View source for Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.

{{short description|Association football club in Wolverhampton, England}}
{{for|the women's team|Wolverhampton Wanderers W.F.C.}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Wolverhampton Wanderers
| current = 2025–26 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season
| image = Wolverhampton Wanderers FC crest.svg
| image_size = 215px
| fullname = Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club
| nickname = Wolves<br>The Old Gold<ref name="nickname">{{cite web|url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/club/history/history/|title=History {{!}} The story of Wolverhampton Wanderers|publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|access-date=21 December 2021|archive-date=21 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221093241/https://www.wolves.co.uk/club/history/history/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1877}}, as ''St. Luke's F.C.''
| ground = [[Molineux Stadium]]
| capacity = 32,050<ref name="cap2021">{{cite web|title=Premier League Handbook 2022/23 |url=https://resources.premierleague.com/premierleague/document/2022/07/19/40085fed-1e9e-4c33-9f14-0bcf57857da2/PL_Handbook_2022-23_DIGITAL_18.07.pdf |publisher=Premier League|access-date=11 April 2023|page=42}}</ref>
| owner = [[Fosun International]]
| manager = [[Rob Edwards (footballer, born 1982)|Rob Edwards]]
| mgrtitle = Head coach
| chrtitle = Chairman
| chairman = Nathan Shi (interim)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/club/20251219-appointment-of-interim-executive-chairman/|title=Appointment of interim executive chairman|publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|access-date=19 December 2025|date=19 December 2025}}</ref>
| league = {{English football updater|WolverhW}}
| season = {{English football updater|WolverhW2}}
| position = {{English football updater|WolverhW3}}
| website = {{URL|https://wolves.co.uk}}
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'''Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=en-uk-Wolverhampton.ogg|ˌ|w|ʊ|l|v|ər|ˈ|h|æ|m|p|t|ən}} {{respell|WUUL|vər|HAMP|tən}}), commonly referred to as '''Wolves''',<ref name="nickname" /> is a professional [[association football|football]] club based in [[Wolverhampton]], England. The club competes in the [[Premier League]], the top tier of [[English football league system|English football]]. The club has played at [[Molineux Stadium]] since moving from [[Dudley Road]] in 1889. The club's traditional kit consists of [[old gold]] shirts and socks with black shorts. Since 1979, the kit has also featured the club's "wolf's head" logo. Long-standing rivalries exist with other clubs from the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]], including [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]], [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]], and [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] but the main one being the [[Black Country derby]] contested with [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]]. Since 2016, the club has been owned by the Chinese conglomerate [[Fosun International]].

Formed as '''St. Luke's F.C.''' in 1877, the club changed name to Wolverhampton Wanderers two years later and became one of the founding members of the [[English Football League|Football League]] in [[1888–89 Football League|1888]]. They won the [[FA Cup]] for the first time in [[1893 FA Cup Final|1893]], and again as a [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] team in [[1908 FA Cup Final|1908]] following the club's relegation two years previously. They fell to the third tier in 1923, but went on to win the [[Football League Third Division North|Third Division North]] in 1923–24 and the Second Division in [[1931–32 Football League|1931–32]]. The team was crowned [[List of English football champions|English League champions]] three times – in [[1953–54 Football League|1953–54]], [[1957–58 Football League|1957–58]] and [[1958–59 Football League|1958–59]] – all under the management of [[Stan Cullis]]. Wolves also won another two FA Cup finals, in [[1949 FA Cup Final|1949]] and [[1960 FA Cup Final|1960]]. Relegated in 1965, after 26 consecutive seasons in the top flight, they secured promotion back to the First Division in [[1966–67 Football League|1966–67]]. Wolves won the [[EFL Cup|League Cup]] in [[1974 Football League Cup Final|1974]] and [[1980 Football League Cup Final|1980]], and again won the Second Division title in [[1976–77 Football League|1976–77]].

Wolves suffered a financial crisis during the [[Early 1980s recession|early-1980s recession]] that led to the club coming close to [[liquidation]] in 1982. In the five seasons between [[1981-82 Football League|1981–82]] and [[1985-86 Football League|1985–86]] Wolves were relegated four times (although there was also one promotion in [[1982–83 Football League|1982–83]]), meaning the club ended up in what was then the [[Football League Fourth Division]] (now [[EFL League Two]]) for the first (and so far only) time in the club's history. However, the club immediately started a swift turn-around, and having been beaten in the inaugural Football League play-off final in [[1987 Football League Fourth Division play-off Final|1987]], Wolves won the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] and [[EFL Trophy|Football League Trophy]] titles in [[1987–88 Football League|1987–88]], followed by the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] title in [[1988-89 Football League Third Division|1988–89]].

After fourteen seasons in the second tier between 1989 and 2003, Wolves reached the [[Premier League]], founded in 1992, for the first time with victory in the [[2003 Football League First Division play-off Final|2003 play-offs]], though they were relegated after a single season in the top division on this occasion. Wolves won the [[EFL Championship|Championship]] in 2008–09 to return to the Premier League, but endured relegation in [[2011-12 Premier League|2011–12]], followed by relegation again (to [[EFL League One]]) in [[2012-13 Football League Championship|2012–13]]. The club then returned to the Premier League after first winning the [[EFL League One|League One]] title in 2013–14, followed by another Championship title in 2017–18.

After becoming one of the first British clubs to install [[floodlight]]s at its home ground in 1953, Wolves arranged televised "floodlit friendlies" against leading overseas club sides between 1953 and 1956, which were instrumental in the launch of the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] (now known as the UEFA Champions League) in [[1955–56 European Cup|1955]]. Wolves reached the quarter-finals of the competition in [[1959–60 European Cup|1959–60]] as well as the semi-finals of the [[1960–61 European Cup Winners' Cup]] and the [[1972 UEFA Cup Final|inaugural UEFA Cup Final]] in 1972. Following a 39-year absence from UEFA competitions, they reached the [[2019–20 UEFA Europa League knockout phase#Matches 3|UEFA Europa League quarter-finals in 2020]].

==History==
{{Main|History of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.}}

{{for|a statistical breakdown by season|List of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. seasons}}

===Formation and the Football League (1879–1893)===
In the 2000 edition of ''The Rough Guide to English Football'', the history section on the Wolves page begins: "The very name Wolves thunders from the pages of English football history".<ref name="Rough">Goldstein, Dan (editor). The Rough Guide to English Football (2000), page 582. Rough Guides Ltd.</ref> As with several other clubs, [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] for example, Wolves had humble beginnings shaped by the twin influences of [[cricket]] and the [[Christian Church|church]]. The club was founded in 1877 as ''' St. Luke's F.C.''' by John Baynton and [[John Brodie (footballer born 1862)|John Brodie]], two pupils of St Luke's Church School in [[Blakenhall]], who had been presented with a football by their headmaster Harry Barcroft.<ref name="Matthews">{{cite book |author=Matthews, Tony |title=Wolverhampton Wanderers: The Complete Record |year=2008 |publisher=Breedon Books |location=Derby |isbn=978-1-85983-632-3}}</ref> The team played its first game on 13 January 1877 against a reserve side from [[Stafford Road F.C.|Stafford Road]], later merging with the football section of a local cricket club called Blakenhall Wanderers to form '''Wolverhampton Wanderers''' in August 1879.<ref name="Rough"/><ref name="Matthews"/> Having initially played on two strips of land in the town, they relocated to a more substantial venue on [[Dudley Road]] in 1881, before lifting their first trophy in 1884 when they won the Wrekin Cup, during a season in which they played their first [[FA Cup]] tie.<ref name="Matthews"/> Having become professional, the club were nominated to become one of the twelve founder members of the [[Football League]] in 1888,<ref>{{cite web |title=The Father of The Football League |publisher=[[The Football League]] |url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/footballleaguenews/20130227/the-father-of-the-football-league_2293334_3091039 |date=27 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302121558/http://www.football-league.co.uk/footballleaguenews/20130227/the-father-of-the-football-league_2293334_3091039 |archive-date=2 March 2013 }}</ref> in which they played in the first round of Football League fixtures ever staged, against [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] on 8 September 1888.<ref name="FL History">{{cite web |url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/History/HistoryDetail/0,,10794~1357277,00.html |title=History of the Football League |publisher=[[The Football League]] |date=22 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501121005/http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/History/HistoryDetail/0%2C%2C10794~1357277%2C00.html |archive-date=1 May 2011 }}</ref> They ended the inaugural season in third place, as well as reaching their [[1889 FA Cup Final|first FA Cup Final]], losing 0–3 to the first [[Double (association football)#England|"Double"]] winners, [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]. At the conclusion of the campaign the club relocated for a final time when they moved to [[Molineux Stadium|Molineux]], then a pleasure park known as the Molineux Grounds.<ref name="Matthews"/>

===FA Cup success and world war years (1893–1950)===
[[File:Wolverhampton wanderers 1893.jpg|thumb|Wolves' 1893 FA Cup-winning team]]

