Holden having career-defining season

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print

[+] Enlarge

AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthBolton has consistently been in the top 10 this season, thanks to the outstanding play of Stuart Holden.

How good has Stuart Holden been for Bolton in the Premier League this season? Well, after the first four months, readers of the Guardian put the U.S. international into their team of the season. Some of these polls can be dubious, but in this case, it seemed almost spot on; others in the starting 11 included Tottenham's Rafael van der Vaart, Arsenal's Samir Nasri, Newcastle's Andy Carroll and fellow Wanderer Johan Elmander. Blackpool keeper Richard Kingson, who inspires as much confidence as Arsenal's Lukasz Fabianski on crosses, was the lone bizarre inclusion.

Holden has adapted to a relatively new position flawlessly in his embryonic English career, swapping his spot on the wing for the U.S. national team for a place in buzzing central midfield. He's also a substantial reason Bolton sits ninth heading into today's game against Chelsea (a win will see the Wanderers move back to seventh position) and has a chance -- albeit an outside one -- of earning a place in Europe next season.

Not bad for a player who cost Bolton nothing last January when he moved from the Houston Dynamo.

"I've seen full games, half games and all the highlights, and I think he's doing great," Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear, a former U.S. international, said in a phone interview. "We're all very happy and proud of him."

Kinnear would have been especially proud of Holden's goal against Blackburn in a thrilling Lancashire derby on Dec. 12. Having conceded the equalizer a minute earlier, Bolton responded in route one fashion. Fullback Sam Ricketts hoofed the ball forward for target man Kevin Davies, who laid it into the path of an onrushing Holden. His volleyed strike from 20 yards -- on his left foot, not his stronger right -- sailed past a helpless Paul Robinson to give Bolton a 2-1 victory.

Holden is also responsible for taking corners and free kicks.

"I really enjoy playing in the middle of the park and having a bit more freedom to get around the field a bit more," Holden said in an e-mailed interview. "The manager has encouraged me to not only get on the ball, but to try and get forward in the box and score some goals at the same time. It's a role I'm relishing."

However, to call Holden simply an offensive threat wouldn't do the 25-year-old justice. He's not afraid to do the dirty work, either, something he said he enjoys. Through Jan. 4, according to Opta statistics, he led the division in tackles (92), ahead of another two-way midfielder, inspirational West Ham skipper Scott Parker.

When Parker is absent, West Ham stutters. The numbers suggest the same when Holden is out. Bolton has won seven, lost five and drawn seven in the league when he's started. When he hasn't, Bolton is winless in four, losing twice.

Holden's effort versus Blackburn came after he sat out matches against Manchester City and Blackpool -- a loss and draw, respectively -- because of a thigh injury. Bolton manager Owen Coyle noticed the difference. "We've missed Stuart in the last two games because he just gets better," he told reporters after the Blackburn game. "He showed a real quality, and he has got a real tenacity to go with it."

Managers can make or break players, and Holden insists Coyle deserves ample credit for his European breakthrough.

Holden suffered a fractured left eye socket that required surgery when he was attacked outside a bar waiting for a taxi in Newcastle in 2005, largely ending any chance he had of extending a stay at Sunderland.

He thought the bad luck was set to continue when Dutch enforcer Nigel de Jong broke his leg in a friendly in March, about a month after joining Bolton on a short-term deal. Coyle, though, had seen enough to hand Holden a contract until the end of this season. And with Holden impressing at the start of the 2010-11 campaign, Bolton went one better and offered him a new three-year contract, which he signed in September. Coyle has called Holden a "breath of fresh air" possessing "a heart the size of a lion."

"The manager has confidence in me, and he has been giving me a chance and picking me in the team every week, for which I want to reward him," Holden said. "When I've made a mistake, he'll pull me aside and speak to me and help me learn. I think that's all part of growing as a player and being under a manager who is going to help you get to the highest level you can."

Perhaps Holden was destined to land at Bolton. His father, Brian, who died of pancreatic cancer at age 56 in February 2009, was born five miles from Bolton's Reebok Stadium. He was Holden's biggest inspiration and No. 1 fan.

Holden still gets support from the rest of the family. Mom Moira and sister Rachel flew to England over Christmas, taking in a few games. Younger brother Euan, a defender, is an aspiring footballer who had a brief stint at Denmark's Vejle.

The atmosphere at Bolton has helped Holden settle further. Team spirit, he said, is "unbelievable." Holden, a practical joker, admitted to dressing up a snowman with a teammate's clothes. He didn't name names.

And Holden thoroughly enjoys living in soccer-mad England. He attended games as a child at Old Trafford, so it's no surprise to learn he's looking forward to March 19, when Bolton visits the Theater of Dreams. Holden said it was an "honor" to share the field with United stalwarts Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs as Bolton tied the Red Devils 2-2 in September.

If Holden continues to shine, dare we say he could be lining up for United or another bigger club in the future? Maybe.

"When he came to us, we didn't really know much about him," Kinnear said. "He grew from there. When given a chance with the U.S. team, he took advantage and goes on to become a big part of the team's present and future. He takes the challenges in front of him with a little more gusto than some maybe expect."

Followers of the Premier League are finding that out.

London-based Ravi Ubha covers soccer and tennis for ESPN.com.

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print

Ravi Ubha

Tennis

• Archive

London-based Ravi Ubha covers soccer and tennis for ESPN.com.