The History and Legacy of Wolverhampton Wanderers

Formed in 1877 as St Luke’s FC, the Wolverhampton Wanderers name came two years later and has been the name of the team that represents the city of Wolverhampton ever since.

Known also as simply Wolves, the West Midlands club spent their early years at Dudley Road before Molineux Stadium became home in 1889 and remains so today.

Let’s look at their history, finest moments and greatest players, as well as famous managers and trophies.

Wolves Throughout The Years

In 1888, Wolves became one of the founding members of the Football League, finishing in third place during the inaugural season as well as runners-up in the FA Cup final to Preston. Wolves were the beneficiaries of the first-ever own goal to be scored in the Football League, against Aston Villa, and their first FA Cup triumph came in 1893 after beating Everton 1-0.

Ups, Downs and FA Cup Success

Though the club suffered relegation from the top division, their second FA Cup success arrived in 1908, with the then-Second Division club overcoming Newcastle United 3-1.

‘The Old Gold’ did not return to the top flight until 1932, even briefly spending time in the Third Division (North) after a further relegation, though promotion via winning the league came just a year later.

By the time of the Second World War, Wolves were one of the best teams in the country and had twice finished league runners-up, in 1938 and 1939, something which would happen again when post-war football resumed in 1946. That season saw Stan Cullis play his final game for the club as he swapped the pitch for the dugout, taking over as manager and embarking on what remains the club's most successful period.

The Stan Cullis Era

Cullis presided over Wolves’ first top-flight league championship, before leading them to back-to-back titles a few years later.

The club became a global name, enjoying not just domestic success but also playing in famous, high-profile ‘floodlit friendlies’ against teams from around the world, coinciding with, in 1953, Wolves becoming one of the first clubs to install floodlights. These games were amongst the first to be televised by the BBC.

Cullis’ pioneering ‘kick-and-rush’ style of football underpinned this success, combining defensive solidity with a fast, disciplined attacking attitude.

The following year saw the Midlanders declared ‘Champions of the World’ after beating a star-studded Honved side. These games led to the creation of continental competition and the European Cup was founded in 1956.

Wolves would feature in it for the first time three years later and, domestically, came agonisingly close to a hat-trick of league titles when finishing second in 1960 despite amassing 100 points for the third season in a row. That same year brought their fourth – and most recent – FA Cup win.

70s Success and European Football

The good times under Cullis began to decline at the beginning of the 1960s, culminating in his dismissal in 1964.

Relegation followed, though it was brief with a Second Division runners-up spot in 1966/67 securing a return to the First Division. Success returned to Molineux in the 70s, with Wolves qualifying for the UEFA Cup before winning the League Cup in 1974 and again in 1980.

That League Cup success was to prove the final high point for some time, with the 80s a tumultuous decade for the men in Old Gold.

Tumultuous 80s

Three successive relegations saw Wolves find themselves in the Fourth Division, and financial problems threatened the very existence of the football club. Stability was found with the appointment of Graham Turner in 1986, and the arrival of Steve Bull from West Bromwich Albion would spark new life into the Midlands club. 1987/88 would see Wolves clinch the Fourth Division title, as well as the Sherpa Vans Trophy at Wembley to bring home some much-needed silverware after years of hurt. Further success followed in 1988 with a second successive league title seeing them climb back into Division Two.

Modern Era: Hayward Takes Over

The 1990s saw Wolves taken over by local businessman Jack Hawyard and Molineux underwent extensive redevelopment.

A lot of the decade was spent trying to reach the newly created Premier League for the first time but a series of disappointing league finishes and play-off heartbreak meant it wasn’t until the 2002/03 season that the team finally achieved that long-awaited promotion.

A play-off final win over Sheffield United clinched a spot in the top division for the first time in 19 years, though the spell was brief as immediate relegation followed.

Promotion and Relegation

Hayward was replaced as owner by Steve Morgan in 2007 and a return to the Premier League was achieved in 2009 as Mick McCarthy led Wolves to a first league title in 20 years. Three seasons of Premier League football gave way to consecutive relegations as the club fell into League One for the first time since the 1980s. A Kenny Jackett-led revival saw immediate promotion and consolidation in the Championship before ownership changed once more as Fosun International began their tenure with big intentions.

New Beginnings and Premier League Consolidation

A Premier League return was secured in the second season of Fosun International ownership, with the club managed by Nunu Espirito Santo at this stage.

Wolves’ first season back in the top flight yielded a return to European football, with a quarter-final showing in the Europa League an impressive reintroduction.

Another seventh-placed finish followed the following year before 13th, 10th, 13th and 14th-place finishes thave seen Wolves reestablish themselves as top-flight mainstays.

Legendary Players and Managers

Players

Steve Bull

Arguably the greatest player to wear the famous gold, Bull is synonymous with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Signed from local rivals West Bromwich Albion in 1986, Bull turned out to be the best £65,000 the Old Gold ever spent making 561 appearances and scoring a club record 306 goals.

During his time at Molineux, Bull also won 13 caps for England, scoring four times. When making his debut in 1989, Bull was technically a Third Division player and was just the fifth post-war player from outside the top two divisions to represent England. He remains to this day the last player to do so.

