Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.

Association football club in Wolverhampton, England

For the women's team, see Wolverhampton Wanderers W.F.C.

Football club

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Full name| Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club
Nickname(s)| Wolves, the Old Gold[1]
Founded| 1877; 148 years ago (1877), as St. Luke's F.C.
Ground| Molineux Stadium
Capacity| 31,750[2]
Owner| Fosun International
Chairman| Jeff Shi[3]
Head coach| Vítor Pereira[4]
League| Premier League
2024–25| Premier League, 16th of 20
Website| wolves.co.uk

Home colours

Away colours

|

Current season

Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club (/ˌwʊlvərˈhæmptən/ ⓘ WUUL-vər-HAMP-tən), commonly referred to as Wolves,[1] is a professional football club based in Wolverhampton, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. The club has played at Molineux Stadium since moving from Dudley Road in 1889. The club's traditional kit consists of old gold shirts and socks with black shorts. Since 1979, the kit has also featured the club's "wolf's head" logo. Long-standing rivalries exist with other clubs from the West Midlands, including Aston Villa, Stoke City, and Birmingham City but the main one being the Black Country derby contested with West Bromwich Albion. Since 2016, the club has been owned by the Chinese conglomerate Fosun International.

Formed as St. Luke's F.C. in 1877, the club changed name to Wolverhampton Wanderers two years later and became one of the founding members of the Football League in 1888. They won the FA Cup for the first time in 1893, and again as a Second Division team in 1908 following the club's relegation two years previously. They fell to the third tier in 1923, but went on to win the Third Division North in 1923–24 and the Second Division in 1931–32. The team was crowned English League champions three times – in 1953–54, 1957–58 and 1958–59 – all under the management of Stan Cullis. Wolves also won another two FA Cup finals, in 1949 and 1960. Relegated in 1965, after 26 consecutive seasons in the top flight, they secured promotion back to the First Division in 1966–67. Wolves won the League Cup in 1974 and 1980, and again won the Second Division title in 1976–77.

Wolves suffered a financial crisis during the early-1980s recession that led to the club coming close to liquidation in 1982. In the five seasons between 1981–82 and 1985–86 Wolves were relegated four times (although there was also one promotion in 1982–83), meaning the club ended up in what was then the Football League Fourth Division (now EFL League Two) for the first (and so far only) time in the club's history. However, the club immediately started a swift turn-around, and having been beaten in the inaugural Football League play-off final in 1987, Wolves won the Fourth Division and Football League Trophy titles in 1987–88, followed by the Third Division title in 1988–89.

After fourteen seasons in the second tier between 1989 and 2003, Wolves reached the Premier League, founded in 1992, for the first time with victory in the 2003 play-offs, though they were relegated after a single season in the top division on this occasion. Wolves won the Championship in 2008–09 to return to the Premier League, but endured relegation in 2011–12, followed by relegation again (to EFL League One) in 2012–13. The club then returned to the Premier League after first winning the League One title in 2013–14, followed by another Championship title in 2017–18.

After becoming one of the first British clubs to install floodlights at its home ground in 1953, Wolves arranged televised "floodlit friendlies" against leading overseas club sides between 1953 and 1956, which were instrumental in the launch of the European Cup (now known as the UEFA Champions League) in 1955. Wolves reached the quarter-finals of the competition in 1959–60 as well as the semi-finals of the 1960–61 European Cup Winners' Cup and the inaugural UEFA Cup Final in 1972. Following a 39-year absence from UEFA competitions, they reached the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals in 2020.

## History

[edit]

Main article: History of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.

For a statistical breakdown by season, see List of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. seasons.

### Formation and the Football League (1879–1893)

[edit]

In the 2000 edition of The Rough Guide to English Football, the history section on the Wolves page begins: "The very name Wolves thunders from the pages of English football history".[5] As with several other clubs, Everton for example, Wolves had humble beginnings shaped by the twin influences of cricket and the church. The club was founded in 1877 as  St. Luke's F.C. by John Baynton and John Brodie, two pupils of St Luke's Church School in Blakenhall, who had been presented with a football by their headmaster Harry Barcroft.[6] The team played its first game on 13 January 1877 against a reserve side from Stafford Road, later merging with the football section of a local cricket club called Blakenhall Wanderers to form Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 1879.[5][6] Having initially played on two strips of land in the town, they relocated to a more substantial venue on Dudley Road in 1881, before lifting their first trophy in 1884 when they won the Wrekin Cup, during a season in which they played their first FA Cup tie.[6] Having become professional, the club were nominated to become one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888,[7] in which they played in the first round of Football League fixtures ever staged, against Aston Villa on 8 September 1888.[8] They ended the inaugural season in third place, as well as reaching their first FA Cup Final, losing 0–3 to the first "Double" winners, Preston North End. At the conclusion of the campaign the club relocated for a final time when they moved to Molineux, then a pleasure park known as the Molineux Grounds.[6]

### FA Cup success and world war years (1893–1950)

[edit]

Wolves' 1893 FA Cup-winning team

Wolves lifted the FA Cup for the first time in 1893 when they beat Everton 1–0, and made a third FA Cup Final appearance in 1896. The club added a second FA Cup Final triumph (a 3–1 win against Newcastle United) to their 1893 success in 1908, two years after having dropped into the Second Division for the first time. After struggling during the years either side of the First World War to regain their place in the top division (a period that was punctuated by another FA Cup Final appearance in 1921), the club suffered a further relegation in 1923, entering the Third Division (North), which they won at the first attempt. Eight years after returning to the Second Division, Wolves regained their top-flight status as Second Division Champions under Major Frank Buckley after twenty-six years away. With Buckley at the helm the team became established as one of the leading club sides in England in the years leading up to the Second World War, as they finished runners-up in the league twice in succession (1937–38 & 1938–39), as well as reaching the last pre-war FA Cup Final, in which they suffered a shock defeat to Portsmouth.[9][10][11] In 1937–38 Wolves came within a whisker of winning the club's first English league title: a win in the side's last game away to Sunderland would have clinched things, but in the event Wolves lost 0–1 and thus ended the campaign one point behind the eventual champions, Arsenal.[12] One of the things Major Buckley and his Wolves side attracted a lot of attention for in the last two full seasons prior to the suspension of league football during the Second World War was Buckley's insistence that his players be injected with monkey gland extract to enhance their stamina and performance, a practice that the Football League disapproved of but did not prohibit.[13]

When league football resumed after the Second World War, Wolves suffered yet another final day failure in the First Division. Just as in 1938, victory in their last match would have won the title but a 2–1 loss to title rivals Liverpool meant that Liverpool were crowned champions instead.[14] This game had been the last in a Wolves shirt for Stan Cullis, and a year later he became manager of the club. In Cullis's first season in charge, he led Wolves to a first major honour in 41 years as they beat Leicester City to lift the FA Cup, and a year later, only goal average prevented Wolves winning the league title.[15][16]

### The Stan Cullis era (1950–1960)

[edit]

The 1950s were by far the most successful period in the club's history.[17] Captained by Billy Wright, Wolves finally claimed the league championship for the first time in 1953–54, overhauling local rivals West Bromwich Albion late in the season. Two further titles were soon won in successive years (1957–58 and 1958–59), as Wolves vied with Manchester United to be acknowledged the premier team in English football at that juncture. Wolves were renowned both for the club's domestic success and for the staging of high-profile "floodlit friendlies" against other top club sides from around the world.[18] Wolves had become one of the first club sides in Britain to invest in floodlighting in 1953 at a cost of £10,000[19] (£281,308.64 at 2019 prices[20]). Perhaps the most famed of these friendlies saw Wolves defeat a Honvéd side including many members of the Hungarian national team that had recently humbled England twice, leading the national media to proclaim Wolves "Champions of the World".[21] This became the final spur for Gabriel Hanot, the editor of L'Équipe, to propose the creation of the European Cup (later rebranded as the UEFA Champions League). Wolves were one of the first British clubs to participate.[21] In the 1957–58 season, Wolves defeated Real Madrid 5–4 (3–2 in Wolverhampton and 2–2 in Madrid) in home and away friendlies.[22]

### Cup success in the '60s and '70s (1960–1980)

[edit]

Chart of yearly performance of Wolves in the English Football League system.

