Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wolverhampton Wanderers were promoted to the Premier League after winning the Championship in 2017/18. Wolves are the oldest club in the Premier League and it will be their first season in the top division since their relegation in 2011/12. 

• Stadium: Molineux (Stadium)  
• Stadium Capacity: 31,700
• Location: Wolverhampton (the Black Country)
• Founded: 1877
• Nickname: Wolves
• Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo
• Kit: Gold shirt and socks, black shorts

Wolverhampton Wanderers was formed in 1877 and was also one of twelve clubs that created the first-ever football league in 1888. Throughout its history, Wolves have played most of their football in the top two divisions of English football. Here are some of the highlights:

• First Division Champions: 1953/54, 1957/58, 1958/59 
• FA Cup Winners: 1893, 1908, 1949, 1960
• League Cup Winners: 1974, 1980
• UEFA Cup Runners-up: 1972
• Premier League best finish (15th): 2009/10

The Manager 

Nuno Espirito Santo has been the Wolves manager since May 2017. Before starting his managerial career, Espirito Santo had success as a goalkeeper. The Portuguese player played in Spain, Russia and Portugal and was part of the Portugal squad at the European Championships in 2008. As a manager, he found success in Spain (Valencia) and Portugal (Porto) before leading Wolves to the Premier League in May 2018.

Three to Watch

The Wolves manager is not the only Portuguese influence on the Wolves squad. Here are three players to watch out for in the Premier League this season:

Ruben Neves

Wolves paid Porto a club record fee for Neves in June 2017. He hasn’t let anyone down. He was named Wolves Player of the Season and scored the goal of the season in the Championship (v Derby County). The 21-year-old from Mozelos in Portugal is an exciting attacking midfielder who likes to take a shot from long-range.

Diogo Jota

Jota is another exciting attacking midfielder form Portugal. Again just 21 years-old, Jota had been on loan from Atletico Madrid but is now a permanent player at Wolves. He was the top scorer for Wolves last season with 17 goals.

Rui Patricio

Rui Patricio is another signing from Portugal but with lots more experience the 30-year-old goalkeeper made over 300 appearances for Sporting Lisbon and has over 70 caps for Portugal. He is Portugal’s first-choice goalkeeper and helped the team win the European Championships in 2016.

Last season

Wolves were promoted as Champions from the English Championship and return to the Premier League after six years. It was a very successful season for the Midlands club who finished 9 points clear of their closest challengers.

Prediction: 13th

Wolves will be looking to consolidate their position in their first season back in the Premier League after six years and will want to avoid a relegation battle. We think with the talent that they already have and new signings that they have made Wolves should achieve this objective.