With the growing popularity of football (sorry, soccer) in the USA, Richard Hobbs looks at a Wolves XI who have played across the pond.
Marcus Hahnemann
The likeable American joined Wolves following promotion to the Premier League in 2009 from Reading. Starting second string to Hennessey, Hahnemann, worked his way into the no.1 position for the second half of the second. Bookending his career at Seattle Sounders, he is now a coach, pundit and amateur pilot.
Carl Robinson
A product of the Wolves youth system, Robinson played 165 times for Wolves between 1995-2002. After spells at Portsmouth, Sunderland and Norwich, the Welshman went onto play for Toronto and New York Red Bulls. After retiring, Robinson moved back to Canada to coach Vancouver Whitecaps, where he is now Head Coach.
Ronald Zubar
Similar to Hahnemann, Zubar signed for Wolves in 2009. The attacking fullback won fans over with his powerful runs and knack of scoring important goals. After falling down the pecking order, he moved back to France to Ajacco then to New York Red Bulls in 2015.
Neil Collins
Collins was McCarthy’s go to defender during prior to promotion in ’09.A limited defender, Collins was a no nonsense centre back and a threat from set pieces. Leaving Wolves after promotion, Collins played for Preston, Leeds and Sheffield United before moving to Tampa Bay Rowdies earlier this year
Jelle Van Damme
One of the biggest what if’s during our time in the Premier League. The tough tackling Belgium defender left within six months of signing after getting home sick. Five years after leaving Wolves, Van Damme manage to overcome his home sickness to move to LA Galaxy to play with Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard, where he was named best defender in the league for 2016.
Jemal Johnson
Born in New Jearsey, Johnson moved to England aged 5. Starting his professional career at Blackburn, he played for Wolves in the 2007 season, scoring a memorable goal against Sunderland. After making nearly 100 appearances for MK Dons, Johnson drifted through lower and non-league clubs before moving back to America to play for Fort Lauderdale Strikers, New York Cosmos and Jacksonville Armada
Kenny Hibbitt
466 games for Wolves, Hibbitt is a Wolves legend. He won two league cups and appeared in the 1972 EUFA Cup final, in which Wolves lost to Spurs during a 16 year playing career for Wolves. During 1982 however, he went to the USA on loan, playing 14 games for Seattle Sounders, scoring 4 goals.
Dave Wagstaffe
Everyone’s Dad’s favourite player. Waggy dazzled fans with his wing play in the late 60’s and early 70’s. In 1970, he went on loan to LA Wolves to play in the inaugrural United Soccer Association League. With LA Wolves not having any players of their own, they were represented by Wolves. LA Wolves went on to win the league that season, beating Washington Whips in the decider.
Carl Cort
The only 6’5” striker who got smaller going up for a header. Cort joined Wolves in 2004 in the hope he could help Wolves stay up n the Premier League. Despite relegation and injuries, Cort, scored 31 in 94 games for Wolves. After stints with Leicester, Marbella (yep, that’s right), Norwich and Brentford, he moved across the pond to Tampa Bay Rowdies, where he played for 18 games.
Tomasz Frankowski
The missing piece of the jigsaw. After 16 luckless games for Wolves, the Pole with no goals moved to Chicago Fire where he managed two goals in 17 games. After a year in America, he moved back to Poland, scoring 50 in 210 before retiring
Kevin Doyle
One of the few in this XI who’s still playing. Joining Wolves for a then club record fee in 2009, he won fans over with his relentless work-rate. After his contract came to an end in 2015, Doyle moved stateside to Colorado Rapids. Recently the Rapids made it to the final of the MLS Conference, where they will face off against Seattle Sounders. No doubt Doyle will be asking Hahnemann for some inside knowledge on Sounders. You can listen to our interview with him about about living in the USA here
Notable mentions
Robbie Keane is still scoring for fun for LA Galaxy and although it’s not USA, but both Kenny Miller and Rohan Ricketts played in the MLS for Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto respectively.
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