Wolves lifted the FA Cup for the first time in [[1893 FA Cup Final|1893]] when they beat [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] 1–0, and made a third [[1896 FA Cup Final|FA Cup Final appearance in 1896]]. The club added a second FA Cup Final triumph (a 3–1 win against [[Newcastle United]]) to their 1893 success in [[1908 FA Cup Final|1908]], two years after having dropped into the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] for the first time. After struggling during the years either side of the First World War to regain their place in the top division (a period that was punctuated by another [[1921 FA Cup Final|FA Cup Final appearance in 1921]]), the club suffered a [[1922–23 Football League#Second Division|further relegation in 1923]], entering the [[Football League Third Division North|Third Division (North)]], which they [[1923–24 Football League Third Division North|won at the first attempt]]. Eight years after returning to the Second Division, Wolves regained their top-flight status as [[1931-32 Football League Second Division|Second Division Champions]] under [[Frank Buckley (footballer)|Major Frank Buckley]] after twenty-six years away. With Buckley at the helm the team became established as one of the leading club sides in England in the years leading up to the Second World War, as they finished runners-up in the league twice in succession ([[1937–38 Football League#First Division|1937–38]] & [[1938–39 Football League#First Division|1938–39]]), as well as reaching the [[1939 FA Cup Final|last pre-war FA Cup Final]], in which they suffered a shock defeat to [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]].<ref>{{cite news |title=The Cup Final: Today's prospects at Wembley| newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=29 April 1939|page=4}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://espnfc.com/columns/story?id=786336&sec=englandopinion&root=englandopinion&cc=5739#|title=FA Cup final upsets|date=14 May 2010|publisher=[[ESPN]]|access-date=3 April 2013|archive-date=3 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103021630/http://espnfc.com/columns/story?id=786336&sec=englandopinion&root=englandopinion&cc=5739|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/stoke-city/8509939/FA-Cup-Final-2011-Seven-Wembley-upsets-to-give-Stoke-City-hope-as-they-start-underdogs-against-Manchester-City.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/stoke-city/8509939/FA-Cup-Final-2011-Seven-Wembley-upsets-to-give-Stoke-City-hope-as-they-start-underdogs-against-Manchester-City.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Seven Wembley upsets to give Stoke City hope as they start underdogs against Manchester City |date=12 May 2011|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In [[1937–38 Football League#First Division|1937–38]] Wolves came within a whisker of winning the club's first English league title: a win in the side's last game away to [[Sunderland F.C.|Sunderland]] would have clinched things, but in the event Wolves lost 0–1 and thus ended the campaign one point behind the eventual champions, [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]].<ref>Matthews, Tony (1994). ''Wolves, The Complete Record'', page 31. Breedon Books Publishing Company. {{ISBN|1859830005}}.</ref> One of the things Major Buckley and his Wolves side attracted a lot of attention for in the last two full seasons prior to the suspension of league football during the Second World War was Buckley's insistence that his players be injected with monkey gland extract to enhance their stamina and performance, a practice that the Football League disapproved of but did not prohibit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theblizzard.co.uk/article/monkey-glands|title=Monkey Glands&nbsp;– Major Frank Buckley took Wolves to 1930s prominence with dubious injections|date=1 December 2017|publisher=www.theblizzard.co.uk|access-date=6 December 2017|archive-date=6 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106200914/https://www.theblizzard.co.uk/article/monkey-glands|url-status=dead}}</ref>

When league football resumed after the Second World War, Wolves suffered yet another final day failure in the First Division. Just as in 1938, victory in their last match would have won the title but a 2–1 loss to title rivals [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] meant that Liverpool were crowned champions instead.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lfchistory.net/Articles/Article/2464|title=Billy wins his only League title in 1947|publisher=LFChistory.net|access-date=3 April 2013|archive-date=9 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009102804/http://www.lfchistory.net/Articles/Article/2464|url-status=live}}</ref> This game had been the last in a Wolves shirt for [[Stan Cullis]], and a year later he became manager of the club. In Cullis's first season in charge, he led Wolves to a first major honour in 41 years as they beat [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] to lift the [[1949 FA Cup Final|FA Cup]], and a year later, [[1949–50 Football League#First Division|only goal average prevented Wolves winning the league title]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/mar/01/guardianobituaries.football |title=Stan Cullis |first=Brian |last=Glanville |work=The Guardian |date=1 March 2001 |access-date=15 October 2020 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215125948/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/mar/01/guardianobituaries.football |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1949-50.html |title=Season 1949–50 |website=RSSSF |access-date=15 October 2020 |archive-date=27 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727201340/https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1949-50.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===The Stan Cullis era (1950–1960)===
The 1950s were by far the most successful period in the club's history.<ref name="Cullis">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/1193951.stm |title=Wolves legend Cullis dies |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 February 2001 |access-date=27 March 2013 |archive-date=6 April 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030406083829/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1193951.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Captained by [[Billy Wright (footballer born 1924)|Billy Wright]], Wolves finally claimed the league championship for the first time in [[1953–54 Football League#First Division|1953–54]], overhauling [[Black Country derby|local rivals]] [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]] late in the season. Two further titles were soon won in successive years ([[1957–58 Football League#First Division|1957–58]] and [[1958–59 Football League#First Division|1958–59]]), as Wolves vied with [[Manchester United]] to be acknowledged the premier team in English football at that juncture. Wolves were renowned both for the club's domestic success and for the staging of high-profile "floodlit friendlies" against other top club sides from around the world.<ref name="European">{{cite book |author=Shipley, John |title=Wolves Against the World |year=2003 |publisher=The History Press |location=Stroud |isbn=0-7524-2947-7}}</ref> Wolves had become one of the first club sides in Britain to invest in floodlighting in 1953 at a cost of £10,000<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wolves-61-years-ago-today-8280713 |title=When Wolverhampton Wanderers invented European football |work=[[Birmingham Mail]] |date=13 December 2017 |access-date=20 March 2018 |archive-date=20 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320105539/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wolves-61-years-ago-today-8280713 |url-status=live }}</ref> ({{inflation|UK|10000|1953|fmt=eq|cursign=£|r=-5}}). Perhaps [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. v Budapest Honvéd FC|the most famed of these friendlies]] saw Wolves defeat a [[Budapest Honvéd FC|Honvéd]] side including many members of the [[Hungary national football team|Hungarian national team]] that had recently humbled [[England national football team|England]] twice, leading the national media to proclaim Wolves "Champions of the World".<ref name="UEFA">{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=419682.html |title=Hats off to Hanot |date=12 May 2006 |publisher=[[UEFA]] |access-date=26 March 2013 |archive-date=12 April 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130412015611/http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=419682.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> This became the final spur for [[Gabriel Hanot]], the editor of ''[[L'Équipe]]'', to propose [[European Cup and UEFA Champions League history|the creation of the European Cup]] (later rebranded as the [[UEFA Champions League]]). Wolves were one of the first British clubs to participate.<ref name="UEFA"/> In the 1957–58 season, Wolves defeated [[Real Madrid]] 5–4 (3–2 in Wolverhampton and 2–2 in Madrid) in home and away friendlies.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://origin.expressandstar.mna.arcpublishing.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2016/02/16/classic-match-report-wolves-3-real-madrid-2-1957-2/ |title=Classic match report&nbsp;– Wolves 3 Real Madrid 2, 1957 |publisher=Express and Star |date=16 February 2016 |access-date=18 May 2018 |archive-date=19 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519032625/https://origin.expressandstar.mna.arcpublishing.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2016/02/16/classic-match-report-wolves-3-real-madrid-2-1957-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Cup success in the '60s and '70s (1960–1980)===
[[File:Wolverhampton Wanderers FC League Performance.svg|thumb|Chart of yearly performance of Wolves in the [[English football league system|English Football League system]].]]

The 1960s began with [[1960 FA Cup Final|a fourth FA Cup victory]] and Wolves almost achieved the [[Double (association football)|first League and FA Cup 'double' of the 20th century]] in English football. They were pipped to the league title by a point on the final day of the season by [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]]. Despite that bright start to the decade, the 1960s saw Wolves begin to decline. After finishing as [[1959-60 Football League#First Division|league runners-up in 1959–60]] and a creditable third-place league finish in [[Tottenham Hotspur]]'s [[1960-61 Football League#First Division|'double'-winning season]], the team faded and Cullis himself was dismissed after sixteen years in post in September 1964 after a disastrous start to the [[1964-65 Football League First Division|1964–65 season]].<ref name="Cullis"/> Cullis's dismissal did not prevent the season ending with relegation (the first time Wolves had known relegation since [[1922–23 Football League#Second Division|1922–23]]) and the club's first spell outside the top division since 1932. Exile from the top flight lasted only two seasons however, as Wolves were [[1966–67 Football League#Second Division|promoted in 1967]] as Second Division runners-up.<ref name="Positions">{{cite web |url=https://www.footballhistory.org/club/wolverhampton-wanderers.html |title=Wolverhampton Wanderers FC - short history and facts |website=footballhistory.org |access-date=18 October 2020 |archive-date=18 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018020405/https://www.footballhistory.org/club/wolverhampton-wanderers.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the close season in 1967, Wolves played a mini-season in North America as part of the fledgling [[United Soccer Association|United Soccer Association league]] which imported clubs from Europe and South America. Playing as the "[[Los Angeles Wolves]]", they won the Western Division and ultimately the championship by defeating the Eastern Division champions [[Washington Whips]] (import of [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]]) in a final decider.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wolvesheroes.com/2009/05/04/usa-1967/|title=USA, 1967: Life in the Fast Lane|date=4 May 2009|publisher=Wolves Heroes|access-date=3 April 2013|archive-date=24 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224101315/http://www.wolvesheroes.com/2009/05/04/usa-1967/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The club's return to the English top flight in 1967 heralded another period of relative success under [[Bill McGarry]], with [[1970–71 Football League#First Division|a fourth place league finish in 1971]] qualifying Wolves for the newly created [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1970-71.html |title=England 1970/71 |website=RSSSF |access-date=18 October 2020 |archive-date=27 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727201304/https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1970-71.html |url-status=live }}</ref> En route to [[1972 UEFA Cup Final|the UEFA Cup final]], they defeated [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] and [[Ferencvárosi TC|Ferencváros]] before losing to [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] 3–2 on aggregate; a 2–1 home defeat in the first leg proving decisive.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2016/05/17/on-this-day-wolves-lose-the-first-uefa-cup-final/ |title=On this day: Wolves lose the first UEFA cup final |website=Express & Star |date=17 May 2016 |access-date=18 October 2020 |archive-date=7 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107054922/https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2016/05/17/on-this-day-wolves-lose-the-first-uefa-cup-final/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Wolves lifted silverware two years later when they won the [[EFL Cup|League Cup]] for the first time by beating [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] 2–1 [[1974 Football League Cup Final|in the final]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/2015/03/02/classic-match-manchester-city-1-wolves-2-league-cup-final-march-2-1974-draft/ |title=Classic Match Manchester City 1 Wolves 2 League Cup Final March 2 1974 |website=Express & Star |date=2 March 2015 |access-date=18 October 2020 |archive-date=26 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226213144/https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/2015/03/02/classic-match-manchester-city-1-wolves-2-league-cup-final-march-2-1974-draft/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite [[1975–76 Football League#First Division|relegation again in 1976]], Wolves bounced back at the first attempt as [[1976–77 Football League#Second Division|Second Division champions]] under manager [[Sammy Chung]],<ref name="Positions" /> and then under manager [[John Barnwell]], the turn of the decade saw them [[1979–80 Football League First Division|finish in the top six in the league]] and win the [[1980 Football League Cup Final|1980 League Cup]], when then-record signing [[Andy Gray (footballer born 1955)|Andy Gray]] scored the only goal of the final to defeat the reigning European champions and League Cup holders [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/that-1980s-sports-blog/2015/feb/26/league-cup-finals-1980s-wolves-nottingham-forest-norwich-luton-oxford |title=The League Cup finals of the 1980s: from Wolves to Forest, via Norwich and Oxford |newspaper=The Guardian |first=Steven |last=Pye |date=26 February 2015 |access-date=18 October 2020 |archive-date=20 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020055822/https://www.theguardian.com/football/that-1980s-sports-blog/2015/feb/26/league-cup-finals-1980s-wolves-nottingham-forest-norwich-luton-oxford |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Financial crisis, decline and recovery (1980–1990)===
The multi-million pound rebuilding of the Molineux Street Stand in 1979 was the catalyst for the club's near-financial ruin during the next decade. Plunging match attendances in the early 1980s,<ref>{{cite book |title=Wolves: The Complete Record|first=Tony|last=Matthews |isbn=1-85983-000-5|year=1994|publisher=Breedon Books Publishing Company|page=73}}</ref> at least partly due to [[Early 1980s recession#United Kingdom|recession in both the national and local economies]], and consequent difficulties in repaying the loans taken out to fund the new John Ireland Stand, led the club to [[receivership]] and relegation in 1982. The club was saved from liquidation at the last minute when it was purchased by a consortium fronted by former player [[Derek Dougan]].<ref name="1982 deal">{{cite news |title=Wolves are saved by last-minute deal| newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=31 July 1982|page=17}}</ref> The takeover, financed by two Saudi brothers, Mahmud and Mohammad Bhatti of the company Allied Properties,<ref>{{cite news |title=Wolves 'will have to pay own way'| newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=9 August 1982|page=15}}</ref> brought immediate [[1982–83 Football League Second Division|promotion back to the First Division]] under manager [[Graham Hawkins]], but the Bhattis' failure to invest sufficiently in the club soon saw things unravel, and the team suffered three consecutive relegations through the football divisions under different managers,<ref name="Crisis3">{{cite news|title=Wolves: What's gone wrong at Molineux?|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21589401|publisher=BBC Sport|date=1 March 2013|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-date=17 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017153618/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21589401|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as the almost-constant threat of the club being wound-up.<ref name="Crisis1">{{cite news |title=Wolves in new crisis| newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=6 December 1982|page=23}}</ref><ref name="Crisis2">{{cite news |title=Wolves try to suspend winding-up order| newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=30 July 1985|page=25}}</ref>

