Sixth Manager in Four Years
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Wolves have officially appointed Rob Edwards as their new permanent manager, succeeding the recently dismissed Vitor Pereira. The Welshman has signed a long-term contract to lead the team at Molineux after an agreement was reached with Middlesbrough. He is now the club’s sixth permanent manager in the last four years, following in the footsteps of Nuno Espirito Santo, Bruno Lage, Julen Lopetegui, Gary O’Neil, and Pereira. “We need to refresh the entire club with a new coach’s philosophy, incorporating his own identity and ideas, on which we can build,” said Wolves executive chairman Jeff Shi. “This marks a new chapter for the club, and Rob will be a crucial part of that journey.”
Edwards, who oversaw Luton Town’s relegation from the Premier League in the 2023/24 season, now faces the challenge of preventing the same fate for Wolves. The team is currently at the bottom of the table with just two points from their first ten matches and is still seeking its first victory. Interim manager James Collins was in charge for the recent 3-0 loss to Chelsea, while Edwards observed closely as he prepares to take over the squad.
Edwards’ exit from Middlesbrough came after the club reluctantly allowed him to speak with Wolves on Saturday. Although he signed a three-year contract in July, succeeding Michael Carrick, the official statement indicated that Middlesbrough was discontent with his decision to leave only five months into his tenure.
The statement read: “Middlesbrough Football Club has granted head coach Rob Edwards permission to talk to Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, subject to finalizing an agreement. We initially declined Wolves’ approach since Rob signed a three-year deal with us fewer than six months ago. After discussions with Rob, we were disappointed to learn he wished to consider their vacancy. We have now agreed terms with Wolves, pending relevant paperwork.”
During his time at Middlesbrough, Edwards managed 15 games and led the team to seven wins out of 14 in the Championship, with only two losses, resulting in an impressive average of 1.86 points per game. However, his Premier League record raises concerns; he only managed to win six out of 38 matches at that level, achieving just 0.68 points per game, which is significantly lower than Pereira’s average of 1.24 with Wolves. Interestingly, Middlesbrough didn’t show signs of struggle following his ‘standing down’ from duties.
Meanwhile, first-team coaches Adi Viveash and Harry Watling, along with academy manager Craig Liddle, stepped in for Middlesbrough’s game against Birmingham City, leading them to a 2-1 victory with goals from Dael Fry and Hayden Hackney. However, at Molineux, Wolves’ squad appears to lack the necessary Premier League experience and star power to escape their current predicament, and significant funds for strengthening in January may not be available. The only remaining question is whether Edwards can perform the necessary magic to keep Wolves in the top flight. His appointment suggests they might be bracing for life in the Championship, unless a remarkable turnaround occurs in their remaining 27 matches.
