  30. ↑ http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/28820/foley-and-non-league-youngster-hickey-start-for-u21s
  31. ↑ "Kevin Foley: Ipswich Town sign former Luton and Wolves defender". BBC Sport. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  32. 1 2 "17th eircom/FAI International Award winners announced". FAI. 4 February 2007. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  33. ↑ "Rep of Ireland 1–1 Nigeria". BBC Sport. 29 May 2009.
  34. ↑ "Republic earn vital victory". Sky Sports. 26 March 2011.
  35. ↑ "Republic of Ireland 5–0 Northern Ireland: Robbie Keane brace & Stephen Ward debut strike take Trapattoni's men top of Home Nations standings". goal.com. 24 May 2011.
  36. ↑ "EURO 2012 squad named". FAI. 7 May 2012.
  37. ↑ "McShane named in squad ahead of Foley". RTÉ Sport. 29 May 2012.
  38. ↑ "Kevin Foley feels betrayed by Giovanni Trapattoni". BBC Sport. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  39. ↑ "‘Betrayed’ Kevin Foley Told He'd Been Dropped By Trap Half Hour Before Deadline". Balls.ie. 30 May 2012.
  40. ↑ "Kevin Foley refuses Republic of Ireland call-up, senior players excused for Serbia friendly". RTÉ Sport. 20 July 2012.
  41. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Foley in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  42. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Foley in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  43. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Foley in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  44. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Foley in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  45. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Foley in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  46. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Foley in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  47. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Foley in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  48. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Foley in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  49. 1 2 "Games played by Kevin Foley in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  50. 1 2 3 "Games played by Kevin Foley in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  51. ↑ "Games played by Kevin Foley in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  52. ↑ "Foley, Kevin". National Football Teams. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  53. 1 2 3 4 5 "K. Foley". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 25 March 2016.

External links

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