The 1960s began with a fourth FA Cup victory and Wolves almost achieved the first League and FA Cup 'double' of the 20th century in English football. They were pipped to the league title by a point on the final day of the season by Burnley. Despite that bright start to the decade, the 1960s saw Wolves begin to decline. After finishing as league runners-up in 1959–60 and a creditable third-place league finish in Tottenham Hotspur's 'double'-winning season, the team faded and Cullis himself was dismissed after sixteen years in post in September 1964 after a disastrous start to the 1964–65 season.[17] Cullis's dismissal did not prevent the season ending with relegation (the first time Wolves had known relegation since 1922–23) and the club's first spell outside the top division since 1932. Exile from the top flight lasted only two seasons however, as Wolves were promoted in 1967 as Second Division runners-up.[23]

During the close season in 1967, Wolves played a mini-season in North America as part of the fledgling United Soccer Association league which imported clubs from Europe and South America. Playing as the "Los Angeles Wolves", they won the Western Division and ultimately the championship by defeating the Eastern Division champions Washington Whips (import of Aberdeen) in a final decider.[24]

The club's return to the English top flight in 1967 heralded another period of relative success under Bill McGarry, with a fourth place league finish in 1971 qualifying Wolves for the newly created UEFA Cup.[25] En route to the UEFA Cup final, they defeated Juventus and Ferencváros before losing to Tottenham Hotspur 3–2 on aggregate; a 2–1 home defeat in the first leg proving decisive.[26] Wolves lifted silverware two years later when they won the League Cup for the first time by beating Manchester City 2–1 in the final.[27] Despite relegation again in 1976, Wolves bounced back at the first attempt as Second Division champions under manager Sammy Chung,[23] and then under manager John Barnwell, the turn of the decade saw them finish in the top six in the league and win the 1980 League Cup, when then-record signing Andy Gray scored the only goal of the final to defeat the reigning European champions and League Cup holders Nottingham Forest.[28]

### Financial crisis, decline and recovery (1980–1990)

[edit]

The multi-million pound rebuilding of the Molineux Street Stand in 1979 was to be the catalyst for the club's near-financial ruin during the next decade. Plunging match attendances in the early-1980s,[29] at least partly due to recession in both the national and local economies, and consequent difficulties in repaying the loans taken out to fund the new John Ireland Stand, led the club to receivership and relegation in 1982. The club was saved from liquidation at the last minute when it was purchased by a consortium fronted by former player Derek Dougan.[30] Initially this takeover, financed by two Saudi brothers, Mahmud and Mohammad Bhatti of the company Allied Properties,[31] brought immediate promotion back to the First Division under manager Graham Hawkins, but the Bhattis' failure to invest sufficiently in the club soon saw things unravel as the team suffered three consecutive relegations through the football divisions under different managers,[32] as well as the almost-constant threat of the club being wound-up.[33][34]

In 1986, with the club again in receivership, a deal saw Wolverhampton City Council purchase the stadium and surrounding land, while a local developer paid off the club's outstanding debts in return for planning permission to develop the land adjacent to the stadium.[35] The 1986–87 season saw Wolves' first campaign in the Fourth Division, where, with the guidance of new manager Graham Turner and the goals of Steve Bull, who would ultimately score a club record 306 goals,[36] the team reached the final of the inaugural play-offs but were denied promotion by Aldershot. Building on that, the team achieved both the Fourth and Third Division championships in the next two seasons and won the 1988 Football League Trophy Final at Wembley.

### The Hayward years (1990–2007)

[edit]

Celebrating the Championship title in 2009

Lifelong fan Jack Hayward purchased the club in 1990 and immediately funded the extensive redevelopment of a by then dilapidated Molineux into a modern all-seater stadium.[37] With work completed in 1993, Hayward redirected his investment onto the playing side in an attempt to win promotion to the newly formed Premier League. Despite substantial spending, neither Graham Taylor nor Mark McGhee could fulfil this, both managers leading the team to play-off defeats at the semi-final stages in 1995 and 1997 respectively. It was not until 2003 that Wolves were promoted, when they defeated Sheffield United 3–0 in the play-off final under Dave Jones to end a 19-year absence from the top level.[38] Their stay proved short-lived however as they were immediately relegated back to the newly retitled EFL Championship.

### Promotion, relegations and turbulent times (2007–2016)

[edit]

After former England manager Glenn Hoddle failed to bring a swift return to the Premier League, the rebuilding of the squad by Mick McCarthy rejuvenated the club with an unexpected play-off finish.[39] The club was bought from Sir Jack Hayward by Steve Morgan in 2007[40] and two years later the team returned to the Premier League as 2008–09 Football League Championship title winners.[41] Wolves successfully battled relegation for two seasons before McCarthy's dismissal in the 2011–12 season,[42] which precipitated relegation under his former assistant Terry Connor, who was promoted to replace McCarthy.[43]

Following relegation, Norwegian Ståle Solbakken became the club's first overseas manager[44] but his tenure lasted only six months before a poor run of results saw him replaced by Dean Saunders in January 2013.[45][46] Saunders failed to bring any upturn, culminating in both the club's relegation to EFL League One, a level the club had not played at since 1989, and Saunders's own dismissal.[47][48] Following this, Kenny Jackett was appointed in May 2013 in the retitled position of head coach,[49] and led the team back to the EFL Championship in his first season, setting a new club record points total of 103 which is also an all-time record for the most points accumulated by any team during a Tier 3 season.

### Fosun era: Return to the Premier League and continental football (2016–present)

[edit]

Manager Nuno Espírito Santo led Wolves back to the Premier League in 2018, and into European competition for the first time in 39 years

On 21 July 2016, Chinese investment group Fosun International bought the club's parent company, W.W. (1990) Ltd, from Steve Morgan and his own company Bridgemere Group for a reported £45 million, with Jez Moxey stepping down from his role as a CEO and replaced by managing director Laurie Dalrymple.[50][51] The new owners dismissed Kenny Jackett[52] and brought in former Italian international Walter Zenga as head coach.[53] Zenga was axed after just 14 league games and Paul Lambert appointed as his successor in November. At the end of the season, Lambert too was dismissed,[54] with former FC Porto boss Nuno Espírito Santo replacing him.[55] Under Nuno, Wolves won the 2017–18 EFL Championship title and returned to the Premier League after a six-year absence.

Wolverhampton Wanderers finished 7th on their return to the Premier League, their highest position in the top division since finishing 6th in 1979–80,[56] earning a spot in the qualification rounds of the UEFA Europa League, thus invoking their first continental campaign since 1980–81. They lost to that season's eventual winners Sevilla 0–1 in a modified single-leg quarter-final played in a neutral venue in Germany due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.[57] Wolves replicated their previous season's 7th-place finish in the Premier League in 2019–20 but with two more points and only missed out on a return to continental competition, both on goal difference and Arsenal winning that season's FA Cup.

In the 2020–21 season, Wolves lost striker Raúl Jiménez to a season-ending injury (a fractured skull) in November,[58] and subsequently struggled for goals for the remainder of the campaign, finishing 13th. Espírito Santo left "by mutual consent",[59] and was replaced by former Benfica head coach Bruno Lage.[60] In 2021–22, the club finished 10th. Wolves dismissed Lage on 2 October 2022 after eight games of the 2022–23 season with only one win and just three goals scored.[61][62] Former Real Madrid, Spain and Sevilla manager Julen Lopetegui replaced him.[63] Despite being in 20th place in the league before his first Premier League game, Lopetegui guided Wolves to a 13th-place finish.[64] He left prior to the 2023–24 season due to a dispute over limited transfer funds, and was replaced by former Bournemouth coach Gary O'Neil.[65] O'Neil was sacked in December 2024 with the club in 19th position and was replaced by Portuguese manager Vítor Pereira on a contract lasting until June 2026.[66]

## Colours and badge

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. kits.

Original colours.

The club's traditional colours of gold and black allude to the city council's motto "out of darkness cometh light" with the two colours representing light and darkness respectively.[67] Although the team's original colours upon formation were red and white, adopted from the school colours of St Lukes, for much of their history their home colours have been their distinctive old gold shirts with black shorts.[68]

In the early decades of the club a variety of shirt designs using these colours were created, including stripes and diagonal halves, until the continual usage of a plain shirt design since the 1930s.[69] Before the 1960s a darker shade of gold was used,[70] known as "old gold", which is still often cited in the media as the club's colour.[71][72]

City coat of arms.

