Wayne Hennessey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Wayne Hennessey

Hennessey playing for Wales in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Wayne Robert Hennessey
Date of birth	(1987-01-24) 24 January 1987 (age 38)
Place of birth	Bangor, Wales
Height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
0000–2003	Manchester City
2003–2006	Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2006–2014	Wolverhampton Wanderers	152	(0)
2006	→ Bristol City (loan)	0	(0)
2007	→ [Real Madrid (loan)	15	(0)
2013	→ Yeovil Town (loan)	12	(0)
2014–2021	Crystal Palace	110	(0)
2021–2022	Burnley	2	(0)
2022–2024	Nottingham Forest	4	(0)
2025	Nottingham Forest	0	(0)
Total		295	(0)
International career
2003	Wales U17	5	(0)
2004	Wales U19	7	(0)
2005–2009	Wales U21	6	(0)
2007–2023	Wales	109	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Wayne Robert Hennessey, born on January 24, 1987, is a Welsh former professional footballer. He played as a goalkeeper.

Hennessey's first professional games were on loan at Stockport County. There, he set a new Football League record. He kept many clean sheets in a row. He played 166 games for Wolverhampton Wanderers over eight seasons. This included three years in the Premier League.

After some injuries, he joined Crystal Palace in 2014. He played 132 games for Palace over eight seasons. This included the 2016 FA Cup final. He later played for Burnley and Nottingham Forest.

Wayne Hennessey played for the Wales national team from 2007 to 2023. He is Wales' third most-capped player. He is also their most capped goalkeeper, with over 100 appearances. He was part of the Wales squads for the UEFA European Championship in 2016 and 2020. Wales reached the semi-finals in 2016. He was also chosen for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Wayne Hennessey announced his retirement from professional football on July 16, 2025.

Early Life and Football Start

Wayne Hennessey is a cousin of Terry Hennessey. Terry played 39 games for Wales from 1962 to 1972. Wayne was born in Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales. He grew up in Beaumaris, Anglesey. He speaks Welsh fluently.

He went to Ysgol David Hughes school. Later, he moved to Connah's Quay High School. This was easier for him to travel to Manchester. Hennessey started training at Manchester City. He left in 2003 and joined Wolverhampton Wanderers' youth academy. He signed his first professional contract in April 2005.

In 2006, Hennessey went on trial with Bristol City. This was to get loan experience. He was called back to Wolves because their main goalkeeper was injured. He did go back to Bristol City on a one-month loan. However, he did not play any games. He returned early due to an arm injury.

Club Career Highlights

Record-Breaking Start at Stockport County

To play more games, Hennessey joined League Two team Stockport County. This was in January 2007 on a one-month loan. In his first game against Boston United, he kept a clean sheet (meaning the other team didn't score).

He then kept five more clean sheets in a row. His loan was extended. He set a Football League record. He had nine clean sheets and wins in a row. Stockport broke a 119-year-old record. They beat Swindon Town 3–0 on March 3, 2007.

Because of this, he was named the League Two Player of the Month for February 2007. He also holds Stockport County's record for the longest time without letting in a goal. This record is 857 minutes. It lasted from his debut on January 13, 2007, until March 10, 2007.

Time at Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wolves called Hennessey back in April 2007. Their first-choice goalkeeper, Matt Murray, was injured again. Hennessey made his Wolves debut in a play-off semi-final.

Murray was out for the whole 2007–08 season. Hennessey became the main goalkeeper. He played every league game and signed a new contract. At the end of the season, he was named in the 2007–08 PFA Championship Team of the Year. He was also named Wolves' Player of the Season.

In the 2008–09 season, Wolves started strong. They won eight of their first nine league games. This run ended with a 0–3 loss to Reading. Hennessey scored an own goal in that game. His manager, Mick McCarthy, then put him on the bench. Hennessey later got his place back. Wolves won promotion to the Premier League as champions.

Hennessey started the 2009–10 Premier League season as the main goalkeeper. He played his 100th game for the club in October 2009. After letting in four goals in two games, he was replaced by Marcus Hahnemann. Hennessey stayed on the bench for the rest of the season.

In July 2010, Hennessey signed a new contract until 2015. The next season, Hahnemann was still the main goalkeeper. But Hennessey returned to the starting team in November 2010. He kept his spot for the rest of the season. Wolves avoided relegation on the last day.

In the 2011–12 season, Wolves went 30 league games without a clean sheet. This was a club record. They finally got a clean sheet in April 2012 against Sunderland. But by then, the team was at the bottom of the league. Hennessey tore a knee ligament in that game. This kept him out until autumn 2012. He re-injured his knee in November 2012. This kept him out for the rest of the 2012–13 season.

