It’s a new era, the past is the past – Peixoto
Wolves head coach Cesar Peixoto has declared a "new era" at Molineux, urging his squad to move on from last season's relegation battle, which saw the club finish bottom of the Premier League with just three wins. The Portuguese coach, who replaced Rob Edwards last month, says confidence is returning after a 3-0 pre-season friendly win over La Liga side Racing Santander, and that players are adapting well to his attacking, organised style of play.
Peixoto, 46, is taking his first senior coaching role outside Portugal after leading Gil Vicente to sixth in the Primeira Liga last season. Wolves begin their campaign with an EFL Cup tie against Port Vale on Friday, followed by a Championship opener at home to Blackburn a week later. The club has re-signed striker Raul Jimenez and added full-back Kieran Trippier and winger Rafiki Said, with Peixoto expecting further transfer activity before the window shuts on 1 September, though he noted World Cup-related delays.
- Peixoto says Wolves are entering a "new era" after relegation struggles
- Squad beat Racing Santander 3-0 in final pre-season friendly
- More transfers expected before 1 September deadline
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Wolverhampton Wanderers, known as Wolves, play at Molineux and were relegated from the Premier League last season after finishing bottom with three wins. They will compete in the Championship, English football’s second tier, this season. Rob Edwards has been replaced as head coach by Portugal’s Cesar Peixoto, who is taking his first senior coaching job outside his home country.
Wolves are rebuilding their squad as they prepare for the new season. Their aim is to adapt to Peixoto’s approach and compete in the Championship, where clubs play for promotion back to the Premier League.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Wolves have made substantive changes that merit genuine optimism. A new coach with proven success in Portugal arrives with a fresh tactical vision, whilst strategic signings including Kieran Trippier and the return of Jimenez strengthen the squad meaningfully. The pre-season victory demonstrates players are adapting positively to the new system, suggesting real momentum and a credible foundation for improvement.
The case against
Whilst changes are necessary, the magnitude of last season's collapse—just three wins and Premier League relegation—suggests deeper systemic problems that cannot be quickly remedied. A handful of summer signings and one managerial change, however promising, may prove insufficient to rebuild from such a catastrophic low. Pre-season performances are notably unreliable indicators of competitive form, leaving legitimate questions about whether these measures adequately address the root causes.