Like most English teams, their earliest shirts usually only featured a badge on special occasions such as cup finals.[69] The first such badge to be worn on Wolves shirts was the coat of arms of the County Borough of Wolverhampton.[69] In the late 1960s, Wolves introduced their own club badge that appeared on their shirts consisting of a single leaping wolf, which later became three leaping wolves in the mid-1970s. Since 1979 the badge has consisted of a single "wolf head" design; the current badge was last redesigned in 2002.[69][73]

In May 2019, the club won a legal challenge by Peter Davies, a 71 year old retired building industry manager, who claimed he drew the wolf head motif as a schoolboy in the 1960s and entered it in an art competition. Mr Davies said he came up with the angular design after a teacher asked him to demonstrate an understanding of Blaise Pascal's Hexagrammum Mysticum Theorem, and entered it in an art competition advertised in the Express and Star newspaper. Mr Davies had made a copyright claim and wanted compensation. Mr Davies lost his copyright infringement claim and now faces legal fees and costs estimated to be about £450,000.[74]

Wolves' traditional away colours have been all-white, but recent decades have seen a variety of colours used, including black, blue, teal, purple and maroon.[69]

### Kit manufacturers and sponsors

[edit]

Period  | Kit manufacturer[75] | Shirt sponsor (centre)[75] | Shirt sponsor (sleeve)[75]

|
|
|

1974–1982  | Umbro | No sponsor | No sponsor
1982–1985 | Tatung
1985–1986 | No sponsor
1986 | Benjamin Perry
1986–1988 | Spall | Staw
1988–1990 | Scoreline | Manders Paint & Ink
1990 | Goodyear
1990–1992 | Bukta
1992–1994 | Molineux
1994–1996 | Nutmeg
1996–2000 | Puma
2000–2002 | Wolves Leisure
2002–2004 | Admiral | Doritos
2004–2009 | Le Coq Sportif | Chaucer Consulting
2009–2010 | Sportingbet
2010–2013 | Burrda
2013–2015 | Puma | WhatHouse?
2015–2016 | Silverbug
2016–2018 | The Money Shop
2018–2019 | Adidas | W88 | CoinDeal
2019–2020 | ManBetX
2020–2021 | Aeroset
2021–2022 | Castore | Bitci.com
2022–2023 | AstroPay | 12BET
2023–2024 | 6686 Sports
2024– | Sudu[76] | DEBET[77] | JD Sports[78]

## Stadium

[edit]

### Former grounds

[edit]

When first founded the club used a field on Goldthorn Hill in the Blakenhall area as its home, which could accommodate some 2,000 spectators.[6] In 1879 they relocated to John Harper's Field on Lower Villiers Street where they remained for two years before a short move to Dudley Road, with the new ground situated opposite the Fighting Cocks Inn.[6] It was here that they played their first FA Cup tie in 1883 and their first Football League fixture in September 1888. Although the site could only hold 2,500 spectators at first it was eventually developed to be capable of 10,000.[6]

### Molineux

[edit]

Molineux

Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, 2018

Capacity| 31,750[2]
Construction
Renovated| 1924–34; 1978–79; 1991–93
Expanded| 2011–12
Architect| Alan Cotterell
(Billy Wright & Sir Jack Hayward stands)[79]
AFL (Stan Cullis stand)
Atherden & Rutter (Steve Bull stand)[80]
Main contractors| Alfred McAlpine (3 stands)
Buckingham Group (Stan Cullis stand)
Tenants
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. (1889–present)

Main article: Molineux Stadium

See also: Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground

In the summer of 1889 the club moved to its permanent home ever since, Molineux, in the Whitmore Reans area of the city. The stadium name originates from the Molineux House built in the area by Benjamin Molineux, a local merchant, in the 18th century and whose grounds were later developed to include numerous public leisure facilities. When the Northampton Brewery Company purchased these grounds in 1889, they rented their use to the city's football club, who were seeking to find a home more befitting a Football League member.[6] After renovating the site, the first ever official game was staged on 7 September 1889 before a crowd of 4,000.[6] The ground was capable of hosting 20,000 spectators, although English football crowds rarely reached that number in the 19th century.[6]

Wolves bought the freehold in 1923 and soon began a series of ground improvements under the auspices of Archibald Leitch,[81] beginning with the construction of a major grandstand on the Waterloo Road side.[82] In 1932, the club also built a new stand on the Molineux Street side and followed this by adding a roof to the South Bank two years later; this South Bank was historically the second largest of all Kop ends in the country and regularly held crowds in excess of 30,000.[83] The stadium finally now had four complete stands that would form its basis for the next half-century.

In the days before seating regulations, the ground could hold more than 60,000 spectators, with the record attendance being 61,315 for a First Division match against Liverpool on 11 February 1939.[6] The 1940s and 1950s saw average attendances for seasons regularly exceed 40,000, coinciding with the club's peak on the field.[6] During this time Molineux became one of the first British grounds to install floodlights, enabling it to host a series of midweek friendlies against teams from around the globe.[82] In the days prior to the formation of the European Cup and international club competitions, these games were highly prestigious and gained huge crowds and interest with the BBC often televising such events.[18][84]

When the Molineux Street Stand failed to meet new safety legislation, the club began building a new replacement stand behind the existing one on land where housing had been demolished. This new all-seater stand – named the John Ireland Stand after the then-club president – was completed in 1979 and was the first stage of a plan to rebuild the entire stadium.[82] The cost of the Ireland Stand escalated to over £2 million and plunged the club into a financial crisis. As a result, it was forced to enter receivership in 1982.[82] By the time the team dropped into the Fourth Division in 1986, only the John Ireland Stand and the South Bank terrace remained in use. New safety laws were implemented following the Bradford City stadium fire and these forced the closure of both the now-dilapidated North Bank and Waterloo Road Stand. The club did not have the funds necessary to rebuild them.[82]

Following the takeover of the club by Sir Jack Hayward in 1990, £8.5 million of funding was made available to redevelop Molineux comprehensively.[6] Between August 1991 and December 1993 three sides of the stadium were completely rebuilt to form a 28,525 capacity all-seater stadium that complied with the Taylor Report: the Waterloo Road Stand was replaced by the Billy Wright Stand, the North Bank terrace by the Stan Cullis Stand, and the South Bank terrace by the Sir Jack Hayward Stand (named the Jack Harris Stand until 2015).[6] Aside from the addition of a temporary seating area in the southwest corner used during Wolves' seasons in the Premier League;[85] this redevelopment formed the stadium for almost twenty years.

In 2010, plans were unveiled for an extensive redevelopment programme to enlarge the capacity and develop the facilities.[86] The first stage of this saw a new two-tier Stan Cullis Stand become fully operational for the 2012–13 season, raising the current official capacity to 31,700.[87] The proposed second stage concerned the rebuilding of the oldest stand at the stadium (built in 1979 as the John Ireland Stand and renamed the Steve Bull Stand in 2003) to increase capacity to around 36,000, but this and any further work was shelved when it became likely that the club would be relegated from the Premier League in 2012.[88]

Ground redevelopments were once again placed on the agenda following the club's acquisition by Fosun in 2016. In contrast to previously mooted plans,[89] it was publicly revealed in February 2019 that future plans consisting of the demolition and full rebuild of the Steve Bull Stand, followed by the redevelopment of the Sir Jack Hayward Stand, to raise the stadium capacity to 45–46,000, were under active consideration.[90] However, in 2020 the club announced more modest plans for making gradual improvements to the stadium as the club seeks to retain its unique character, and enable prioritisation of investment in the playing side of the club.[91]

## Players

[edit]

### First-team squad

[edit]

As of 6 August 2025[92]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

1  | GK |  POR | José Sá
2  | DF |  IRL | Matt Doherty
3  | DF |  ESP | Hugo Bueno
4  | DF |  URU | Santiago Bueno
5  | MF |  ZIM | Marshall Munetsi
6  | DF |  NOR | David Møller Wolfe
7  | MF |  BRA | André
8  | MF |  BRA | João Gomes
9  | FW |  NOR | Jørgen Strand Larsen
10  | FW |  COL | Jhon Arias
11  | FW |  KOR | Hwang Hee-chan
12  | DF |  CIV | Emmanuel Agbadou
15  | DF |  COL | Yerson Mosquera
18  | FW |  AUT | Saša Kalajdžić
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

20  | FW |  POR | Fábio Silva
21  | FW |  POR | Rodrigo Gomes
23  | FW |  ZIM | Tawanda Chirewa
24  | DF |  POR | Toti Gomes
25  | GK |  ENG | Dan Bentley
26  | DF |  NED | Ki-Jana Hoever
27  | MF |  FRA | Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde
28  | MF |  ESP | Fer López
30  | FW |  PAR | Enso González
31  | GK |  ENG | Sam Johnstone
36  | FW |  ENG | Mateus Mané
37  | DF |  BRA | Pedro Lima
40  | GK |  WAL | Tom King
63  | FW |  IRL | Nathan Fraser

### Out on loan

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

34  | DF |  BFA | Nasser Djiga (at Rangers until 30 June 2026)[93]
-- | MF |  MLI | Boubacar Traoré (at Metz until 30 June 2026)[94]
-- | MF |  ENG | Tommy Doyle (at Birmingham City until 30 June 2026)[95]
-- | DF |  NED | Nigel Lonwijk (at Luton Town until 30 June 2026)[96]

### Development squad and Academy

[edit]

Main article: Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Development Squad and Academy

Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-23s are competing in Division 2 of the Premier League 2 during the current season, following relegation from the highest level after the previous season was curtailed and decided on a point-per-game basis.[97] The team qualifies as an entrant in Premier League 2 by virtue of Wolves's academy holding Category 1 status.[98] Although the league is designed for players aged 23 and below, three overage players may also feature.[98] Home games are primarily staged at Kidderminster Harriers' Aggborough home.[99]

### Wolves Women

[edit]

Main article: Wolverhampton Wanderers W.F.C.