In 1986, with the club again in receivership, a deal saw [[Wolverhampton City Council]] purchase the stadium and surrounding land, while a local developer paid off the club's outstanding debts in return for planning permission to develop the land adjacent to the stadium.<ref name="1986 deal">{{cite news |title=Wolves in the clear| newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=6 August 1986|page=32}}</ref> The 1986–87 season saw Wolves' first campaign in the Fourth Division where, with the guidance of new manager [[Graham Turner]], and goals from [[Steve Bull]], who ultimately scored a club record 306 goals,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/hof-steve-bull-2009-421293.aspx?pageView=full |title=Steve Bull |date=16 January 2009 |publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054807/http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/hof-steve-bull-2009-421293.aspx?pageView=full |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref> the team reached [[1987 Football League Fourth Division play-off Final|the final of the inaugural play-offs]] but were denied promotion by [[Aldershot F.C.|Aldershot]]. Building on that, in the next two seasons the team achieved both the [[1987–88 Football League Fourth Division|Fourth]] and [[1988–89 Football League#Third Division|Third Division]] championships, and won the [[1988 Football League Trophy Final]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]].

===The Hayward years (1990–2007)===
[[File:Wolves Football League Championship 2008–09 030509.jpg|left|thumb|Celebrating the Championship title in 2009]]

Lifelong fan [[Jack Hayward]] purchased the club in 1990 and immediately funded the extensive redevelopment of a by then dilapidated Molineux into a modern all-seater stadium.<ref name="1990 deal">{{cite news |title=Hayward pledge to restore the greatness of Wolves| newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=11 May 1990|page=43}}</ref> With work completed in 1993, Hayward redirected his investment onto the playing side in an attempt to win promotion to the newly formed [[Premier League]]. Despite substantial spending, neither [[Graham Taylor (footballer)|Graham Taylor]] nor [[Mark McGhee]] could fulfil this, both managers leading the team to play-off defeats at the semi-final stages in [[1995 Football League play-offs#First Division|1995]] and [[1997 Football League play-offs#First Division|1997]] respectively. It was not until 2003 that Wolves were promoted, when they defeated [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] 3–0 in [[2003 Football League First Division play-off Final|the play-off final]] under [[Dave Jones (footballer, born 1956)|Dave Jones]] to end a 19-year absence from the top level.<ref name="2003 promotion">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/2938952.stm |title=Hayward's dream come true |date=27 May 2003 |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=27 March 2013 |archive-date=19 April 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040419040844/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/2938952.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Their stay proved short-lived however as they were immediately relegated back to the newly retitled [[EFL Championship]].

===Promotion, relegations and turbulent times (2007–2016)===
After former England manager [[Glenn Hoddle]] failed to bring a swift return to the Premier League, the rebuilding of the squad by [[Mick McCarthy]] rejuvenated the club with an unexpected [[2007 Football League play-offs#Championship|play-off finish]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A20554229|title="Merlin" casts magical Molineux spell|date=8 March 2007|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=25 December 2019|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924205700/http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A20554229|url-status=live}}</ref> The club was bought from Sir Jack Hayward by [[Steve Morgan (businessman)|Steve Morgan]] in 2007<ref name="2007 deal">{{cite news|title=Businessman Morgan buys Wolves for £10|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-england-wolves-idUKL2164726120070521|publisher=[[Reuters]]|date=21 May 2007|access-date=4 January 2020|archive-date=4 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104021938/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-england-wolves-idUKL2164726120070521|url-status=dead}}</ref> and two years later the team returned to the Premier League as [[2008–09 Football League Championship]] title winners.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7990074.stm |title=Wolves 1–0 QPR |date=18 April 2009 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=3 April 2013 |archive-date=23 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423083058/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7990074.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Wolves successfully battled relegation for two seasons before McCarthy's dismissal in the 2011–12 season,<ref name="BBC 17012933">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17012933 |title=Wolves sack manager Mick McCarthy |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=13 February 2012 |access-date=13 February 2018 |archive-date=14 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214010344/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17012933 |url-status=live }}</ref> which precipitated relegation under his former assistant [[Terry Connor]], who was promoted to replace McCarthy.<ref name="Connor">{{cite news|title=Connor appointed to end of season|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17153404|publisher=BBC Sport|date=24 February 2012|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-date=13 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113023501/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17153404|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following relegation, Norwegian [[Ståle Solbakken]] became the club's first overseas manager<ref name="Solbakken">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/18030227 |title=Wolves appoint Norwegian Stale Solbakken as new manager |date=11 May 2012 |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=13 February 2018 |archive-date=13 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113023531/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18030227 |url-status=live }}</ref> but his tenure lasted only six months before a poor run of results saw him replaced by [[Dean Saunders]] in January 2013.<ref name="Solbakken sacked">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20870241 |title=Wolves sack manager Stale Solbakken after FA Cup exit |date=5 January 2013 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=13 February 2018 |archive-date=3 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803212146/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20870241 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Saunders">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20931554 |title=Dean Saunders: Wolves appoint Doncaster Rovers boss |date=7 January 2013 |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=13 February 2018 |archive-date=17 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017164716/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20931554 |url-status=live }}</ref> Saunders failed to bring any upturn, culminating in both the club's relegation to [[EFL League One]], a level the club had not played at since 1989, and Saunders's own dismissal.<ref name="Saunders sacked">{{cite news |title=Dean Saunders sacked after relegation to League One |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22432597 |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=7 May 2013 |access-date=13 February 2018 |archive-date=7 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507094437/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22432597 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Wolves chairman Steve Morgan says club have failed their city|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22415309|publisher=BBC Sport|date=4 May 2013|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-date=7 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507085343/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22415309|url-status=live}}</ref> Following this, [[Kenny Jackett]] was appointed in May 2013 in the retitled position of head coach,<ref name="Jackett">{{cite news|title=Kenny Jackett: Wolves name ex-Millwall boss as head coach|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22731377|publisher=BBC Sport|date=31 May 2013|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-date=15 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815065545/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22731377|url-status=live}}</ref> and led the team back to the EFL Championship in his first season, setting a new club record points total of 103 which at the time was also an all-time record for the most points accumulated by any team during a Tier 3 season, until the [[2024–25 EFL League One|2024-25 EFL League One season]] when local rivals [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] managed to achieve a points total of 111.

