Caleb Folan

Early career

Born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Folan started his career at hometown club Leeds United, spending brief spells on loan at Rushden & Diamonds and Hull City before making a permanent move to Chesterfield in February 2003. In April 2006 he underwent a cartilage operation on a recurring knee injury. In October, he scored the winning goal against West Ham United in Chesterfield's League Cup victory, after which he signed a one-year contract extension.

Wigan Athletic

After a series of impressive performances for Chesterfield, Folan was linked with a January transfer to Premier League side Wigan Athletic, and on 26 January 2007 he completed a £500,000 transfer, signing a three-and-a-half-year deal. Wigan manager Paul Jewell stated: "He's strong, he's aggressive, he's got a finisher's instinct and I think he will add competition in an area where the squad needs bolstering." He made his debut for Wigan against Reading on 30 January 2007, and on 21 February, scored his first goal for the club, an equaliser against Watford. On 3 March he scored the winner against Manchester City away at the City of Manchester Stadium in a 1–0 victory.

Hull City

Championship team Hull City revealed their interest in signing him in August 2007. However, Wigan manager Chris Hutchings said he was not looking to transfer Folan. On 31 August Folan eventually did return to Hull on a three-year contract for a fee of £1 million, which broke the record highest fee paid by…

Through his grandfather, who was from Inis Mór, and his grandmother, from Galway, Folan is eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland. In March 2007, manager Steve Staunton called on the 'granny rule' to bring Folan into his squad for the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, after a passport was issued at the 11th hour. The decision attracted comment for overlooking other in-form strikers playing outside the Premier League and with closer ties to the Republic of Ireland. However, Folan was forced to pull out of the squad due to injury. A hamstring tear also forced Folan out of the Republic's squad for games against Ecuador and Bolivia in May 2007. In October 2008, under new manager Giovanni Trapattoni, Folan was one of several uncapped players selected to play for a Republic of Ireland XI in a challenge match against Nottingham Forest, scoring the first goal in a 2–0 win. He was added to the squad for the subsequent 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Cyprus and appeared as an injury-time substitute. He was brought on as a substitute against Italy in the World Cup qualifiers, and set up the equalising goal scored by Robbie Keane in the 87th minute.

Folan was born on 16 October 1982 in Leeds, England. After retiring from professional football, he worked as a massage therapist. He has enjoyed creating art as a hobby.

Hull City

Football League Championship play-offs: 2008