Originally founded in 1975, Wolves Women became the club's official women's team in 2008.[100] They currently play at the third level of English women's football in the FA Women's National League North.[101] Their home games are played at the New Bucks Head Ground in Telford.[102]

## Player of the Year

[edit]

| Year  | Winner

|

1977 |  Steve Daley
1978 |  Bob Hazell
1979 |  George Berry
1980 |  Willie Carr
1981 |  Paul Bradshaw
1982 |  Paul Bradshaw
1983 |  John Burridge
1984 |  Alan Dodd
1985 |  Tim Flowers
1986 |  Floyd Streete
1987 |  Steve Stoutt
1988 |  Steve Bull
1989 |  Andy Mutch
|  | Year  | Winner

|

1990 |  Mark Venus
1991 |  Mike Stowell
1992 |  Tom Bennett
1993 |  Paul Cook
1994 |  Andy Thompson
1995 |  Mark Rankine
1996 |  Steve Bull
1997 |  Steve Bull
1998 |  Keith Curle
1999 |  Kevin Muscat
2000 |  Ludovic Pollet
2001 |  Lee Naylor
2002 |  Alex Rae
|  | Year  | Winner

|

2003 |  Joleon Lescott
2004 |  Henri Camara
2005 |  Joleon Lescott
2006 |  Kenny Miller
2007 |  Matt Murray
2008 |  Wayne Hennessey
2009 |  Kevin Foley
2010 |  Jody Craddock
2011 |  Matt Jarvis
2012 |  Wayne Hennessey
2013 |  Bakary Sako
2014 |  Kevin McDonald
2015 |  Richard Stearman
|  | Year  | Winner

|

2016 |  Matt Doherty
2017 |  Hélder Costa
2018 |  Rúben Neves
2019 |  Raúl Jiménez
2020 |  Raúl Jiménez
2021 |  Pedro Neto
2022 |  José Sá
2023 |  Rúben Neves
2024 |  Mario Lemina
2025 |  João Gomes

Source: [1]

## Club officials

[edit]

Football staff[103]

* Manager:  Vítor Pereira
* Assistant manager:  Luís Miguel
* First-team coach:  André Monteiro,  Edgar Sá
* Head of goalkeeping:  Ricardo Silva
* Conditioning coach:  António Ascensão
* Under-23 head coach:  James Collins

Medical staff

* Club doctor:  Kai Win
* First-team physiotherapist:  Ollie Leaper
* First-team sports therapist:  Gregg Jones
* First-team therapist:  Rui Fuste
* Soft-tissue therapist:  Matt Butterfield

* Head of high performance:  Phil Hayward

Support Staff

* Head of Physical Performance:  Mark Piros-Read
* First Team Sports Scientist: Kieron Morrisey
* First Team Sports Scientist: Sam Cook
* First Team Goalkeeper Sports Scientist: Nathan Wolland
* First Team Data Scientist: Tom Male
* First Team Performance Analyst: Ed Ames
* First Team Performance Analyst: John Boston
* Head of Kit and Equipment: Sam Perrin
* Kit and Equipment Assistant: Barry Piper
* Kit and Equipment Assistant: Ian Found
* Kit and Equipment Monitor: Harry Warren

Club executives[104][105]

* Owner: Fosun International[nb 1]
* Executive Chairman: Jeff Shi
* Sporting Director: Matt Hobbs
* General Manager – Football Operations: Matt Wild
* General Manager – Marketing & Commercial Growth: Russell Jones
* WW (1990) Limited Directors: John Makowiec and Christy Gu
* Non-Executive Directors: John Bowater and John Gough
* Honorary Vice-presidents: Steve Bull, Robert Plant[106] and John Richards

## Former players and managers

[edit]

Statue of Billy Wright outside Molineux Stadium

### Notable players

[edit]

For details on all former players, see List of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players

The club has been represented by numerous high-profile players over the years, most notably Billy Wright, who captained England a record 90 times and was the first player to win a century of international caps,[107] as well as earning the Footballer of the Year Award (in 1952),[108] an accolade also won by Wolves half-back Bill Slater in 1960.[109] In total, 36 players have won full England caps during their time with Wolves, including the club's former captain Conor Coady[110] as well as the club's record goalscorer Steve Bull, who was the last of the club's England internationals to play in a major tournament.[111][112]

Andy Gray, Emlyn Hughes, Paul Ince and Denis Irwin are all previous League Championship medal winners who have also represented Wolves. Joleon Lescott went on to play for England 26 times scoring once. Robbie Keane went on to become Ireland's all-time leading goalscorer with 68 goals in 146 appearances.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers Hall of Fame has inducted the following former players:[113]

* Mike Bailey
* Peter Broadbent
* Steve Bull
* Stan Cullis
* Derek Dougan
* Malcolm Finlayson
* Ron Flowers
* Johnny Hancocks
* Billy Harrison
* Kenny Hibbitt
* Jackery Jones
* John McAlle
* Jimmy Mullen
* Andy Mutch
* Derek Parkin
* John Richards
* Bill Slater
* Roy Swinbourne
* Andy Thompson
* Dave Wagstaffe
* Bert Williams
* Billy Wright
* Diogo Jota

### Managerial history

[edit]

Statue of Stan Cullis outside Molineux.

Main article: List of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. managers

Wolves have had 32 different (permanently appointed) managers during the club's existence.[114] The first manager, George Worrall, was identified by the title of "club secretary", a post that continued until the appointment of a full-time manager in the modern sense was made in 1922.

The club's most successful manager is Stan Cullis, whose 16-year tenure brought all three of Wolves' league championships as well as two FA Cup triumphs.[115] Two other managers have been inducted into the Club Hall of Fame: Major Frank Buckley and Graham Turner.[116][117] Turner oversaw two successive divisional championship wins in the late-1980s, winning the Fourth Division title in 1987-88 and the Third Division title the following season. Bill McGarry and John Barnwell both won the League Cup for Wolves in the 1970s and 1980s.[114]

In the 21st century, Dave Jones, Mick McCarthy and Nuno Espírito Santo have led the club into the Premier League. Kenny Jackett took Wolves to a record EFL League One (Tier 3) points haul of 103 as they won this division in 2013–14.

Ståle Solbakken became Wolves’ first foreign manager under Steve Morgan’s ownership, followed later by Walter Zenga, two Portuguese managers Nuno Espírito Santo and Bruno Lage, and Julen Lopetegui who is Spanish, under current owners Fosun.

Wolves have also been managed by two former England national team managers in Graham Taylor and Glenn Hoddle.[114]

## Support

[edit]

As well as having numerous supporters' clubs across the United Kingdom,[118][119][120][121][122][123][124] Wolverhampton Wanderers also have an international support base, with supporters' clubs in Australia,[125] United States,[126] Sweden,[127] Spain, Germany,[128] Republic of Ireland,[129] Malta,[130] Iceland and Norway[131] amongst others. They have a particularly sizeable Scandinavian fanbase, due to the area's television coverage of Midlands football in the 1970s when the club were a regular top-flight team; the first English match shown live in both Sweden and Norway involved Wolves (Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 Sunderland in the Football League First Division on Saturday, 29 November 1969).[132][133]

### Rivalries

[edit]

See also: Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. league record by opponent

Wolves' longest-established and strongest rivalry is with West Bromwich Albion, against whom the club contest the Black Country derby. The two clubs, separated by eleven miles, have faced each other 163 times;[134] their first competitive clash being an FA Cup tie in 1886.[134] A national survey by the football pools found the rivalry to be the strongest in English football.[135] Both clubs are founder members of the Football League and the two once contested the league title in 1953–54, with Wolves finishing as champions.[136]

Wolves also share rivalries with the two Birmingham clubs, Aston Villa and Birmingham City, against whom there have been numerous matches dating back to the 19th century.[137][138] Wolves' closest geographic rival is actually Walsall but, as they have rarely competed at the same level,[139] it is of less significance. As Wolverhampton historically sat within the boundaries of Staffordshire, a Staffordshire derby between Wolves and Stoke City is also recognised.

The 2018–19 Premier League season was the first and only time ever that Wolves were the sole representatives of the West Midlands in the top flight of English football. The 2020–21 Premier League season saw Wolves play against both Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion.[140] Since Albion's relegation at the end of that season, Aston Villa has been Wolves' only West Midlands rival in the Premier League.