===Fosun era: Return to the Premier League and continental football (2016–present)===
[[File:Nuno_Espírito_Santo_(cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Manager [[Nuno Espírito Santo]] led Wolves back to the Premier League in 2018, and into European competition for the first time in 39 years]]

On 21 July 2016, Chinese investment group [[Fosun International]] bought the club's parent company, W.W. (1990) Ltd, from [[Steve Morgan (businessman)|Steve Morgan]] and his own company Bridgemere Group for a reported £45 million, with [[Jez Moxey]] stepping down from his role as a CEO and replaced by [[managing director]] Laurie Dalrymple.<ref name="Fosun Group Takes Over">{{cite news |title=Fosun Group takes over Wolves |url=http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/news-fosun-group-takes-over-wolves-3198807.aspx |publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C |date=21 July 2016 |access-date=21 July 2016 |archive-date=26 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826214231/http://www.portugal.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/news-fosun-group-takes-over-wolves-3198807.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=21 July 2016|title=Wolves bought by Chinese conglomerate Fosun International for £45m|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36852323|website=[[BBC Sport]]|access-date=23 April 2017|archive-date=7 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007203950/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36852323|url-status=live}}</ref> The new owners dismissed Kenny Jackett<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36929363|title=Kenny Jackett: Wolves sack head coach after three seasons in charge|publisher=BBC Sport|date=29 July 2016|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-date=25 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525041845/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36929363|url-status=live}}</ref> and brought in former Italian international [[Walter Zenga]] as head coach.<ref>{{cite news |title=Walter Zenga: Wolves name former Italy international as head coach |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36931955 |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=30 July 2016 |access-date=13 February 2018 |archive-date=5 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205125059/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36931955 |url-status=live }}</ref> Zenga was axed after just 14 league games and [[Paul Lambert]] appointed as his successor in November. At the end of the season, Lambert too was dismissed,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39896630 |title=Paul Lambert: Wolves boss leaves Molineux after seven months in charge |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 May 2017 |access-date=13 February 2018 |archive-date=11 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111232449/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39896630 |url-status=live }}</ref> with former [[FC Porto]] boss [[Nuno Espírito Santo]] replacing him.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40105588 |title=Nuno Espirito Santo: Wolves appoint former Porto boss as head coach |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=31 May 2017 |access-date=13 February 2018 |archive-date=24 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124104009/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40105588 |url-status=live }}</ref> Under Nuno, Wolves won the [[2017–18 EFL Championship|2017–18 EFL Championship title]] and returned to the Premier League after a six-year absence.

Wolverhampton Wanderers finished 7th on their [[2018–19 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season|return to the Premier League]], their highest position in the top division since finishing 6th in [[1979–80 Football League First Division|1979–80]],<ref>{{cite web|first=Joe|last=Edwards|date=6 May 2019|title=Confirmed: Wolves to finish seventh in the Premier League|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2019/05/06/confirmed-wolves-to-finish-seventh-in-the-premier-league/|website=[[Express & Star]]|access-date=1 December 2019|archive-date=24 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524001755/https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2019/05/06/confirmed-wolves-to-finish-seventh-in-the-premier-league/|url-status=live}}</ref> earning a spot in [[2019–20 UEFA Europa League qualifying phase and play-off round (Main Path)#Q2 32.1|the qualification rounds]] of the [[2019–20 UEFA Europa League|UEFA Europa League]], thus invoking their first continental campaign since [[1980–81 UEFA Cup#First round|1980–81]]. They lost to that season's eventual winners [[Sevilla FC|Sevilla]] 0–1 in a modified single-leg quarter-final played in a neutral venue in Germany due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Europe]].<ref>{{cite web|date=11 August 2020|title=Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–1 Sevilla|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53727188|website=[[BBC Sport]]|access-date=23 August 2020|archive-date=8 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908035902/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53727188|url-status=live}}</ref> Wolves replicated their previous season's 7th-place finish in the Premier League in [[2019–20 Premier League|2019–20]] but with two more points and only missed out on a return to continental competition, both on goal difference and [[2020 FA Cup Final|Arsenal winning that season's FA Cup]].

In the [[2020–21 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season|2020–21 season]], Wolves lost striker [[Raúl Jiménez]] to a season-ending injury (a fractured skull) in November,<ref>{{cite web|date=30 November 2020|title=Raul Jimenez: Wolves striker has surgery on fractured skull after David Luiz head clash|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55125293|website=BBC Sport|access-date=23 May 2021|archive-date=29 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629023212/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55125293|url-status=live}}</ref> and subsequently struggled for goals for the remainder of the campaign, finishing 13th. Espírito Santo left "by mutual consent",<ref>{{cite tweet|author=Wolves|date=21 May 2021|location=|number=1395723705653858304|title=After four seasons at the club, this Sunday will be Nuno Espirito Santo's final game in charge of Wolves. Thank you, Nuno.|user=Wolves|access-date=23 May 2021}}</ref> and was replaced by former [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]] head coach [[Bruno Lage]].<ref>{{cite web|date=9 June 2021|title=Wolves: Bruno Lage appointed as manager|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57328554|website=[[BBC Sport]]|access-date=10 June 2021|archive-date=24 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724172823/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57328554|url-status=live}}</ref> In [[2021–22 Premier League|2021–22]], the club finished 10th. Wolves dismissed Lage on 2 October 2022 after eight games of [[2022–23 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season|the 2022–23 season]] with only one win and just three goals scored.<ref name="BBC 63105801">{{cite news |title=Wolves sack manager Lage following West Ham defeat |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63105801 |access-date=2 October 2022 |archive-date=2 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002144823/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63105801 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=2 October 2022|title=Wolves part company with Lage|url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/club/20221002-wolves-part-company-with-lage/|access-date=9 October 2022|archive-date=9 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009033121/https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/club/20221002-wolves-part-company-with-lage/|url-status=live}}</ref> Former [[Real Madrid]], [[Spain men's national football team|Spain]] and Sevilla manager [[Julen Lopetegui]] replaced him.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63163755|title=Julen Lopetegui: Wolves appoint ex-Real Madrid and Sevilla manager|work=BBC Sport|date=5 November 2022|access-date=25 December 2022|archive-date=24 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224082351/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63163755|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite being in 20th place in the league before his first Premier League game, Lopetegui guided Wolves to a 13th-place finish.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65702571|title=Julen Lopetegui: Wolves manager not asking for 'incredible signings' amid uncertain future |work=BBC Sport|first=Simon|last=Stone|date=24 May 2023|access-date=29 May 2023}}</ref> He left prior to the [[2023–24 Premier League|2023–24 season]] due to a dispute over limited transfer funds, and was replaced by former Bournemouth coach [[Gary O'Neil]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Gary O'Neil: Wolves name former Bournemouth boss as Julen Lopetegui successor |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66447376 |access-date=9 August 2023 |work=BBC Sport |date=9 August 2023}}</ref> O'Neil was sacked in December 2024 with the club in 19th position and was replaced by Portuguese manager [[Vítor Pereira (footballer, born 1968)|Vítor Pereira]] on a contract lasting until June 2026.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cy8ykme9m33o|title=Struggling Wolves appoint ex-Porto boss Pereira|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Nick|last=Mashiter|date=19 December 2024|access-date=19 December 2024}}</ref> Pereira was sacked on 2 November 2025 after failing to win any of his first 10 games and the club sitting bottom of the league table. Rob Edwards was appointed coach on 12 November 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-12 |title=Wolves appoint Rob Edwards as manager after agreeing deal with Boro |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c79745l95x2o |access-date=2025-11-12 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Colours and badge==
{{Commons|Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. kits}}
{{Football kit box|align = right
| pattern_la = _red stripes
| pattern_b  = _red stripes
| pattern_ra = _red stripes
| pattern_sh = _white sides
| leftarm = FFFlFF
| body    = FFFFFF
| rightarm = FFFlFF
| shorts   = 000000
| socks = 000000
| title = Original colours.
}}

The club's traditional colours of gold and black allude to [[Wolverhampton City Council|the city council]]'s motto "'''out of darkness cometh light'''" with the two colours representing light and darkness respectively.<ref>{{cite news|title=1984: Wolves' recurring nightmare|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/may/25/sport.comment2|work=The Guardian|date=25 May 2003|access-date=13 December 2016|archive-date=1 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201175133/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/may/25/sport.comment2|url-status=live}}</ref> Although the team's original colours upon formation were red and white, adopted from the school colours of St Lukes, for much of their history their home colours have been their distinctive old gold shirts with black shorts.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wolverhampton Wanderers |url=http://thebeautifulhistory.wordpress.com/clubs/wolverhampton-wanderers/ |publisher=The Beautiful History |access-date=14 February 2013 |archive-date=14 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214094303/http://thebeautifulhistory.wordpress.com/clubs/wolverhampton-wanderers/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the early decades of the club a variety of shirt designs using these colours were created, including stripes and diagonal halves, until the continual usage of a plain shirt design since the 1930s.<ref name="HistoricalKits">{{cite news |title=Wolverhampton Wanderers – Historical Kits |url=http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Wolverhampton_Wanderers/Wolverhampton_Wanderers.htm |publisher=Historicalkits.co.uk |access-date=25 February 2009 |archive-date=16 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216184942/http://historicalkits.co.uk/Wolverhampton_Wanderers/Wolverhampton_Wanderers.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Before the 1960s a darker shade of gold was used,<ref>The "old gold" colour was briefly revived during 2000–02.</ref> known as "[[old gold]]", which is still often cited in the media as the club's colour.<ref>{{cite news |title=Old gold turns to dross for Wolves |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2012/apr/19/wolves-terry-connor-relegation |work=The Guardian |date=19 April 2012 |access-date=13 December 2016 |archive-date=9 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109221444/https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2012/apr/19/wolves-terry-connor-relegation |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Old Gold Pennant|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/jermaine-pennant-joins-wolves-on-loan-1374561|work=Daily Mirror|date=12 October 2012|access-date=5 April 2018|archive-date=15 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415063717/https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/jermaine-pennant-joins-wolves-on-loan-1374561|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Coat of arms of Wolverhampton.svg|thumb|left|City coat of arms.]]

