Stoke City’s most capped player Glenn Whelan has had a very interesting close season, certainly different to most.
First of all he took part in Euro 2012 with the Republic of Ireland who ended up losing all three of their group games, they were the first team to head home. Then Stoke went on tour to the USA, and Whelan went with them. He was sent off against Orlando City, Stoke’s sister club which is co-owned by club director Phil Rawlins and coached by former Everton striker and Stoke City fan Adrian Heath.IN fact Orlando play in red and white in homage to the Potters.
Whelan received a second yellow card for squaring up to fellow Dubliner James O’Conner who himself played over 200 games for Stoke.
Whelan then lost his passport and while the team moved on to take on Kansas City he had to fly to Washington DC to obtain a new passport.
Now who said the Irish were lucky?