### Fan culture

[edit]

During the club's peak in the 1950s, the home crowd's signature song was "The Happy Wanderer", which was a chart hit in the U.K. in 1954 when Wolves first won the league title.[141] In more recent times, "Hi Ho Silver Lining" – a 1967 rock song by Jeff Beck with its chorus modified to "Hi Ho Wolverhampton!" – has become a staple feature of home games.[142] "The Liquidator" instrumental by the Harry J. Allstars was also popularly used in the stadium until a request from the West Midlands Police to cease due to concerns that the obscene lyrics used by some fans during the chorus could incite trouble.[143][144]

The club attracted a number of hooligans in the 1960s. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, a hooligan firm named "The Subway Army" would often ambush fans in the subway adjacent to the ground. The group was gradually broken up and virtually ceased to exist due to a large number of arrests – many as part of the police's nationwide "Operation GROWTH" (or "Get Rid of Wolverhampton's Troublesome Hooligans") in the late 1980s.[145]

The club invites interaction with its supporters and has a Fans' Parliament, at which independently selected candidates meet with club officials discuss issues relating to the club.[146] An independent fanzine named "A Load of Bull" (ALOB), in part a reference to leading goalscorer Steve Bull, published supporters' views between 1989 and 2012.[147][148]

## Ownership and finances

[edit]

The club is owned by the Chinese conglomerate group Fosun International, which purchased the parent company of the club, W.W. (1990) Ltd., on 21 July 2016 for a reported £45 million from previous owner Steve Morgan and his company Bridgemere Group.[149][150] In the last published accounts of Wolves' group parent company (covering the 2018–19 Premier League season), a pre-tax profit of just under £20 million was recorded, with turnover for the year equalling £172.5m. £92.1 million was spent on staff wages and costs.[151][152]

Like most football clubs, significant commercial income is generated from shirt sponsorship deals.[153] Past shirt sponsorship deals were as follows: Tatung (1982–86), Benjamin Perry (1986), Staw Distribution (1986–88), Manders Paint & Ink (1988–90), Goodyear (1990–2002), Doritos (2002–04), Chaucer Consulting (2004–09), Sportingbet (2009–13), What House? (2013–15), Silverbug (2015–16), The Money Shop (2016–18), W88 (2018–19).[154] ManBetX (2019–2022) and AstroPay (2022-).[155]

Fosun bought Wolves from Steve Morgan, who had taken ownership in August 2007 for a nominal sum of £10 with the proviso that £30 million was injected into the club,[40] ending an almost four-year search for a new buyer.[156] Morgan oversaw nine full seasons, but placed the club on the market for new owners in September 2015.[157] Morgan had bought the club from Sir Jack Hayward, a lifelong fan of the club, who had himself purchased it in 1990 for £2.1 million.[37][158] During his tenure Sir Jack invested an estimated £50 million of his personal wealth to rebuild the club's stadium and fund new players, but the team only achieved one season in the top flight during his 17 years at the helm despite this increased spending power.[158][159]

Hayward's takeover greatly improved the club's financial health, after a turbulent 1980s in which the club twice was declared bankrupt.[30][35] In 1982 the club was "saved" from liquidation when it was purchased by two Saudi brothers, Mahmud and Mohammad Bhatti, as part of their company Allied Properties.[30] However, their failure to sufficiently invest in the club saw it face several winding-up orders as well as successive relegations through the football divisions.[32][33][34] In 1986 the official receiver was again called in and a deal eventually brokered for Wolverhampton City Council to purchase the club's stadium for £1.12 million, along with the surrounding land, while a local developer, Gallagher Estates, in conjunction with the Asda supermarket chain, agreed to pay off the club's outstanding debts in return for the building of an Asda superstore on land adjacent to the stadium.[6][35][82]

## Honours

[edit]

In the all-time table since the league's inception in 1888, Wolves sit fourth in terms of points gathered in all divisions (as of the conclusion of the 2018–19 season), with only Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal having accumulated more points in total.[160] Wolves were the first side to win all four divisions of the English professional game and have won every competition currently contested in English domestic football.[161]

League

* First Division (level 1)
* Champions: 1953–54, 1957–58, 1958–59
* Runners-up: 1937–38, 1938–39, 1949–50, 1954–55, 1959–60
* Second Division / First Division / Championship (level 2)
* Champions: 1931–32, 1976–77, 2008–09, 2017–18
* Runners-up: 1966–67, 1982–83
* Play-off winners: 2003
* Third Division North / Third Division / League One (level 3)
* Champions: 1923–24, 1988–89, 2013–14
* Fourth Division (level 4)
* Champions: 1987–88

Cup

* FA Cup
* Winners: 1892–93, 1907–08, 1948–49, 1959–60
* Runners-up: 1888–89, 1895–96, 1920–21, 1938–39
* Football League Cup
* Winners: 1973–74, 1979–80
* FA Charity Shield
* Winners: 1949*, 1954*, 1959, 1960* (* shared)
* Associate Members' Cup
* Winners: 1987–88
* Football League War Cup
* Winners: 1942
* UEFA Cup
* Runners-up: 1971–72
* Texaco Cup
* Winners: 1970–71

## Records and statistics

[edit]

Main article: List of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. records and statistics

See also: Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. in European football

### Individual records

[edit]

Derek Parkin holds the record for the most first-team appearances, with 609 (501 of which were league appearances).[6] Highest goalscorer was Steve Bull with 306 (including 250 league goals - including a record 52 in one season).[6] Billy Wright was Wolves' most capped international, winning 105 England caps while with the club.[6] Signed in August 2022 for £38 million, Matheus Nunes became Wolves' most expensive signing,[162] and became Wolves' record transfer when sold for £53 million to Manchester City in September 2023.[163]

### Team records

[edit]

* Record win: 14–0 vs Crosswell's Brewery, FA Cup 2nd round, 13 November 1886[164]
* Record defeat: 1–10 vs Newton Heath, Division 1, 15 October 1892[164]
* Most league goals scored in a season: 115 (Division 2; 1931–32)[164]
* Highest home attendance: 61,315 vs Liverpool, FA Cup 4th Round, 11 February 1939[6]

## League history

[edit]

See also: List of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. seasons

Wolverhampton Wanderers was a founder member of the Football League in 1888. The 2024–25 season is Wolves' 126th in the Football League system. Wolves have spent 119 of their 125 completed seasons to date within the top two tiers of English football. Wolves played in the third tier on four occasions, each occasion lasting just one season; three of these seasons ended with promotion back to the second tier as Champions, and one ended in relegation to the fourth tier. The club has played two seasons in England's fourth tier (in the 1980s).

* 1888–1906 Division 1
* 1906–1923 Division 2
* 1923–1924 Division 3 North
* 1924–1932 Division 2
* 1932–1965 Division 1
* 1965–1967 Division 2

* 1967–1976 Division 1
* 1976–1977 Division 2
* 1977–1982 Division 1
* 1982–1983 Division 2
* 1983–1984 Division 1
* 1984–1985 Division 2

* 1985–1986 Division 3
* 1986–1988 Division 4
* 1988–1989 Division 3
* 1989–2003 Division 2/Division 1 (Tier 2)
* 2003–2004 Premier League
* 2004–2009 Championship

* 2009–2012 Premier League
* 2012–2013 Championship
* 2013–2014 League One
* 2014–2018 Championship
* 2018–present Premier League

|
|
|

* Seasons spent at Tier 1 of the football league system: 70 (incl. 2024–25)
* Seasons spent at Tier 2 of the football league system: 50
* Seasons spent at Tier 3 of the football league system: 4
* Seasons spent at Tier 4 of the football league system: 2

* Longest continuous run of seasons spent in Tier 1: 26 (1932–1965; league football suspended 1939-46 due to World War II)
* Longest continuous run of seasons spent in Tier 2: 14 (1989–2003)
* Longest continuous run of seasons spent in Tier 3: 1 (1923–24; 1985–86; 1988–89; 2013–14)
* Longest continuous run of seasons spent in Tier 4: 2 (1986–1988)

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ The direct parent company of the club was W.W. (1990) Limited, which was acquired by Prestige Century Holdings Limited; Prestige Century was a subsidiary of Fosun Management Holdings Limited; Fosun Management Holdings was a subsidiary of Fosun International; Fosun International, a listed company of Hong Kong, is a subsidiary of Fosun International Holdings, which was majority owned by Guo Guangchang, Liang Xinjun and Wang Qunbin