Like most English teams, their earliest shirts usually only featured a badge on special occasions such as cup finals.<ref name="HistoricalKits"/> The first such badge to be worn on Wolves shirts was the coat of arms of the [[Wolverhampton City Council|County Borough of Wolverhampton]].<ref name="HistoricalKits"/> In the late 1960s, Wolves introduced their own club badge that appeared on their shirts consisting of a single leaping wolf, which later became three leaping wolves in the mid-1970s. Since 1979 the badge has consisted of a single "wolf head" design; the current badge was last redesigned in 2002.<ref name="HistoricalKits"/><ref name="BadgeLegalCase">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-48220428 |title=Wolves club badge design court battle begins |work=BBC News |date=9 May 2019 |access-date=2 June 2019 |archive-date=16 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616023540/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-48220428 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 2019, the club won a legal challenge by Peter Davies, a 71 year old retired building industry manager, who claimed he drew the wolf head motif as a schoolboy in the 1960s and entered it in an art competition. Mr Davies said he came up with the angular design after a teacher asked him to demonstrate an understanding of [[Blaise Pascal]]'s Hexagrammum Mysticum Theorem, and entered it in an art competition advertised in the Express and Star newspaper. Mr Davies had made a copyright claim and wanted compensation. Mr Davies lost his copyright infringement claim and now faces legal fees and costs estimated to be about £450,000.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wolverhampton Wanderers badge copyright claim thrown out |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-48288244 |access-date=8 September 2019 |agency=BBC |date=15 May 2019 |archive-date=24 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024230456/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-48288244 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Wolves' traditional away colours have been all-white, but recent decades have seen a variety of colours used, including black, blue, teal, purple and maroon.<ref name="HistoricalKits"/> 
{{Clear}}

===Kit manufacturers and sponsors===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em"
|-
! Period 
! Kit manufacturer<ref name="historickits"/>
! Shirt sponsor (centre)<ref name="historickits">{{cite web |url=https://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Wolverhampton_Wanderers/Wolverhampton_Wanderers.htm |title=Historical Kits&nbsp;– Wolverhampton Wanderers |work=historicalkits.co.uk |publisher=Historic Football Kits |access-date=22 January 2025}}</ref>
! Shirt sponsor (sleeve)<ref name="historickits"/>
|-
|1974–1982 
| rowspan=4| [[Umbro]]
| rowspan=1 | ''No sponsor'' || rowspan=19 | ''No sponsor''
|-
|1982–1985 || Tatung
|-
|1985–1986 ||  ''No sponsor'' 
|-
|1986 || Benjamin Perry
|-
|1986–1988 ||  Spall || Staw
|-
|1988–1990 || rowspan=2|Scoreline || Manders Paint & Ink
|-
|1990 || rowspan=6| [[Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company|Goodyear]]
|-
|1990–1992 || [[Bukta]]
|-
|1992–1994 || Molineux
|-
|1994–1996 || Nutmeg
|-
|1996–2000 || [[Puma (brand)|Puma]]
|-
|2000–2002 || Wolves Leisure
|-
|2002–2004 || [[Admiral (sportswear)|Admiral]]||[[Doritos]]
|-
|2004–2009 || rowspan=2| [[Le Coq Sportif]] || Chaucer Consulting
|-
|2009–2010 || rowspan=2| [[Sportingbet]]
|-
|2010–2013 || [[Burrda Sport|Burrda]]
|-
|2013–2015 || rowspan=3| [[Puma (brand)|Puma]] || [[WhatHouse?]]
|-
|2015–2016 || Silverbug
|-
|2016–2018 || [[Money Mart|The Money Shop]]
|-
|2018–2019 || rowspan=3| [[Adidas]] || W88 || rowspan=2|CoinDeal
|-
|2019–2020 || rowspan=3| ManBetX
|-
|2020–2021 || Aeroset
|-
|2021–2022 || rowspan=3| [[Castore]] || Bitci.com
|-
|2022–2023 || rowspan=2| [[AstroPay]] || [[12BET]]
|-
|2023–2024 || [[TGP Europe|6686 Sports]]
|-
|2024– || rowspan=2| Sudu<ref>{{cite news|title=Wolves agree new kit deal with SUDU that puts club and fans first|url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/club/20240627-wolves-agree-new-kit-deal-with-sudu-that-puts-club-and-fans-first/|date=27 June 2024 |access-date=22 January 2025|publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club}}</ref> || [[TGP Europe|DEBET]]<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/club/20240611-debet-become-principal-partner-in-record-deal/|title=DEBET become principal partner in record deal|date=11 June 2024 |access-date=22 January 2025 |publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club}}</ref> || [[JD Sports]]<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/club/20240603-wolves-join-jd-in-partnership/|title=Wolves join JD in partnership|date=5 June 2024 |access-date=22 January 2025 |publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club}}</ref>
|}

==Stadium==

===Former grounds===
When first founded the club used a field on Goldthorn Hill in the [[Blakenhall]] area as its home, which could accommodate some 2,000 spectators.<ref name="Matthews"/> In 1879 they relocated to John Harper's Field on Lower Villiers Street where they remained for two years before a short move to [[Dudley Road]], with the new ground situated opposite the Fighting Cocks Inn.<ref name="Matthews"/> It was here that they played their first [[FA Cup]] tie in 1883 and their first Football League fixture in September 1888. Although the site could only hold 2,500 spectators at first it was eventually developed to be capable of 10,000.<ref name="Matthews"/>

===Molineux===
{{Infobox venue
| name = Molineux
| image = Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, 2018.jpg
| caption = Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, 2018
| renovated = 1924–34; 1978–79; 1991–93
| expanded = 2011–12
| construction_cost = 
| architect = Alan Cotterell<br />(Billy Wright & Sir Jack Hayward stands)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2017/06/12/tributes-paid-to-architect-behind-vision-for-wolves-molineux/|title=Tributes paid to architect behind vision for Wolves' Molineux|publisher=Express & Star|date=12 June 2017|access-date=14 June 2017|archive-date=23 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123080641/https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2017/06/12/tributes-paid-to-architect-behind-vision-for-wolves-molineux/|url-status=live}}</ref><br />AFL (Stan Cullis stand)<br />Atherden & Rutter (Steve Bull stand)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/News/0,,10307~2060837,00.html|title=Stadium proposals|publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C|date=28 May 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531020851/http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/News/0,,10307~2060837,00.html|archive-date=31 May 2010}}</ref>
| main_contractors = [[Alfred McAlpine]] (3 stands)<br />Buckingham Group (Stan Cullis stand)
| tenants = Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. (1889–present)
| seating_capacity = 31,750<ref name="cap2021"/>
}}
{{Main|Molineux Stadium}}

{{See also|Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground}}
In the summer of 1889 the club moved to its permanent home ever since, [[Molineux Stadium|Molineux]], in the [[Whitmore Reans]] area of the city. The stadium name originates from the [[Molineux Hotel|Molineux House]] built in the area by Benjamin Molineux, a local merchant, in the 18th century and whose grounds were later developed to include numerous public leisure facilities. When the Northampton Brewery Company purchased these grounds in 1889, they rented their use to the city's football club, who were seeking to find a home more befitting a Football League member.<ref name="Matthews"/> After renovating the site, the first ever official game was staged on 7 September 1889 before a crowd of 4,000.<ref name="Matthews"/> The ground was capable of hosting 20,000 spectators, although English football crowds rarely reached that number in the 19th century.<ref name="Matthews"/>

Wolves bought the [[freehold (law)|freehold]] in 1923 and soon began a series of ground improvements under the auspices of [[Archibald Leitch]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://molineuxstadiumthroughtheages.blogspot.com/p/molineux-archibald-leitch.html|title=Molineux - Archibald Leitch|publisher=molineuxstadiumthroughtheages.blogspot.com|access-date=7 October 2018|archive-date=8 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008061246/http://molineuxstadiumthroughtheages.blogspot.com/p/molineux-archibald-leitch.html|url-status=live}}</ref> beginning with the construction of a major grandstand on the Waterloo Road side.<ref name="Programme">{{cite book |title=100 Years of Molineux 1889–1989: Special Souvenir Programme |year=1989 |publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C}}</ref> In 1932, the club also built a new stand on the Molineux Street side and followed this by adding a roof to the South Bank two years later; this South Bank was historically the second largest of all [[Spion Kop (stadiums)|Kop ends]] in the country and regularly held crowds in excess of 30,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2011/02/10/launch-of-a-golden-vision-at-molineux/|title=Launch of a golden vision at Molineux|publisher=Express & Star|date=10 February 2011|access-date=21 March 2018|archive-date=27 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227100646/http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2011/02/10/launch-of-a-golden-vision-at-molineux/|url-status=live}}</ref> The stadium finally now had four complete stands that would form its basis for the next half-century.

In the days before seating regulations, the ground could hold more than 60,000 spectators, with the record attendance being 61,315 for a [[Football League First Division|First Division]] match against [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] on 11 February 1939.<ref name="Matthews"/> The 1940s and 1950s saw average attendances for seasons regularly exceed 40,000, coinciding with the club's peak on the field.<ref name="Matthews"/> During this time Molineux became one of the first British grounds to install floodlights, enabling it to host a series of midweek friendlies against teams from around the globe.<ref name="Programme"/> In the days prior to the formation of the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] and international club competitions, these games were highly prestigious and gained huge crowds and interest with the [[BBC]] often televising such events.<ref name="European"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Football from top to bottom|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/football-from-top-to-bottom-994699.html|work=The Independent|date=6 November 2008|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=15 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415065027/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/football-from-top-to-bottom-994699.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

When the Molineux Street Stand failed to meet new safety legislation, the club began building a new replacement stand behind the existing one on land where housing had been demolished. This new all-seater stand – named the John Ireland Stand after the then-club president – was completed in 1979 and was the first stage of a plan to rebuild the entire stadium.<ref name="Programme"/> The cost of the Ireland Stand escalated to over £2 million and plunged the club into a financial crisis. As a result, it was forced to enter receivership in 1982.<ref name="Programme"/> By the time the team dropped into the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] in 1986, only the John Ireland Stand and the South Bank terrace remained in use. New safety laws were implemented following the [[Bradford City stadium fire]] and these forced the closure of both the now-dilapidated North Bank and Waterloo Road Stand. The club did not have the funds necessary to rebuild them.<ref name="Programme"/>

Following the takeover of the club by [[Jack Hayward|Sir Jack Hayward]] in 1990, £8.5&nbsp;million of funding was made available to redevelop Molineux comprehensively.<ref name="Matthews"/> Between August 1991 and December 1993 three sides of the stadium were completely rebuilt to form a 28,525 capacity all-seater stadium that complied with the [[Taylor Report]]: the Waterloo Road Stand was replaced by the [[Billy Wright (footballer born 1924)|Billy Wright]] Stand, the North Bank terrace by the [[Stan Cullis]] Stand, and the South Bank terrace by the Sir Jack Hayward Stand (named the Jack Harris Stand until 2015).<ref name="Matthews"/> Aside from the addition of a temporary seating area in the southwest corner used during Wolves' seasons in the Premier League;<ref>{{cite web|title=Ground capacity raised|url=http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/News/0,,10307~390175,00.html|publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C|date=11 June 2003|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902140854/http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/News/0,,10307~390175,00.html|archive-date=2 September 2012}}</ref> this redevelopment formed the stadium for almost twenty years.

