In the relentless world of football transfers, where careers vanish on a whim, Junior Hoilett is a testament to dogged perseverance. Born in the far reaches of Canada on 5 June 1990, thus making him practically an antique at the grand age of 35, Hoilett is a forward who fake-shots his way around the left wing for Hibernian. Standing at a rather ordinary 5ft 8in (1.73m) and weighing in at an equally unremarkable 11st (70kg), it’s fair to say he's not about to make headlines for stature alone. But then, in football, it's not the size of the jersey's number—23 in his case—but the man wearing it, isn't it?
Direct all your thanks to Paderborn 07 in the 2. Bundesliga in Germany, who took a punt on Hoilett back in July of 2007. He responded with 12 appearances and a single goal in his debut season. A transfer to St. Pauli in the Bundesliga followed a year later, where he made 26 appearances and netted six goals in the 2008 - 2009 season, thus making his previous year look a tad stale in comparison.
In July 2009, Blackburn Rovers in the Championship decided to bring him across the channel. Over three seasons, Hoilett rewarded their faith with 81 appearances and a total of 12 goals to his name. Not exactly record-breaking, but consistency has its own charm, doesn't it?
Queens Park Rangers in the Championship were obviously impressed, as they wooed Hoilett with an undisclosed fee in July 2012. He responded with four seasons of moderately productive football, hitting the back of the net 12 times in 112 games. It's quite poetic, really.
Following what appears to be a brief period of stasis in 2016; perhaps a long holiday or a bout of amnesia, Hoilett ended up at Cardiff City in League One, where he logged 209 appearances over five seasons and scored 23 goals. As staycations go, it was a rather productive one.
Hoilett then hopped over to Reading in League One in England in August 2021. He spent two seasons there, during which he managed to squeeze in four goals during 61 appearances. A bit less impressive, but one must admire his tenacity.
Going by the notes, in one of the most unexpected twists, Hoilett crossed the Atlantic to join Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS in 2023 for one season and made seven appearances. After that, the lure of Scottish football proved too much to resist, and Hoilett joined Aberdeen in the Premiership, where he played 13 games and scored twice.
In August 2024, Hoilett made his way to Hibernian in the Premiership in Scotland. Since then, he's been seen 34 times and has managed to hit the net six times. He's also been seen at the sidelines in various competition cups, including the 2025 - 2026 League Cup, Scottish Cup 2024 - 2025, and in the Europa and Conference League Qualifiers, standing by for his moment of glory.
All in all, Hoilett has hopped more than a kangaroo with a caffeine addiction. And yet, despite lacking spectacular numbers in his career trajectory, he persists in making a professional living from the game. You really have to admire that, don't you?