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "History | The story of Wolverhampton Wanderers". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
2. ^ a b "Premier League Handbook 2022/23" (PDF). Premier League. p. 42. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
3. ^ "Jeff Shi". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
4. ^ "Vitor Pereira confirmed as new head coach". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
5. ^ a b Goldstein, Dan (editor). The Rough Guide to English Football (2000), page 582. Rough Guides Ltd.
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Matthews, Tony (2008). Wolverhampton Wanderers: The Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-632-3.
7. ^ "The Father of The Football League". The Football League. 27 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2 March 2013.
8. ^ "History of the Football League". The Football League. 22 September 2010. Archived from the original on 1 May 2011.
9. ^ "The Cup Final: Today's prospects at Wembley". The Times. London. 29 April 1939. p. 4.
10. ^ "FA Cup final upsets". ESPN. 14 May 2010. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
11. ^ "Seven Wembley upsets to give Stoke City hope as they start underdogs against Manchester City". The Daily Telegraph. 12 May 2011. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022.
12. ^ Matthews, Tony (1994). Wolves, The Complete Record, page 31. Breedon Books Publishing Company. ISBN 1859830005.
13. ^ "Monkey Glands – Major Frank Buckley took Wolves to 1930s prominence with dubious injections". www.theblizzard.co.uk. 1 December 2017. Archived from the original on 6 November 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
14. ^ "Billy wins his only League title in 1947". LFChistory.net. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
15. ^ Glanville, Brian (1 March 2001). "Stan Cullis". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
16. ^ "Season 1949–50". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
17. ^ a b "Wolves legend Cullis dies". BBC Sport. 28 February 2001. Archived from the original on 6 April 2003. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
18. ^ a b Shipley, John (2003). Wolves Against the World. Stroud: The History Press. ISBN 0-7524-2947-7.
19. ^ "When Wolverhampton Wanderers invented European football". Birmingham Mail. 13 December 2017. Archived from the original on 20 March 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
20. ^ "Inflation Calculator". Archived from the original on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
21. ^ a b "Hats off to Hanot". UEFA. 12 May 2006. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
22. ^ "Classic match report – Wolves 3 Real Madrid 2, 1957". Express and Star. 16 February 2016. Archived from the original on 19 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
23. ^ a b "Wolverhampton Wanderers FC - short history and facts". footballhistory.org. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
24. ^ "USA, 1967: Life in the Fast Lane". Wolves Heroes. 4 May 2009. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
25. ^ "England 1970/71". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
26. ^ "On this day: Wolves lose the first UEFA cup final". Express & Star. 17 May 2016. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
27. ^ "Classic Match Manchester City 1 Wolves 2 League Cup Final March 2 1974". Express & Star. 2 March 2015. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
28. ^ Pye, Steven (26 February 2015). "The League Cup finals of the 1980s: from Wolves to Forest, via Norwich and Oxford". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
29. ^ Matthews, Tony (1994). Wolves: The Complete Record. Breedon Books Publishing Company. p. 73\. ISBN 1-85983-000-5.
30. ^ a b c "Wolves are saved by last-minute deal". The Times. London. 31 July 1982. p. 17.
31. ^ "Wolves 'will have to pay own way'". The Times. London. 9 August 1982. p. 15.
32. ^ a b "Wolves: What's gone wrong at Molineux?". BBC Sport. 1 March 2013. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
33. ^ a b "Wolves in new crisis". The Times. London. 6 December 1982. p. 23.
34. ^ a b "Wolves try to suspend winding-up order". The Times. London. 30 July 1985. p. 25.
35. ^ a b c "Wolves in the clear". The Times. London. 6 August 1986. p. 32.
36. ^ "Steve Bull". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 16 January 2009. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
37. ^ a b "Hayward pledge to restore the greatness of Wolves". The Times. London. 11 May 1990. p. 43.
38. ^ "Hayward's dream come true". BBC Sport. 27 May 2003. Archived from the original on 19 April 2004. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
39. ^ ""Merlin" casts magical Molineux spell". BBC Sport. 8 March 2007. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
40. ^ a b "Businessman Morgan buys Wolves for £10". Reuters. 21 May 2007. Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
41. ^ "Wolves 1–0 QPR". BBC Sport. 18 April 2009. Archived from the original on 23 April 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
42. ^ "Wolves sack manager Mick McCarthy". BBC Sport. 13 February 2012. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
43. ^ "Connor appointed to end of season". BBC Sport. 24 February 2012. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
44. ^ "Wolves appoint Norwegian Stale Solbakken as new manager". BBC Sport. 11 May 2012. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
45. ^ "Wolves sack manager Stale Solbakken after FA Cup exit". BBC Sport. 5 January 2013. Archived from the original on 3 August 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
46. ^ "Dean Saunders: Wolves appoint Doncaster Rovers boss". BBC Sport. 7 January 2013. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
47. ^ "Dean Saunders sacked after relegation to League One". BBC Sport. 7 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 May 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
48. ^ "Wolves chairman Steve Morgan says club have failed their city". BBC Sport. 4 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 May 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
49. ^ "Kenny Jackett: Wolves name ex-Millwall boss as head coach". BBC Sport. 31 May 2013. Archived from the original on 15 August 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
50. ^ "Fosun Group takes over Wolves". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 21 July 2016. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
51. ^ "Wolves bought by Chinese conglomerate Fosun International for £45m". BBC Sport. 21 July 2016. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
52. ^ "Kenny Jackett: Wolves sack head coach after three seasons in charge". BBC Sport. 29 July 2016. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
53. ^ "Walter Zenga: Wolves name former Italy international as head coach". BBC Sport. 30 July 2016. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
54. ^ "Paul Lambert: Wolves boss leaves Molineux after seven months in charge". BBC Sport. 30 May 2017. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
55. ^ "Nuno Espirito Santo: Wolves appoint former Porto boss as head coach". BBC Sport. 31 May 2017. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
56. ^ Edwards, Joe (6 May 2019). "Confirmed: Wolves to finish seventh in the Premier League". Express & Star. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
57. ^ "Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–1 Sevilla". BBC Sport. 11 August 2020. Archived from the original on 8 September 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
58. ^ "Raul Jimenez: Wolves striker has surgery on fractured skull after David Luiz head clash". BBC Sport. 30 November 2020. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
59. ^ Wolves [@Wolves] (21 May 2021). "After four seasons at the club, this Sunday will be Nuno Espirito Santo's final game in charge of Wolves. Thank you, Nuno" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 May 2021 - via Twitter.
60. ^ "Wolves: Bruno Lage appointed as manager". BBC Sport. 9 June 2021. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
61. ^ "Wolves sack manager Lage following West Ham defeat". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
62. ^ "Wolves part company with Lage". 2 October 2022. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
63. ^ "Julen Lopetegui: Wolves appoint ex-Real Madrid and Sevilla manager". BBC Sport. 5 November 2022. Archived from the original on 24 December 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
64. ^ Stone, Simon (24 May 2023). "Julen Lopetegui: Wolves manager not asking for 'incredible signings' amid uncertain future". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
65. ^ "Gary O'Neil: Wolves name former Bournemouth boss as Julen Lopetegui successor". BBC Sport. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
66. ^ Mashiter, Nick (19 December 2024). "Struggling Wolves appoint ex-Porto boss Pereira". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
67. ^ "1984: Wolves' recurring nightmare". The Guardian. 25 May 2003. Archived from the original on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
68. ^ "Wolverhampton Wanderers". The Beautiful History. Archived from the original on 14 December 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
69. ^ a b c d e "Wolverhampton Wanderers – Historical Kits". Historicalkits.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 February 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
70. ^ The "old gold" colour was briefly revived during 2000–02.
71. ^ "Old gold turns to dross for Wolves". The Guardian. 19 April 2012. Archived from the original on 9 November 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
72. ^ "Old Gold Pennant". Daily Mirror. 12 October 2012. Archived from the original on 15 April 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
73. ^ "Wolves club badge design court battle begins". BBC News. 9 May 2019. Archived from the original on 16 June 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
74. ^ "Wolverhampton Wanderers badge copyright claim thrown out". BBC. 15 May 2019. Archived from the original on 24 October 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
75. ^ a b c "Historical Kits – Wolverhampton Wanderers". historicalkits.co.uk. Historic Football Kits. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
76. ^ "Wolves agree new kit deal with SUDU that puts club and fans first". Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
77. ^ "DEBET become principal partner in record deal" (Press release). Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
78. ^ "Wolves join JD in partnership" (Press release). Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
79. ^ "Tributes paid to architect behind vision for Wolves' Molineux". Express & Star. 12 June 2017. Archived from the original on 23 November 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
80. ^ "Stadium proposals". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 28 May 2010. Archived from the original on 31 May 2010.
81. ^ "Molineux - Archibald Leitch". molineuxstadiumthroughtheages.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
82. ^ a b c d e f 100 Years of Molineux 1889–1989: Special Souvenir Programme. Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 1989.
83. ^ "Launch of a golden vision at Molineux". Express & Star. 10 February 2011. Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
84. ^ "Football from top to bottom". The Independent. 6 November 2008. Archived from the original on 15 April 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
85. ^ "Ground capacity raised". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 11 June 2003. Archived from the original on 2 September 2012.
86. ^ "Wolves unveil Molineux redevelopment plans". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 28 May 2010. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012.
87. ^ "Stan Cullis Stand official opening". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 24 August 2012. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017.
88. ^ "Wolves to postpone Steve Bull Stand redevelopment". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 19 January 2012. Archived from the original on 22 January 2012.
89. ^ "Revealed: Wolves' plan for huge South Bank". Express & Star. 3 March 2018. Archived from the original on 20 March 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
90. ^ "Fans' Parliament minutes for February 2019". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 15 February 2019. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
91. ^ "Wolves plan to extend Molineux stands in stadium vision". Shropshire Star. 27 May 2020. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
92. ^ "Team". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Archived from the original on 28 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
93. ^ "Djiga joins Rangers on loan". Wolverhampton Wanderers. 9 July 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
94. ^ "Traore completes loan move". Wolverhampton Wanderers. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
95. ^ "Doyle heads to Birmingham on loan". Wolverhampton Wanderers. 2 July 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
96. ^ "Lonwijk signs new deal ahead of Luton loan". Wolverhampton Wanderers. 10 July 2025. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
97. ^ "Academy seasons decided by PPG". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 7 August 2020. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
98. ^ a b "Wolves in new Under-21 League". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 2 August 2012. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013.
99. ^ "Harriers and Wolves secure partnership". Kidderminster Harriers F.C. 22 June 2020. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
100. ^ "Wolves Women History". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
101. ^ "Wolverhampton Wanderers". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
102. ^ "Wolves Women fixtures revealed". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 26 August 2020. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
103. ^ "Football Staff". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. June 2017. Archived from the original on 15 April 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
104. ^ "Directors' profiles". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. June 2017. Archived from the original on 15 April 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
105. ^ "Fosun Group Takes Over Wolves". 21 July 2016. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
106. ^ Doyle, Tom (January 2010). "Artists of the century". Q. No. 282\. p. 88.
107. ^ "End of the Wright era". The Football Association. 28 May 2010. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
108. ^ "Billy Wright". England Football Online. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
109. ^ "Time to celebrate Bill Slater, a footballer with a unique British sporting history". Inside the Games. 23 April 2012. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
110. ^ "Coady stars on England debut". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 9 September 2020. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
111. ^ "England Players' Club Affiliations: Wolverhampton Wanderers". England Football Online. Archived from the original on 25 March 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
112. ^ "Wolves at the World Cup". wolves-stats.co.uk. Archived from the original on 28 May 2013.
113. ^ "Hall of Fame". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
114. ^ a b c "Wolves: Manager history". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
115. ^ "Stan Cullis". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 16 January 2009. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013.
116. ^ "Hall of Fame Inductee Announcement". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 26 October 2012. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013.
117. ^ "Graham Turner". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 14 January 2010. Archived from the original on 23 November 2015.
118. ^ "London Wolves". London Wolves. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
119. ^ "Sussex Wolves". Sussex Wolves. Archived from the original on 1 June 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
120. ^ "Yorkshire Wolves". Yorkshire Wolves. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
121. ^ "Telford Wolves". Telford Wolves. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
122. ^ "Cannock Wolves". Cannock Wolves. Archived from the original on 19 September 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
123. ^ "Daventry Wolves". Daventry Wolves. Archived from the original on 19 August 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
124. ^ "Punjabi Wolves". Punjabi Wolves. Archived from the original on 4 April 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
125. ^ "Melbourne Wolves". Melbourne Wolves. Archived from the original on 21 April 2008.
126. ^ "American Wolves". American Wolves. Archived from the original on 23 November 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
127. ^ "Swede Wolves". Swede Wolves. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
128. ^ "Berlin Wolves". Berlin Wolves. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009.
129. ^ "Irish Wolves". Irish Wolves. Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
130. ^ "Malta Wolves". Malta Wolves. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
131. ^ "Viking Wolves". Viking Wolves. Archived from the original on 25 September 2002. Retrieved 6 August 2009.
132. ^ "The English Occupation of Sweden; How We Came to Love Your Football". thefightingcock.co.uk. 11 December 2012. Archived from the original on 7 February 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
133. ^ "Hugh've Been Framed!". wolvesheroes.com. 29 November 2009. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
134. ^ a b "Head to head: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. West Bromwich Albion". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
135. ^ "Rivalries League" (PDF). The New Football Pools. February 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2013.
136. ^ "When the Black Country rivals Wolves and West Bromwich Albion ruled English football". Birmingham Mail. 9 February 2012. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
137. ^ "Head to head: Wolves v Aston Villa". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
138. ^ "Head to head: Wolves v Birmingham City". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
139. ^ "Head to head: Wolves v Walsall". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
140. ^ "Rivalries renewed as long-awaited derbies return". Premier League. 21 August 2020. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
141. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 12: 19–25 March 1954". The Official UK Charts Company. 30 April 2019. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
142. ^ "The Football Ground Guide: Molineux". The Football Ground Guide. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013.
143. ^ "Can we play you every week?". BBC Sport. 28 November 2001. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2007.
144. ^ "Wolverhampton Council (Licensing and Environmental Protection Panel) Meeting" (PDF). Wolverhampton Council. 21 May 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2008.
145. ^ Gary Armstrong and Dick Hobbs (1994). "Tackled from behind". In Richard Giulianotti, Norman Bonney and Mike Hepworth (ed.). Football, Violence and Social Identity. London: Routledge. pp. 196–228\. ISBN 0-415-09838-6.
146. ^ "Fans' Parliament". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
147. ^ "Fanzine Focus – A Load of Bull 1989–2012". Junk Archive blog. 30 March 2012. Archived from the original on 20 April 2012.
148. ^ "A Load of Bull: End of an era". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 30 March 2012. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012.
149. ^ "Fosun Group takes over Wolves". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 21 July 2016. Archived from the original on 22 September 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
150. ^ "Wolves bought by Chinese conglomerate Fosun International for £45m". BBC Sport. 21 July 2016. Archived from the original on 11 May 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
151. ^ Report and Financial Statements. W.W.(1990) Limited. 31 May 2019.
152. ^ "Headline financial information for 2018/19". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 18 February 2020. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
153. ^ Historicalkits.co.uk
154. ^ "Wolves announce W88 as shirt sponsor". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 13 June 2018. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
155. ^ "AstroPay announces new Premier League partnership with Wolverhampton Wanderers".
156. ^ "Hayward to quit Wolves". BBC Sport. 26 September 2003. Archived from the original on 12 July 2004. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
157. ^ "Club statement: Steve Morgan". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 28 September 2015. Archived from the original on 30 September 2015.
158. ^ a b "Rich List Profiles: Sir Jack Hayward". Birmingham Post. 23 January 2011. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
159. ^ "Hayward frees Wolves". The Guardian. 21 May 2007. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
160. ^ "England – Professional Football All-Time Tables". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
161. ^ "Wolves: The only team to have won it all". The Guardian. 9 August 2001. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
162. ^ "Matheus Nunes: Wolves sign Portugal midfielder for club record £38m fee". BBC Sport. 18 August 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
163. ^ "Manchester City sign Matheus Nunes from Wolves for £53m". BBC Sport. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
164. ^ a b c "Wolverhampton Wanderers : Records". Statto.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C..