In 2010, plans were unveiled for an extensive redevelopment programme to enlarge the capacity and develop the facilities.<ref name="Plans">{{cite web|title=Wolves unveil Molineux redevelopment plans|url=http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/News/0,,10307~2060349,00.html|publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C |date=28 May 2010|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630054439/http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/News/0,,10307~2060349,00.html |archive-date=30 June 2012}}</ref> The first stage of this saw a new two-tier Stan Cullis Stand become fully operational for [[2012–13 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season|the 2012–13 season]], raising the current official capacity to 31,700.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/stan-cullis-stand-official-opening-090812-302651.aspx?pageView=full|title=Stan Cullis Stand official opening|publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C|date=24 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170605023047/http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/stan-cullis-stand-official-opening-090812-302651.aspx?pageView=full|archive-date=5 June 2017}}</ref> The proposed second stage concerned the rebuilding of the oldest stand at the stadium (built in 1979 as the John Ireland Stand and renamed the Steve Bull Stand in 2003) to increase capacity to around 36,000, but this and any further work was shelved when it became likely that the club would be relegated from the Premier League in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/News/0,,10307~2581694,00.html |title=Wolves to postpone Steve Bull Stand redevelopment |publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C |date=19 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122075352/http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/News/0,,10307~2581694,00.html |archive-date=22 January 2012}}</ref>

Ground redevelopments were once again placed on the agenda following the club's acquisition by Fosun in 2016. In contrast to previously mooted plans,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2018/03/03/revealed-wolves-plan-for-huge-south-bank/|title=Revealed: Wolves' plan for huge South Bank|publisher=[[Express & Star]]|date=3 March 2018|access-date=20 March 2018|archive-date=20 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320105858/https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2018/03/03/revealed-wolves-plan-for-huge-south-bank/|url-status=live}}</ref> it was publicly revealed in February 2019 that future plans consisting of the demolition and full rebuild of the Steve Bull Stand, followed by the redevelopment of the Sir Jack Hayward Stand, to raise the stadium capacity to 45–46,000, were under active consideration.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fans' Parliament minutes for February 2019 |url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/club/20190217-fans-parliament-minutes-february-2019/ |publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C |date=15 February 2019 |access-date=5 June 2019 |archive-date=5 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605114729/https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/club/20190217-fans-parliament-minutes-february-2019/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, in 2020 the club announced more modest plans for making gradual improvements to the stadium as the club seeks to retain its unique character, and enable prioritisation of investment in the playing side of the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2020/05/27/wolves-plan-to-extend-molineux-stands-in-stadium-vision/|title=Wolves plan to extend Molineux stands in stadium vision|publisher=[[Shropshire Star]]|date=27 May 2020|access-date=22 June 2020|archive-date=25 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625020352/https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2020/05/27/wolves-plan-to-extend-molineux-stands-in-stadium-vision/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Players==

===First-team squad===
{{updated|5 September 2025}}<ref>{{cite news|title=Team|url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/team/first-team/|publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C|access-date=5 October 2020|archive-date=28 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028222852/https://www.wolves.co.uk/teams/mens-first-team/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=1|pos=GK|nat=POR|name=[[José Sá]]}}
{{Fs player|no=2|pos=DF|nat=IRL|name=[[Matt Doherty (footballer, born 1992)|Matt Doherty]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|vice-captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=3|pos=DF|nat=ESP|name=[[Hugo Bueno (footballer, born 2002)|Hugo Bueno]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|6th captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=4|pos=DF|nat=URU|name=[[Santiago Bueno]]}}
{{Fs player|no=5|pos=MF|nat=ZIM|name=[[Marshall Munetsi]]}}
{{Fs player|no=6|pos=DF|nat=NOR|name=[[David Møller Wolfe]]}}
{{Fs player|no=7|pos=MF|nat=BRA|name=[[André (footballer, born 2001)|André]]}}
{{Fs player|no=8|pos=MF|nat=BRA|name=[[João Gomes (footballer, born 2001)|João Gomes]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|4th captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=9|pos=FW|nat=NOR|name=[[Jørgen Strand Larsen]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|5th captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=10|pos=FW|nat=COL|name=[[Jhon Arias (footballer)|Jhon Arias]]}}
{{Fs player|no=11|pos=FW|nat=KOR|name=[[Hwang Hee-chan]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|3rd captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=12|pos=DF|nat=CIV|name=[[Emmanuel Agbadou]]}}
{{Fs player|no=14|pos=FW|nat=NGA|name=[[Tolu Arokodare]]}}
{{Fs player|no=15|pos=DF|nat=COL|name=[[Yerson Mosquera]]}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=21|pos=FW|nat=POR|name=[[Rodrigo Gomes]]}}
{{Fs player|no=23|pos=FW|nat=ZIM|name=[[Tawanda Chirewa]]}}
{{Fs player|no=24|pos=DF|nat=POR|name=[[Toti Gomes]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=25|pos=GK|nat=ENG|name=[[Dan Bentley (footballer)|Dan Bentley]]}}
{{Fs player|no=26|pos=DF|nat=NED|name=[[Ki-Jana Hoever]]}}
{{Fs player|no=27|pos=MF|nat=HAI|name=[[Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde]]}}
{{Fs player|no=28|pos=MF|nat=ESP|name=[[Fer López]]}}
{{Fs player|no=30|pos=FW|nat=PAR|name=[[Enso González]]}}
{{Fs player|no=31|pos=GK|nat=ENG|name=[[Sam Johnstone]]}}
{{Fs player|no=36|pos=FW|nat=ENG|name=[[Mateus Mané]]}}
{{Fs player|no=37|pos=DF|nat=CZE|name=[[Ladislav Krejčí (footballer, born 1999)|Ladislav Krejčí]]|other=on loan from [[Girona FC|Girona]]}}
{{Fs player|no=38|nat=CMR|pos=DF|name=[[Jackson Tchatchoua]]}}
{{Fs player|no=63|pos=FW|nat=IRL|name=[[Nathan Fraser]]}}
{{Fs end}}

===Out on loan===
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=18|pos=FW|nat=AUT|name=[[Saša Kalajdžić]]|other=at [[LASK]] until 30 June 2026}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/loan-watch/20250905-kalajdzic-returns-to-austria-on-loan/|title=Kalajdzic returns to Austria on loan|publisher=[[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] |date=5 September 2025 |access-date=5 September 2025}}</ref>
{{Fs player|no=34|pos=DF|nat=BFA|name=[[Nasser Djiga]]|other=at [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] until 30 June 2026}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/loan-watch/20250709-djiga-joins-rangers-on-loan/ |title=Djiga joins Rangers on loan |publisher=[[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] |date=9 July 2025 |access-date=9 July 2025}}</ref>
{{Fs player|no=37|pos=DF|nat=BRA|name=[[Pedro Lima (footballer, born 2006)|Pedro Lima]]|other=at [[FC Porto|Porto]] until 30 June 2026}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20250901-lima-completes-loan-move/|title=Lima completes loan move|publisher=[[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] |date=1 September 2025 |access-date=2 September 2025}}</ref>
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=NED|pos=DF|name=[[Nigel Lonwijk]]|other=at [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]] until 30 June 2026}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/loan-watch/20250710-lonwijk-signs-new-deal-ahead-of-luton-loan/ |title=Lonwijk signs new deal ahead of Luton loan |publisher=[[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] |date=10 July 2025 |access-date=10 July 2025}}</ref>
{{Fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=ENG|name=[[Tommy Doyle (footballer, born 2001)|Tommy Doyle]]|other=at [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] until 30 June 2026}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/loan-watch/20250702-doyle-heads-to-birmingham-on-loan/|title=Doyle heads to Birmingham on loan|publisher=[[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] |date=2 July 2025 |access-date=9 July 2025}}</ref>
{{Fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=MLI|name=[[Boubacar Traoré (footballer, born 2001)|Boubacar Traoré]]|other=at [[FC Metz|Metz]] until 30 June 2026}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/mens-first-team/20250724-traore-completes-loan-move/|title=Traore completes loan move|publisher=[[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] |date=24 July 2025 |access-date=24 July 2025}}</ref>
{{Fs end}}

===Development squad and Academy===
{{main|Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Development Squad and Academy}}

'''Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-23s''' are competing in Division 2 of the [[Professional Development League|Premier League 2]] during the current season, following relegation from the highest level after the previous season was curtailed and decided on a point-per-game basis.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/academy/20200807-academy-seasons-decided-by-ppg/|title=Academy seasons decided by PPG|publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C|date=7 August 2020|access-date=20 October 2020|archive-date=19 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919162719/https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/academy/20200807-academy-seasons-decided-by-ppg/|url-status=live}}</ref> The team qualifies as an entrant in Premier League 2 by virtue of Wolves's academy holding Category 1 status.<ref name="Reserves">{{cite web | title = Wolves in new Under-21 League | publisher = Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C | url = http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/in-reserve-010812-285590.aspx?pageView=full | date = 2 August 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131224114225/http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/in-reserve-010812-285590.aspx?pageView=full | archive-date = 24 December 2013 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> Although the league is designed for players aged 23 and below, three overage players may also feature.<ref name="Reserves"/> Home games are primarily staged at [[Kidderminster Harriers F.C.|Kidderminster Harriers]]' [[Aggborough Stadium|Aggborough]] home.<ref>{{cite web| title=Harriers and Wolves secure partnership| publisher=Kidderminster Harriers F.C| url=https://harriers.co.uk/news/2020/06/22/harriers-and-wolves-secure-partnership/| date=22 June 2020| access-date=20 October 2020| archive-date=30 October 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030060814/https://harriers.co.uk/news/2020/06/22/harriers-and-wolves-secure-partnership/| url-status=live}}</ref>

