Glenn Whelan facts for kids
Whelan with the Republic of Ireland squad at UEFA Euro 2012
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Glenn David Whelan | ||
| Date of birth | 13 January 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
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Current team
|
Wigan Athletic (assistant head coach) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2001 | Cherry Orchard | ||
| 2001 | Manchester City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001–2004 | Manchester City | 0 | (0) |
| 2003 | → Bury (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2003–2004 | → Bury (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2004–2008 | Sheffield Wednesday | 142 | (12) |
| 2008–2017 | Stoke City | 291 | (5) |
| 2017–2019 | Aston Villa | 68 | (2) |
| 2019–2020 | Heart of Midlothian | 15 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | Fleetwood Town | 34 | (0) |
| 2021 | Wythenshawe | 4 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | Bristol Rovers | 43 | (0) |
| Total | 610 | (19) | |
| International career | |||
| 2000 | Republic of Ireland U16 | 2 | (0) |
| 2002–2005 | Republic of Ireland U21 | 19 | (2) |
| 2007 | Republic of Ireland B | 1 | (0) |
| 2008–2019 | Republic of Ireland | 91 | (2) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2025 | Wigan Athletic (caretaker) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Glenn David Whelan, born on January 13, 1984, is a former professional footballer from Ireland. He played as a defensive midfielder, a player who helps protect the defense. Glenn also played for the Republic of Ireland national team. As of July 2025, he is the assistant head coach at Wigan Athletic.
Whelan began his career at Manchester City. He later joined Sheffield Wednesday and helped them get promoted to the Championship in 2005. In 2008, he moved to Stoke City and helped them reach the Premier League. He played in the 2011 FA Cup final with Stoke. After nine years at Stoke, he played for Aston Villa, Hearts, Fleetwood Town, and Bristol Rovers.
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Glenn Whelan's Early Life
Whelan was born in Dublin, Ireland. He grew up in an area called Clondalkin. He went to St. Lorcan's Boys' National School as a child.
Playing Career Highlights
Starting at Manchester City
Glenn Whelan started his football journey with Manchester City in 2001. He had joined them from an Irish youth club called Cherry Orchard. He played only one game for Manchester City, which was in the UEFA Cup in August 2003.
After this, he went on loan to Bury twice. He played 15 games for Bury. His performances caught the eye of the manager at Sheffield Wednesday.
Time at Sheffield Wednesday
Whelan joined Sheffield Wednesday for free in the summer of 2004. He played his first game for them in August. In his second match, he helped set up a goal and received praise from his coach. He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw against Walsall.
He was named "man of the match" in the 2005 Football League One play-off final against Hartlepool United. This was a very important game that helped Sheffield Wednesday get promoted to the Championship. He played 46 matches in the 2005–06 season.
In 2006, he was briefly put on the transfer list, meaning the club was open to selling him. However, the new manager, Brian Laws, decided to keep him. Whelan then had a great season, scoring seven goals. He won several "Player of the Year" awards for the 2006–07 season. In January 2008, he moved to Stoke City.
Joining Stoke City
Whelan joined Stoke City on January 30, 2008, for £500,000. He signed a three-and-a-half-year contract. He played his first game for Stoke on February 2, 2008. He helped Stoke finish second in the 2007–08 season, which meant they were promoted to the Premier League.
Whelan started Stoke's first Premier League match. He later became a very important player in Stoke's fight to stay in the top league. He scored a last-minute goal against Aston Villa in March 2009. In September 2009, he signed a new four-year contract with Stoke. He scored his first goal of the 2009–10 season against Tottenham Hotspur, which gave Stoke a 1–0 win.
He played his 100th game for Stoke in January 2011. Whelan was a key player in Stoke's journey to their first FA Cup Final. He played in the 2011 FA Cup Final, where Stoke lost 1–0 to his old club, Manchester City.
In August 2011, Whelan scored a rare goal for Stoke in the UEFA Europa League. In January 2012, he signed a new contract, saying he was "loving life" at the club. In March 2012, Whelan played his 37th international game for Ireland while at Stoke. This made him Stoke's most capped player, beating Gordon Banks' record.
Even when Stoke signed new midfielders, Whelan kept his place in the team. He played 34 games in the 2012–13 season. When Mark Hughes became the new manager, Whelan continued to be a regular player. He played 36 games in the 2013–14 season, which he called his best for the club.
In October 2014, Whelan fractured his leg while playing for Ireland. He returned to the team in December 2014. He signed a two-year contract extension in January 2015. His teammates praised him as the team's "unsung hero" for his hard work.
Whelan continued to be a key player in the 2015–16 season, playing 42 games. He made his 300th appearance for Stoke in March 2016. In July 2016, he signed another one-year contract extension. He played 31 games in the 2016–17 season.
Moving to Aston Villa
Whelan joined Aston Villa on July 20, 2017, signing a two-year contract. He scored his first goal for Aston Villa in February 2018. He played 35 games in the 2017–18 season, helping Villa reach the play-off final, where they lost.
He played 38 games in the 2018–19 season. Villa reached the play-off final again and won this time, beating Derby County 2–1. After this season, his contract with Aston Villa was not renewed.
Later Club Career
On August 14, 2019, Whelan joined Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian. He left the club in January 2020.
He then signed a short-term deal with League One club Fleetwood Town on January 24, 2020.
On September 4, 2021, Whelan joined League Two club Bristol Rovers. He made his debut for the club on September 11, 2021. The season ended with Whelan achieving his fourth career promotion, as Bristol Rovers moved into an automatic promotion spot on the final day. He was initially released but returned to the club as a first-team coach in July 2022, also being registered as a player.
Whelan played his final professional game on the last day of the 2022–23 season. He was substituted off to a standing ovation from the fans. He continued his role as a full-time coach at the club.
International Career for Ireland
In October 2000, Whelan played for the Republic of Ireland under-16 team. He also played for the Republic of Ireland Under-20 team in 2003. He was capped 19 times by the Under-21 team, often as captain.
He made his debut for the senior Republic of Ireland team in May 2008. He scored his first international goal against Georgia in September 2008. He became a key player for the national team.
He scored his second goal for Ireland against Italy in October 2009. Whelan played in both games against France when Ireland was controversially knocked out of the World Cup qualifiers.
Whelan was also a regular player in Ireland's midfield during the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying matches. He helped the team qualify for UEFA Euro 2012. He was part of the 23-man squad for the tournament.
He earned his 50th cap for Ireland in August 2013 against Wales. Whelan represented the national team at Euro 2016, where they lost to France in the round of 16.
In October 2019, Whelan earned his 90th cap against Switzerland. This made him the ninth most capped Irish player of all time.
Coaching Roles
In October 2022, Whelan was part of the coaching team for the Republic of Ireland Under-16s.
He left his coaching role at Bristol Rovers in December 2023. In September 2024, he was appointed as the new first-team coach at Wigan Athletic. Following the sacking of Shaun Maloney on March 2, 2025, Whelan was appointed caretaker manager of Wigan Athletic.
Personal Life
Glenn Whelan grew up in Dublin and was a fan of Liverpool. He looked up to Irish football legend Paul McGrath. He also enjoyed watching St Patrick's Athletic play and was inspired by their player Paul Osam.
Whelan is married to Karren, and they have a daughter named Abbie and a son named Jack. They live in Wilmslow, Cheshire.
Images for kids
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Whelan with the Republic of Ireland squad at UEFA Euro 2012
See also
In Spanish: Glenn Whelan para niños