* Official website

### Independent websites

[edit]

* Wolverhampton Wanderers – News on Molineux News
*   * Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. on BBC Sport: Club news – Recent results and fixtures
* Wolverhampton Wanderers at Sky Sports
* Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Premier League
* Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at UEFA

* v
* t
* e

Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club

Topics|

* History
* Records
* Seasons
* Managers
* Europe
* All articles

Players|

* First team
* Notable players

Grounds|

* Dudley Road (1881–1889)
* Molineux (1889–present)

Rivalries|

* League record by opponent
* Black Country derby

Other teams|

* Development Squad and Academy
* Wolverhampton Wanderers W.F.C.
* Los Angeles Wolves

* v
* t
* e

The Football League original clubs, 1888–89

* Accrington
* Aston Villa
* Blackburn Rovers
* Bolton Wanderers
* Burnley
* Derby County
* Everton
* Notts County
* Preston North End
* Stoke
* West Bromwich Albion
* Wolverhampton Wanderers

* v
* t
* e

Premier League

Seasons|

* 1992–93
* 1993–94
* 1994–95
* 1995–96
* 1996–97
* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 1999–2000
* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25
* 2025–26
* 2026–27

Clubs|

| 2025–26|

* Arsenal
* Aston Villa
* Bournemouth
* Brentford
* Brighton & Hove Albion
* Burnley
* Chelsea
* Crystal Palace
* Everton
* Fulham
* Leeds United
* Liverpool
* Manchester City
* Manchester United
* Newcastle United
* Nottingham Forest
* Sunderland
* Tottenham Hotspur
* West Ham United
* Wolverhampton Wanderers

|

Former|

* Barnsley
* Birmingham City
* Blackburn Rovers
* Blackpool
* Bolton Wanderers
* Bradford City
* Cardiff City
* Charlton Athletic
* Coventry City
* Derby County
* Huddersfield Town
* Hull City
* Ipswich Town
* Leicester City
* Luton Town
* Middlesbrough
* Norwich City
* Oldham Athletic
* Portsmouth
* Queens Park Rangers
* Reading
* Sheffield United
* Sheffield Wednesday
* Southampton
* Stoke City
* Swansea City
* Swindon Town
* Watford
* West Bromwich Albion
* Wigan Athletic
* Wimbledon (defunct)