===Wolves Women===
{{main|Wolverhampton Wanderers W.F.C.}}

Originally founded in 1975, '''Wolves Women''' became the club's official women's team in 2008.<ref>{{cite web| title=Wolves Women History| publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C| url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/women/history/| access-date=20 October 2020| archive-date=19 June 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619061524/https://www.wolves.co.uk/women/history/| url-status=live}}</ref> They currently play at the third level of English women's football in the [[FA Women's National League North]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Wolverhampton Wanderers| publisher=The Football Association| url=https://fulltime.thefa.com/ff/TeamDetails?teamid=16082383&seasonid=437914795| access-date=20 October 2020| archive-date=24 June 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624132856/https://fulltime.thefa.com/ff/TeamDetails?teamid=16082383&seasonid=437914795| url-status=live}}</ref> Their home games are played at the New Bucks Head Ground in Telford.<ref>{{cite web| title=Wolves Women fixtures revealed| publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C| url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/wolves-women/20200826-wolves-women-fixtures-revealed/| date=26 August 2020| access-date=20 October 2020| archive-date=20 September 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920210849/https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/wolves-women/20200826-wolves-women-fixtures-revealed/| url-status=live}}</ref>

==Player of the Year==

{|
|-
|valign="top"|
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Winner
|-
|1977||{{flagicon|England}} [[Steve Daley]]
|-
|1978||{{flagicon|England}} [[Bob Hazell]]
|-
|1979||{{flagicon|Wales}} [[George Berry (footballer)|George Berry]]
|-
|1980||{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Willie Carr]]
|-
|1981||{{flagicon|England}} [[Paul Bradshaw (footballer, born 1956)|Paul Bradshaw]]
|-
|1982||{{flagicon|England}} [[Paul Bradshaw (footballer, born 1956)|Paul Bradshaw]]
|-
|1983||{{flagicon|England}} [[John Burridge]]
|-
|1984||{{flagicon|England}} [[Alan Dodd]]
|-
|1985||{{flagicon|England}} [[Tim Flowers]]
|-
|1986||{{flagicon|England}} [[Floyd Streete]]
|-
|1987||{{flagicon|England}} [[Steve Stoutt]]
|-
|1988||{{flagicon|England}} [[Steve Bull]]
|-
|1989||{{flagicon|England}} [[Andy Mutch]]
|-
|}
|width="1"|&nbsp;
|valign="top"|
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Winner
|-
|1990||{{flagicon|England}} [[Mark Venus]]
|-
|1991||{{flagicon|England}} [[Mike Stowell]]
|-
|1992||{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Tom Bennett (footballer)|Tom Bennett]]
|-
|1993||{{flagicon|England}} [[Paul Cook (footballer)|Paul Cook]]
|-
|1994||{{flagicon|England}} [[Andy Thompson (footballer, born 1967)|Andy Thompson]]
|-
|1995||{{flagicon|England}} [[Mark Rankine]]
|-
|1996||{{flagicon|England}} [[Steve Bull]]
|-
|1997||{{flagicon|England}} [[Steve Bull]]
|-
|1998||{{flagicon|England}} [[Keith Curle]]
|-
|1999||{{flagicon|Australia}} [[Kevin Muscat]]
|-
|2000||{{flagicon|France}} [[Ludovic Pollet]]
|-
|2001||{{flagicon|England}} [[Lee Naylor (footballer)|Lee Naylor]]
|-
|2002||{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Alex Rae (footballer, born 1969)|Alex Rae]]
|-
|}
|width="1"|&nbsp;
|valign="top"|
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Winner
|-
|2003||{{flagicon|England}} [[Joleon Lescott]]
|-
|2004||{{flagicon|Senegal}} [[Henri Camara]]
|-
|2005||{{flagicon|England}} [[Joleon Lescott]]
|-
|2006||{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Kenny Miller]]
|-
|2007||{{flagicon|England}} [[Matt Murray (English footballer)|Matt Murray]]
|-
|2008||{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Wayne Hennessey]]
|-
|2009||{{flagicon|Republic of Ireland}} [[Kevin Foley (footballer, born 1984)|Kevin Foley]]
|-
|2010||{{flagicon|England}} [[Jody Craddock]]
|-
|2011||{{flagicon|England}} [[Matt Jarvis]]
|-
|2012||{{flagicon|Wales}} [[Wayne Hennessey]]
|-
|2013||{{flagicon|Mali}} [[Bakary Sako]]
|-
|2014||{{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Kevin McDonald (footballer, born 1988)|Kevin McDonald]]
|-
|2015||{{flagicon|England}} [[Richard Stearman]]
|-
|}
|width="1"|&nbsp;
|valign="top"|
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Winner
|-
|2016||{{flagicon|Republic of Ireland}} [[Matt Doherty (footballer, born 1992)|Matt Doherty]]
|-
|2017||{{flagicon|Angola}} [[Hélder Costa]]
|-
|2018||{{flagicon|Portugal}} [[Rúben Neves]]
|-
|2019||{{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Raúl Jiménez]]
|-
|2020||{{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Raúl Jiménez]]
|-
|2021||{{flagicon|Portugal}} [[Pedro Neto]]
|-
|-
|2022||{{flagicon|Portugal}} [[José Sá]]
|-
|-
|2023||{{flagicon|Portugal}} [[Rúben Neves]]
|-
|-
|2024||{{flagicon|Gabon}} [[Mario Lemina]]
|-
|-
|2025||{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[João Gomes (footballer, born 2001)|João Gomes]]
|}
|}

Source: [https://www.myfootballfacts.com/premier-league/premier-league-clubs-2/wolverhampton_wanderers_player_of_the_year/]

==Club officials==
{{col-begin}}
;Football staff<ref name="Staff">{{cite web |title=Football Staff |url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/club/about-us/staff-profiles/ |publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C |date=June 2017 |access-date=26 June 2017 |archive-date=15 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415064246/https://www.wolves.co.uk/club/about-us/staff-profiles/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Head coach: {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Rob Edwards (footballer, born 1982)|Rob Edwards]]
* Assistant head coaches: {{flagicon|WAL}} [[Paul Trollope]], {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Harry Watling]] and {{flagicon|POR}} [[Rui Pedro Silva (football manager)|Rui Pedro Silva]]
* Head Goalkeeper Coach: {{flagicon|ENG}}  [[Danny Alcock]]

* Under-23 head coach: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jamie Collins (footballer, born 1978)|James Collins]]

; Medical staff
* Club doctor: {{flagicon|MYA}} Kai Win
* First-team physiotherapist: {{flagicon|ENG}} Ollie Leaper
* First-team sports therapist: {{flagicon|ENG}} Gregg Jones 
* First-team therapist: {{flagicon|POR}} Rui Fuste
* Soft-tissue therapist: {{flagicon|ENG}} Matt Butterfield
{{col-2}}
* Head of high performance: {{flagicon|ENG}} Phil Hayward

; Support Staff 
* Head of Physical Performance: {{flagicon|ENG}} Mark Piros-Read
* First Team Sports Scientist: Kieron Morrisey {{flagicon|ENG}}
* First Team Sports Scientist: Sam Cook {{flagicon|ENG}}
* First Team Goalkeeper Sports Scientist: Nathan Wolland {{flagicon|IRE}}
* First Team Data Scientist: Tom Male {{flagicon|USA}}
* First Team Performance Analyst: Ed Ames {{flagicon|ENG}}
* First Team Performance Analyst: John Boston {{flagicon|ENG}}
* Head of Kit and Equipment: Sam Perrin {{flagicon|ENG}}
* Kit and Equipment Assistant: Barry Piper {{flagicon|ENG}}
* Kit and Equipment Assistant: Ian Found {{flagicon|ENG}}
* Kit and Equipment Monitor: Harry Warren {{flagicon|ENG}} 

;Club executives<ref
name="Executives">{{cite news |title=Directors' profiles |url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/club/about-us/directors-profiles/ |publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C |date=June 2017 |access-date=15 June 2017 |archive-date=15 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415064042/https://www.wolves.co.uk/club/about-us/directors-profiles/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Fosun Group Takes Over Wolves |url=http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/news-fosun-group-takes-over-wolves-3198807.aspx |date=21 July 2016 |access-date=21 July 2016 |archive-date=26 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826214231/http://www.portugal.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/news-fosun-group-takes-over-wolves-3198807.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Owner: [[Fosun International]]<ref group=nb>The direct parent company of the club was W.W. (1990) Limited, which was acquired by Prestige Century Holdings Limited; Prestige Century was a subsidiary of Fosun Management Holdings Limited; Fosun Management Holdings was a subsidiary of Fosun International; Fosun International, a listed company of Hong Kong, is a subsidiary of Fosun International Holdings, which was majority owned by [[Guo Guangchang]], [[Liang Xinjun]] and [[Wang Qunbin]]</ref>
* Executive Chairman: Nathan Shi ''(interim)''

* General Manager – Football Operations: Matt Wild 
* General Manager – Marketing & Commercial Growth: Russell Jones
* WW (1990) Limited Directors: John Makowiec and Christy Gu
* Non-Executive Directors: John Bowater and John Gough
* Honorary Vice-presidents: [[Steve Bull]], [[Robert Plant]]<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Tom|last=Doyle|title=Artists of the century|magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]]|date=January 2010|issue=282|page=88}}</ref> and [[John Richards (footballer)|John Richards]]
{{col-end}}

==Former players and managers==
[[File:BillyWrightStatue.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Statue of [[Billy Wright (footballer born 1924)|Billy Wright]] outside [[Molineux Stadium]]]]

===Notable players===
''For details on all former players, see [[List of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players]]''