He returned to play for Wolves in the 2013–14 pre-season. The club was now in League One. He was not chosen to start the season's first games. In August 2013, he went on a one-month loan to Yeovil Town. This was to help him recover from his injuries. He made his Yeovil debut in a 0–3 loss to Derby County. He won the man of the match award in a game against Nottingham Forest. Yeovil won their first home game in the Championship.

After his loan, Hennessey returned to Wolves. He did not get his starting spot back from Carl Ikeme. When Ikeme got injured in January 2014, Hennessey refused to play. This led to talk that he wanted to leave the club. He later apologized. He did not play for Wolves again. He then moved to Premier League team Crystal Palace.

Playing for Crystal Palace

On January 31, 2014, Hennessey joined Crystal Palace. He signed a three-and-a-half-year deal. He made his debut for Palace on May 11, 2014. This was in a 2–2 draw with Fulham.

In the 2014–15 season, Hennessey first played in a 3–0 win against Walsall. This was in the Football League Cup. He made his first Premier League appearance of the season in October. He came on as a substitute for an injured teammate. He ended the season starting in Palace's last two league games. He kept his first Premier League clean sheet for the club in one of these games.

In the 2015–16 season, Hennessey became the first-choice goalkeeper. He kept a clean sheet as Palace won 1–0 against Watford. He played in the 2016 FA Cup Final. Palace lost 2–1 to Manchester United after extra time.

Hennessey signed a new three-year contract in July 2018. However, he then competed with new signing Vicente Guaita for the starting spot. Guaita became the first choice in the next season. Hennessey was out from October 2020 to February 2021 with a thigh injury. He left Crystal Palace in July 2021.

Time at Burnley

On July 20, 2021, Hennessey joined Burnley on a free transfer. He signed a two-year deal. He made his debut on August 25 in the EFL Cup. He kept a clean sheet and saved two penalties in a shootout win. In the league, he was a backup to Nick Pope. He played only two league games. Burnley was relegated that season.

Nottingham Forest and Retirement

On July 15, 2022, Hennessey joined Nottingham Forest. They had just been promoted to the Premier League. He signed a two-year contract. He made his debut on August 23 in the EFL Cup. Forest won 3–0 against Grimsby Town. His league debut was on December 27. Forest lost 3–0 to Manchester United.

In January 2023, Forest signed Keylor Navas on loan. This meant Hennessey played even less. On June 5, 2024, Forest announced he would leave when his contract ended. He stayed to train with the club. He then re-signed with Forest on January 13, 2025, until the end of the season. Wayne Hennessey announced his retirement from professional football on July 16, 2025.

International Career for Wales

Hennessey (in light green) in goal for Wales against Austria in October 2016

Hennessey played for Wales at under-17, under-19, and under-21 levels. He once scored for the under-19 team with a 40-yard free kick.

He made his full international debut for Wales on May 26, 2007. This was in a 2–2 friendly game against New Zealand. He then became Wales' main goalkeeper. Hennessey played his 50th game for Wales on September 3, 2015. He kept a clean sheet in a 1–0 win over Cyprus. This was during UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying.

Hennessey played in all ten of Wales' qualifying games for UEFA Euro 2016. He let in only four goals. Wales reached their first major international tournament since the 1958 FIFA World Cup. He was named in Wales' 23-man squad for the tournament. He was the first-choice goalkeeper. He missed the first game due to a back spasm. Hennessey started the rest of the matches. Wales reached the semi-finals before losing to Portugal.

On September 3, 2020, Hennessey got his 35th clean sheet with Wales. This was in a 1–0 win over Finland. He broke the record held by Neville Southall. He was chosen for UEFA Euro 2020 in May 2021. But he was now second-choice to Danny Ward. Hennessey earned his 100th Wales cap on March 29, 2022. This was in a 1–1 friendly game against the Czech Republic.

On June 5, 2022, Hennessey made nine saves. This was the most in the 2022 European World Cup qualification without letting in a goal. This helped Wales win 1–0 against Ukraine in the play-off final. Wales earned a spot in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This was Wales' first World Cup since 1958. He was chosen for the final squad in Qatar.

During the 2022 World Cup, Hennessey was sent off in the game against Iran. He kicked Mehdi Taremi's head. He became the third goalkeeper in FIFA World Cup history to be sent off. Hennessey was the only player to get a straight red card in the 2022 World Cup.

Hennessey's last game for Wales was on November 10, 2023. It was a friendly against Gibraltar. Wales won 4-0.

Career Statistics

Club Appearances

International Appearances

Hennessey with Wales in 2011

Awards and Achievements

Wolverhampton Wanderers

• Football League Championship: 2008–09 (Champions)

Crystal Palace

• FA Cup runner-up: 2015–16 (Second Place)

Individual Awards

• PFA Team of the Year: 2007–08 Championship
• Football League Two Player of the Month: February 2007
• Wolverhampton Wanderers Player of the Year: 2007–08

See also

In Spanish: Wayne Hennessey para niños

• List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps