Wolverhampton Wanderers are a Premier League football club based in the Black Country in the West Midlands in England. They were formed in 1877 and originally called St Luke’s; Molineux is their home and has been for their entire history. It currently holds over 31,000 fans. The club is known as The Wanderers or simply ‘Wolves’, with the animal making up the crest.
In teams of notable players and managers, the most famous is arguably Steve Bull, a famous former England striker. Glenn Hoddle managed the club early in the 21st century, while Paul Ince, the former England, Manchester United and Inter midfielder, starred for them in their first ever stint in the Premier League. Billy Wright, who captained England over 90 times, made 490 league appearances over 20 years between 1939 and 1959, is a legendary figure with a statue outside the ground. History suggests it will be easy enough for them to make this season their most successful since the creation of the top flight in 1992, because they have only ever survived in the league twice, though they’ll have bigger fish to fry these days. Wolves’ top scorer of all time is Bull, who scored 306 goals between 1986 and 1999. Derek Parkin, a defender, is their record appearance maker with 609 between 1968 and 1982.
Goalkeepers: Rui Patricio, John Ruddy
Defenders: Matt Doherty, Ryan Bennett, Cameron John, Willy Boly, Conor Coady, Phil Ofosu-Ayeh, Romain Saiss, Ruben Vinagre, Jesús Vallejo
Midfielders: Elliot Watt, Ruben Neves, Ryan Giles, Leandro Dendoncker, Diogo Jose Jota, Morgan Gibbs-White, Pedro Goncalves, Joao Moutinho
Forwards: Leo Bonatini, Adama Traore, Raul Jimenez, Patrick Cutrone
Wolves’ rise in the last few years has been simultaneously expected and unexpected. With the quality in their squad and a coach like Nuno Espírito Santo, success was always likely under their very rich and ambitious owners, but having just gained promotion from the Championship last season, how quickly things have fallen into place may not have been foreseen. Having finished seventh in their first campaign back in the top flight, they qualified for Europe, and though they haven’t added too much in the way of extra quality, only really making Raul Jimenez’s and Leandro Dendoncker’s loans permanent, they have also secured AC Milan striker Patrick Cutrone, there is an expectation that they’ll be able to handle the extra games, having already started their qualification process.
But it will undoubtedly pose a challenge for Nuno and his side. A top half finish is likely, but perhaps not as high as last season.
Top half finish @ 35/1 with Coral
Relegation @ 7/1
Nuno to leave by May 11/2