Bull never did play in the First Division for Wolves, with his one and only top-flight appearance coming for West Brom, but he did win the Third and Fourth Division Titles at Molineux, along with the 1987/88 Associate Members’ Cup at Wembley.

His record number of goals for Wolves also included an incredible 18 hat-tricks – the first against Hartlepool in 1987 and the last coming 11 years later in a 5-0 win over Barnet.

Ruben Neves

Joining from FC Porto in 2017 for a then-club-record fee of £15.8 million, Neves was instrumental in the club’s promotion and subsequent consolidation in the Premier League.

The central midfielder scored 30 goals in 253 appearances for the club in all competitions and was named Wanderers’ player of the season for 2022/23. Captaining the club on many occasions, the Portuguese international departed at the end of that campaign but remains a favourite for his time at Molineux.

Joleon Lescott

A product of the Wolves Academy, Lescott made his debut for his local club at the age of just 17.

A talented and pacy central defender, he won the supporters' young player of the year in the same season. He became a mainstay in the Wolves defence over the following two seasons, helping the club to the Premier League via the play-offs in the process.

Though injury prevented him from playing a part in the top-flight campaign, he returned the following season and was named in the 2005/06 PFA Championship team of the year. Lescott made 235 appearances in all competitions for Wolves, before being sold to Premier League Everton and ultimately winning the full set of English major medals at Manchester City.

Managers

Stan Cullis

Cullis is, quite simply, a Wolverhampton Wanderers legend. Having already played for the club between 1934 and 1947, he took over as manager a year later and transformed the team into one of the greatest in England. His tenure brought tremendous success and silverware including three league titles, an FA Cup triumph and a Charity Shield victory.

His FA Cup win as Wolves manager in 1949 saw Cullis become the youngest-ever manager to lift the trophy, aged just 32 and in his first season in charge. He went on to win the FA Cup again in 1960 but, before then, brought Wolves three league titles. His successes in 1953/54, 1957/58 and 1958/59 were surrounded by five second-placed finishes.

As well as domestic success, Cullis guided Wolves to victory in a series of prestigious European floodlit friendlies, including against the famous Honved team of Hungary in 1954. When his managerial reign ended in 1964, Cullis had served the club for 30 years as a player and manager.

Nuno Espirito Santo

Former Porto boss Espirito Santo arrived with Wolves in midtable mediocrity in the Football League Championship.

Leading the club to the Premier League in his first season, the Portuguese manager took Wolves to two consecutive seventh-place finishes in the years that followed, qualifying for the Europa League in the process.

A narrow quarter-final exit at the hands of Sevilla saw the end of European football at Molineux, and Espirito Santo was to leave his post at the end of the 2020/21 season. During his time at the club, he won Premier League manager of the month three times and played a huge role in re-establishing Wolves in the top flight of English football.

Graham Turner

With the club at its lowest ebb, Turner was the manager who would turn their fortunes around.

Languishing in the Fourth Division and with severe financial difficulties, Turner led Wolves to the title at the second time of asking before following this up with a second successive promotion the following year.

Turner established the side in the Second Division and notably got the best out of legendary striker Steve Bull alongside Andy Mutch while also leading the club to Wembley success in the 1987/88 Football League Trophy.

Achievements

Wolves are the only club to have won all of the domestic trophies currently contested in English football. Their complete list of honours is as follows:

Football League Division One (3) – 1953/54, 1957/58, 1958/59
Football League Division Two/Championship (4) – 1931/32, 1976/77, 2008/09, 2017/18
Football League Division Three/League One (4) – 1923/24, 1988/89, 2013/14
Football League Division Four – 1987/88
FA Cup (4) – 1892/93, 1907/08, 1948/49, 1959/60
League Cup (2) – 1972/74, 1979/80
Community Shield (4) – 1949, 1954, 1959, 1960
Associate Members’ Cup (1) – 1987/88
Texaco Cup (1) – 1970

Biggest Transfers

Wolves have completed some huge transfer deals throughout their history, both in terms of financial size but also the importance and impact they have had on the club. Here are a selection of their most important signings.

Steve Bull (West Brom, £65,000)

This one doesn’t need an introduction. Following relegation to the Fourth Division, Wolves signed Bull to help propel them back up the Football League and he didn’t disappoint. The club’s record goalscorer won two titles at the club, as well as the Football League Trophy. His 13 England caps indicate his talent, despite never playing in the top flight for the Old Gold.

Matheus Cunha (Ateltico Madrid, £44,000,000)

The club’s record signing, Cunha initially arrived on loan before Wolves paid a reported £44 million for his services in 2023. Twelve goals in his first full season represent an excellent return for the Brazil international and included a historic hat-trick away against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Big things are expected for Cunha in the seasons to come, as Wolves aim to progress up the table and make a return to European football.

Joao Moutinho (Monaco, £5,000,000)

A signing that signalled a statement of intent. An ever-present in the league in Wolves’ return to the top flight, Moutinho was voted the club’s player of the season as Wanderers finished seventh and qualified for the Europa League. The central midfielder’s importance cannot be understated, as Wolves consolidated their place in the Premier League and, as such, the Molineux faithful have nothing but fond memories of Moutinho’s 212-appearance stay.

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