Competition|

* Teams
* winners
* performance record
* Big Six
* Players
* foreign
* foreign scorers
* winners
* Managers
* current
* Stadiums
* Founding
* Broadcasters
* overseas
* in the U.S.
* Productions
* Referees

Statistics
and awards|

* Records
* All-time table
* Hat-tricks
* Highest scores
* Golden Boot
* Golden Glove
* Manager of the Season
* Player of the Season
* Young Player of the Season
* Playmaker of the Season
* Goal of the Season
* Save of the Season
* Game Changer of the Season
* Most Powerful Goal
* Manager of the Month
* Player of the Month
* Goal of the Month
* Save of the Month
* Players with 100+ goals
* Players with 500+ appearances
* Top scorers by season
* Goalkeepers with 100+ clean sheets
* Goalkeepers who have scored a goal
* 10 Seasons Awards
* 20 Seasons Awards
* Hall of Fame

Finances|

* Richest clubs:
* Deloitte list
* Forbes list
* Team owners
* Transfer records
* Game 39
* Premier League–Football League gulf
* Parachute and solidarity payments

Associated
competitions|

* Fantasy Premier League
* Asia Trophy
* FA Community Shield
* FA Cup
* EFL Cup
* UEFA Champions League
* UEFA Europa League
* UEFA Conference League
* Premier League 2
* Premier League Cup
* Premier Reserve League (defunct)
* U18 Premier League
* Premier League International Cup
* Summer Series

Related media|

* Fever Pitch: The Rise of the Premier League

* Category

* v
* t
* e

EFL Championship

Seasons|

* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25
* 2025–26

Clubs|

| 2025–26 clubs|

* Birmingham City
* Blackburn Rovers
* Bristol City
* Charlton Athletic
* Coventry City
* Derby County
* Hull City
* Ipswich Town
* Leicester City
* Middlesbrough
* Millwall
* Norwich City
* Oxford United
* Portsmouth
* Preston North End
* Queens Park Rangers
* Sheffield United
* Sheffield Wednesday
* Southampton
* Stoke City
* Swansea City
* Watford
* West Bromwich Albion
* Wrexham

|

Former clubs|

* Aston Villa
* Barnsley
* Blackpool
* Bolton Wanderers
* Bournemouth
* Brentford
* Brighton & Hove Albion
* Burnley
* Burton Albion
* Cardiff City
* Colchester United
* Crewe Alexandra
* Crystal Palace
* Doncaster Rovers
* Fulham
* Gillingham
* Huddersfield Town
* Leeds United
* Luton Town
* Milton Keynes Dons
* Newcastle United
* Nottingham Forest
* Peterborough United
* Plymouth Argyle
* Reading
* Rotherham United
* Scunthorpe United
* Southend United
* Sunderland
* West Ham United
* Wigan Athletic
* Wolverhampton Wanderers
* Wycombe Wanderers
* Yeovil Town

Competition|

* Seasons
* Teams (winners)
* Players (foreign)
* Managers (current)
* Stadiums
* Referees

Statistics and awards|

* Records
* EFL Awards
* Golden Boot
* Golden Glove
* Manager of the Month
* Player of the Month
* Hat-tricks
* Young Player of the Month

Finances|

* Club owners
* Premier League–Football League gulf
* Parachute and solidarity payments

Sponsors|

* Coca-Cola (2004–10)
* Npower (2010–13)
* Sky Bet (2013–present)

Associated competitions|

Current
Play-offs
FA Cup
EFL Cup
Past
Anglo-Franco-Scottish Friendship Cup
Anglo-Italian Cup
Full Members' Cup

Prospects|

* Promotion to Premier League
* Relegation to EFL League One

* v
* t
* e

EFL League One

Seasons|

* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25
* 2025–26

Clubs|

| 2025–26 clubs|

* AFC Wimbledon
* Barnsley
* Blackpool
* Bolton Wanderers
* Bradford City
* Burton Albion
* Cardiff City
* Doncaster Rovers
* Exeter City
* Huddersfield Town
* Leyton Orient
* Lincoln City
* Luton Town
* Mansfield Town
* Northampton Town
* Peterborough United
* Plymouth Argyle
* Port Vale
* Reading
* Rotherham United
* Stevenage
* Stockport County
* Wigan Athletic
* Wycombe Wanderers

|

Former clubs|

* Accrington Stanley
* AFC Bournemouth
* Birmingham City
* Blackburn Rovers
* Brentford
* Brighton & Hove Albion
* Bristol City
* Bristol Rovers
* Bury
* Cambridge United
* Carlisle United
* Charlton Athletic
* Cheltenham Town
* Chesterfield
* Colchester United
* Coventry City
* Crawley Town
* Crewe Alexandra
* Dagenham & Redbridge
* Derby County
* Fleetwood Town
* Forest Green Rovers
* Gillingham
* Hartlepool United
* Hereford United (defunct)
* Hull City
* Ipswich Town
* Leeds United
* Leicester City
* Millwall
* Milton Keynes Dons
* Morecambe
* Norwich City
* Nottingham Forest
* Notts County
* Oldham Athletic
* Oxford United
* Portsmouth
* Preston North End
* Rochdale
* Scunthorpe United
* Sheffield United
* Sheffield Wednesday
* Shrewsbury Town
* Southampton
* Southend United
* Sunderland
* Swansea City
* Swindon Town
* Torquay United
* Tranmere Rovers
* Walsall
* Wolverhampton Wanderers
* Wrexham
* Yeovil Town

Competition|

* Seasons
* Teams (winners)
* Managers
* current
* Stadia
* Referees

Statistics and awards|

* Records
* EFL Awards
* Golden Boot
* Golden Glove
* Manager of the Month
* Player of the Month
* Hat-tricks
* Young Player of the Month

Finances|

* Club owners
* Premier League–Football League gulf
* Parachute and solidarity payments

Sponsors|

* Coca-Cola (2004–10)
* Npower (2010–13)
* Sky Bet (2013–)

Associated competitions|

* FA Cup
* EFL Cup
* EFL Trophy
* Play-offs

Prospects|

* Promotion to EFL Championship
* Relegation to EFL League Two

* v
* t
* e

Men's football in the West Midlands

Clubs
(List of)|

| Premier League &
Football League
(tiers 1–4)|

| 1|

* Aston Villa
* Wolverhampton Wanderers

|

* Coventry City
* West Bromwich Albion
* Birmingham City

* none

* Walsall

Non-League
(tiers 5–12)|

| 5|

* Solihull Moors

|

* Rushall Olympic
* Halesowen Town
* Stourbridge

* Boldmere St. Michaels
* Coventry Sphinx
* Lye Town
* Sporting Khalsa
* Sutton Coldfield Town
* Walsall Wood

* AFC Wulfrunians
* Coventry United
* Dudley Town
* Highgate United
* Romulus
* Tividale
* Wolverhampton Casuals

10|

* Bilston Town
* Black Country Rangers
* Chelmsley Town
* Coventry Copsewood
* Cradley Town
* Paget Rangers
* Smethwick
* Wednesfield
* Wolverhampton Sporting Community

11|

* Bustleholme
* Cadbury Athletic
* Coventry Alvis
* Dudley Sports
* Gornal Athletic
* Knowle
* Tipton Town
* Warstones Wanderers

12|

* Castle Vale Town
* Continental Star
* Northfield Town

Other|

* Massey Ferguson
* West Midlands Police
* Willenhall Town

Defunct/Former|

* Aston
* Aston Shakespeare
* Aston Unity
* Bartley Green
* Birmingham Football Club (Aston Lower Grounds)
* Birmingham Excelsior
* Birmingham St George's
* Blackwood
* Blakenall
* Bloxwich United (2006-2012)
* Bloxwich United (2001-2002)
* Calthorpe
* Castle Vale
* Causeway United
* Coventry Sporting
* Cradley Heath
* Darlaston Town
* Goodrich
* Moor Green
* Old Hill Wanderers
* Pelsall Villa
* Pilkington XXX
* Solihull Borough
* Warley County Borough
* Willenhall
* Wolverhampton United

Competitions|

* Midland Football League
* West Midlands (Regional) League
* Birmingham & District Football League
* Birmingham Senior Cup
* JW Hunt Cup

Venues|

* Coventry Building Society Arena
* Villa Park
* St Andrew's
* Butts Park Arena
* Damson Park
* War Memorial Athletic Ground
* Bescot Stadium
* The Hawthorns
* Molineux Stadium

Rivalries|

* Black Country derby
* Aston Villa F.C.–West Bromwich Albion F.C. rivalry
* Second City derby

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* United States

*[No.]: Number
*[Pos.]: Position
*[GK]: Goalkeeper
*[DF]: Defender
*[MF]: Midfielder
*[FW]: Forward
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template