Junior Hoilett was born on 5 June 1990 in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, of Jamaican descent. He moved to England as a teenager and joined Blackburn Rovers' academy, becoming one of the most highly rated Canadian teenagers in European football. He made his Premier League debut for Blackburn at 18 and became a regular in their first team before the club's relegation in 2012.
He signed with Queens Park Rangers and spent two seasons in west London across both the Premier League and the Championship, becoming a reliable wide forward. In 2015 he joined Cardiff City on a free transfer, establishing himself as one of the most consistent performers in the Championship over several seasons. He played a central role in Cardiff's 2017-18 Championship-winning season that returned the club to the Premier League, and remained with the club until 2022. Brief spells at Millwall and Vancouver Whitecaps followed before he wound down his professional career.
For Canada, Hoilett navigated a complex eligibility situation — he was eligible for Jamaica through his parents — before committing definitively to Canada in 2013. He became a senior figure over the following decade, bridging the gap between the earlier generation and the Davies-David-Eustáquio golden era. He was part of the historic 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign and was a veteran presence through the 2021 Gold Cup and 2023 cycles.
A left-footed wide attacker comfortable on either flank, Hoilett combined pace and directness in his prime with a technical ability that allowed him to contribute well into his early thirties. His decade of Canada service represents the continuity that underpinned the country's qualification breakthrough.