Wolverhampton has hovered between the top three divisions of English football for a long time before now, their notable success came almost half a century ago, and before Nuno was appointed as the new manager to restore back their lost glory, they’ve been lagging behind in the league and even finished 15th on the log under Paul Lambert in the Championship.
Only a few Wolverhampton Wanderers fans would have been optimistic about the signing of Nuno Espirito Santo as the new manager of the Midlands club when he was unveiled in 2017, having seen two managers jettison in 10 months by the new Chinese owners Fosun before he was appointed.
Nuno Espirito Santo a former professional goalkeeper for the Portuguese national team and played for few other top clubs in Europe now turned one of the finest managers in England and perhaps in the world.
Nuno, without doubt, has broken that cliché about goalkeepers not been a good and successful manager after their playing career, but as for him, he has proved beyond doubt that goalkeepers could actually be one of finest manager, having honed his coaching skills at Rio Ave, Valencia and Porto with decent results to show for.
Wolverhampton Resurgence
The Midlands club resurgence, perhaps wouldn’t have been possible if not for the takeover by the Chinese billionaire firm Fosun International before the start of the 2016-17 season, and specifically, the appointment of the Portuguese gaffer Nuno Espirito Santo before the beginning of a new season, having performed woefully in the previous season under the tutelage of Paul Lambert.
According to Nuno when he was considering whether to work in the Championship, “Can I make my idea work in this league“? without mincing words, with the huge turnaround, the Midlands club is currently enjoying, the answer to Nuno’s question is an emphatic yes.
One thing that also played an important role in the renaissance of Wolverhampton was Nuno’s strong relationship with the ‘Super Agent’ Jorge Mendes, the revered soccer agent was Nuno’s client in his playing days, and their relationship has aided the club in attracting decent players in the transfer market like Ruben Neves from Porto, Raul Jimenez who came in on loan but later signed permanently for Wolves, Diogo Jota, Rui Patricio, and former Monaco midfielder Joao Moutinho.
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Nuno’s trajectory as a coach should be applauded. However, his success as a manager perhaps wouldn’t have been possible without the veteran coach Jesualdo Ferreira who he assisted at Panathinaikos and Malaga as a goalkeeping coach, before he finally took the managerial position of Rio Ave in Portugal.
Without a doubt, we could say what he learned a lot while with Jesualdo Ferreira, which has been evident in how his team adapts to his tactics and philosophy on the pitch.
Very few people would have expected Wolves to get promoted to the Premier League, having seen them performed the tastefully in the Championship under the guardian of Lambert when they finished 15th on the table.
Surprisingly the Midlands club defies the odd and punched above their weight by winning the Championship trophy with an emphatic 99 total point that season, which orchestrated their promotion to the Premier League under Nuno’s tutelage with some of their prudent transfer dealings.
Following their triumph in the Championship, the media were of the opinion that the Midlands club could be the dark horse in the Premier League, having seen how well they performed, and how the team often set up tactically.
The courage to dream and believe started creeping in for the Midlands club faithful once again, as they headed to the top flight with the hope that they perform exceptionally, surprisingly their first season under Nuno resulted with a 7th place finish in the league.
As it stands Wolverhampton have grown from been a dark horse team as they’re yet enjoying another great season under the bearded Portuguese manager since the league restart having gone on break due to the pandemic the Midlands side have won three matches, lost one against Arsenal as they push further for a European ticket.
The Midlands success right from the Championship down to the Premier League wouldn’t have been possible without Nuno’s diverse formations and specifically his players like Adama Traore who has been very brilliant for them this season, Diogo Jota, Raul Jimenez, Ruben Neves amongst others, their impressive performances this season once again has shown how the tenacity of the team is getting better with Nuno in charge.
As a football enthusiast, you would agree with that Wolverhampton are among the Premier League most difficult and hardworking team.
Having seen their trajectory in the league since they got promoted to the top flight with a good mix of direct football, coupled with good movement on the ball against smaller teams and the big boys in the league.
With Ruben Neves, Moutinho, and Dedoncker making the middle of the pack thick, Traore pace and power, the tireless wing backs of Doherty, Jonny, and the top-notch performance of Rui Patricio in between the stick.
Almost three years now and still counting since the bearded gaffer took over at the Molineux stadium, he has delivered a Championship title, a seventh-place finish in his first reign in the league, an FA Cup semi-finals and a European football for the first time since 1980, all of these is testament to the remarkable progress the Midlands side are enjoying under a new owner, hard-working and a progressive manager in Nuno Espirito Santo.
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With the look of things and the hard-driven language of the new owner and perhaps Nuno, if he doesn’t join a bigger team in the future, it seems Wolverhampton’s journey of success is only just beginning because they don’t seem like a team that wants to relinquish it’s good form in the league and perhaps in Europe.
The big question now is, would Nuno be able to get close to what Stan Cullis achieved, the legendary multiple leagues and cups winning manager of the West Midlands side?
Only time would tell though, as the fans are currently enjoying his reign without the fear of going back to struggling old days of the Championship, were they usually parade between 15th and 18th position before Nuno Espirito Santo was employed to lead the team back to the pinnacle of success.
As far as the marriage between Wolverhampton and Nuno Espirito Santo is a concern, it won’t be out of place to conclude that the West Midlands are one of the best-managed team in England, and perhaps in the whole of Europe under Nuno, with the way he has fine-tune the team into a free-flowing football side with the knack to fight till the end against the finest team in England and Europe.
One thing that is synonymous with football managers is that they tend to move from one club to the other, once they’re enjoying a brilliant time in their work, various teams would come calling for their services, without a doubt.
Nuno is currently enjoying a wonderful time in his career, having said that, how long would this fruitful marriage between Wolverhampton and Nuno last? As he’s yet to lunch an assault on another commendable position in the league this season, perhaps next season or more only time would tell.