The club has been represented by numerous high-profile players over the years, most notably [[Billy Wright (footballer born 1924)|Billy Wright]], who captained England a record 90 times and was the first player to win a century of international caps,<ref>{{cite web| title =End of the Wright era| url =http://www.thefa.com/England/News/2010/OTD_280510| publisher =The Football Association| date =28 May 2010| access-date =20 March 2013| archive-date =11 April 2013| archive-url =https://archive.today/20130411231126/http://www.thefa.com/England/News/2010/OTD_280510| url-status =live}}</ref> as well as earning the [[FWA Footballer of the Year|Footballer of the Year Award]] (in 1952),<ref>{{cite web| title =Billy Wright| url =http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersW/BioWrightWA.html| publisher =England Football Online| access-date =20 March 2013| archive-date =5 June 2017| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20170605023615/http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersW/BioWrightWA.html| url-status =live}}</ref> an accolade also won by Wolves half-back [[Bill Slater (footballer)|Bill Slater]] in 1960.<ref>{{cite web| title=Time to celebrate Bill Slater, a footballer with a unique British sporting history| url=http://www.insidethegames.biz/blogs/16668-philip-barker-time-to-celebrate-bill-slater-a-footballer-with-a-unique-british-sporting-history| publisher=Inside the Games| date=23 April 2012| access-date=20 March 2013| archive-date=18 August 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818211216/http://www.insidethegames.biz/blogs/16668-philip-barker-time-to-celebrate-bill-slater-a-footballer-with-a-unique-british-sporting-history| url-status=live}}</ref> In total, 36 players have won full England caps during their time with Wolves, including the club's former captain [[Conor Coady]]<ref>{{cite web| title=Coady stars on England debut| url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/first-team/20200909-internationals-coady-stars-on-england-debut/| publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C| date=9 September 2020| access-date=20 October 2020| archive-date=21 October 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021075137/https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/first-team/20200909-internationals-coady-stars-on-england-debut/| url-status=live}}</ref> as well as the club's record goalscorer [[Steve Bull]], who was the last of the club's England internationals to play in a major tournament.<ref>{{cite web | title=England Players' Club Affiliations: Wolverhampton Wanderers | url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/teamclubs/Clubs/Wolves.html | publisher=England Football Online | access-date=20 March 2013 | archive-date=25 March 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325034838/http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamClubs/Clubs/Wolves.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title =Wolves at the World Cup| url =http://www.wolves-stats.co.uk/Wolves_at_the_World_Cup.html| publisher =wolves-stats.co.uk| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528101927/http://www.wolves-stats.co.uk/Wolves_at_the_World_Cup.html| archive-date =28 May 2013| df =dmy-all}}</ref>

[[Andy Gray (footballer born 1955)|Andy Gray]], [[Emlyn Hughes]], [[Paul Ince]] and [[Denis Irwin]] are all previous League Championship medal winners who have also represented Wolves. [[Joleon Lescott]] went on to play for England 26 times scoring once. [[Robbie Keane]] went on to become Ireland's all-time leading goalscorer with 68 goals in 146 appearances.

The '''Wolverhampton Wanderers Hall of Fame''' has inducted the following former players:<ref name="Hall of Fame">{{cite web| title=Hall of Fame| url=http://www.wolves.co.uk/club/museum/halloffame.aspx?pageView=full| publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C| access-date=3 April 2013| archive-date=5 June 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170605025001/http://www.wolves.co.uk/club/museum/halloffame.aspx?pageView=full| url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Div col|colwidth=12em}}
* {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Mike Bailey (footballer)|Mike Bailey]]
* {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Peter Broadbent (footballer)|Peter Broadbent]]
* {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Steve Bull]]
* {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Stan Cullis]]
* {{flagicon|NIR}} [[Derek Dougan]]
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Malcolm Finlayson]]
* {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ron Flowers]]
* {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Johnny Hancocks]]
* {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Billy Harrison (English footballer)|Billy Harrison]]
* {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Kenny Hibbitt]]
* {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jackery Jones]]
* {{flagicon|POR}} [[Diogo Jota]]
* {{flagicon|ENG}} [[John McAlle]]
* {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jimmy Mullen (footballer born 1923)|Jimmy Mullen]]
* {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Andy Mutch]]
* {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Derek Parkin]]
* {{flagicon|ENG}} [[John Richards (footballer)|John Richards]]
* {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Bill Slater (footballer)|Bill Slater]]
* {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Roy Swinbourne]]
* {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Andy Thompson (footballer, born 1967)|Andy Thompson]]
* {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Dave Wagstaffe]]
* {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Bert Williams (footballer, born 1920)|Bert Williams]]
* {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Billy Wright (footballer born 1924)|Billy Wright]]

{{div col end}}

===Managerial history===
[[File:StanCullisStatue.jpg|thumb|Statue of Stan Cullis outside Molineux.]]
{{Main|List of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. managers}}

Wolves have had 32 different (permanently appointed) managers during the club's existence.<ref name="Managers">{{cite news|title=Wolves: Manager history|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2848&teamTabs=managers|publisher=Soccerbase|access-date=4 April 2013|archive-date=7 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107191341/http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2848&teamTabs=managers|url-status=live}}</ref> The first manager, [[George Worrall]], was identified by the title of "club secretary", a post that continued until the appointment of a full-time manager in the modern sense was made in 1922.

The club's most successful manager is [[Stan Cullis]], whose 16-year tenure brought all three of Wolves' league championships as well as two FA Cup triumphs.<ref>{{cite news |title=Stan Cullis |url=http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/hof-stan-cullis-2009-421286.aspx?pageView=full |publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C |date=16 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224111032/http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/hof-stan-cullis-2009-421286.aspx?pageView=full|archive-date=24 December 2013 }}</ref> Two other managers have been inducted into the Club Hall of Fame: [[Frank Buckley (footballer)|Major Frank Buckley]] and [[Graham Turner]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Hall of Fame Inductee Announcement |url=http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/hall-of-fame-buckley-and-honved-261012-448288.aspx?pageView=full |publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. |date=26 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224111746/http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/hall-of-fame-buckley-and-honved-261012-448288.aspx?pageView=full |archive-date=24 December 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Graham Turner |url=http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/hof-graham-turner-2010-421632.aspx?pageView=full |publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. |date=14 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123041925/http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/hof-graham-turner-2010-421632.aspx?pageView=full |archive-date=23 November 2015 }}</ref> Turner oversaw two successive divisional championship wins in the late-1980s, winning the [[1987-88 Football League#Fourth Division|Fourth Division title in 1987-88]] and the [[1988-89 Football League#Third Division|Third Division title the following season]]. [[Bill McGarry (footballer)|Bill McGarry]] and [[John Barnwell]] both won the [[League Cup]] for Wolves in the 1970s and 1980s.<ref name="Managers"/>

In the 21st century, [[Dave Jones (footballer, born 1956)|Dave Jones]], [[Mick McCarthy]] and [[Nuno Espírito Santo]] have led the club into the [[Premier League]]. [[Kenny Jackett]] took Wolves to a record [[EFL League One]] (Tier 3) points haul of 103 as they won this division in [[2013–14 Football League One|2013–14]].

[[Ståle Solbakken]] became Wolves' first foreign manager under [[Steve Morgan (businessman)|Steve Morgan]]'s ownership, followed later by [[Walter Zenga]], two Portuguese managers [[Nuno Espírito Santo]] and [[Bruno Lage]], and [[Julen Lopetegui]] who is Spanish, under current owners [[Fosun]].

Wolves have also been managed by two former [[England national football team|England national team]] managers in [[Graham Taylor]] and [[Glenn Hoddle]].<ref name="Managers"/>

==Support==
As well as having numerous supporters' clubs across the United Kingdom,<ref>{{cite web| title=London Wolves| url=http://www.londonwolves.com/| publisher=London Wolves| access-date=7 February 2013| archive-date=16 January 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116033018/http://www.londonwolves.com/| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Sussex Wolves| url=http://www.brightonwolves.co.uk/| publisher=Sussex Wolves| access-date=18 September 2018| archive-date=1 June 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180601014325/http://brightonwolves.co.uk/| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Yorkshire Wolves| url=http://yorkshirewolves.com/| publisher=Yorkshire Wolves| access-date=7 February 2013| archive-date=18 December 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218145448/http://yorkshirewolves.com/| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Telford Wolves |url=http://telfordwolves.com/ |publisher=Telford Wolves |access-date=30 August 2015 |archive-date=26 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926010722/http://telfordwolves.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Cannock Wolves |url= http://www.cannockwolves.co.uk/ |publisher= Cannock Wolves |access-date= 7 February 2013 |archive-date= 19 September 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140919031910/http://www.cannockwolves.co.uk/ |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Daventry Wolves| url=http://www.ddcwwfcsc.co.uk/| publisher=Daventry Wolves| access-date=7 February 2013| archive-date=19 August 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819012552/http://www.ddcwwfcsc.co.uk/| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title= Punjabi Wolves| url= http://www.punjabiwolves.com/| publisher= Punjabi Wolves| access-date= 7 February 2013| archive-date= 4 April 2013| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130404040945/http://www.punjabiwolves.com/| url-status= live}}</ref> Wolverhampton Wanderers also have an international support base, with supporters' clubs in Australia,<ref>{{cite web|title=Melbourne Wolves |url=http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/~willisam/index.html |publisher=Melbourne Wolves |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421002453/http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/~willisam/index.html |archive-date=21 April 2008 }}</ref> United States,<ref>{{cite web| title=American Wolves| url=https://wolvesusa.wordpress.com/| publisher=American Wolves| access-date=10 August 2015| archive-date=23 November 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123055646/https://wolvesusa.wordpress.com/| url-status=live}}</ref> Sweden,<ref>{{cite web| title=Swede Wolves| url=http://www.svenskafans.com/england/wolves/| publisher=Swede Wolves| access-date=7 February 2013| archive-date=21 February 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221022717/http://www.svenskafans.com/england/wolves/| url-status=live}}</ref> Spain, Germany,<ref>{{cite web|title=Berlin Wolves |url=http://geocities.com/berlinwolves/ |publisher=Berlin Wolves |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027014659/http://geocities.com/berlinwolves/ |archive-date=27 October 2009 }}</ref> Republic of Ireland,<ref>{{cite web| title=Irish Wolves| url=http://www.irishwolves.org/| publisher=Irish Wolves| access-date=7 February 2013| archive-date=11 June 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611161954/http://irishwolves.org/| url-status=live}}</ref> Malta,<ref>{{cite web| title=Malta Wolves| url=http://maltawolves.blogspot.co.uk/| publisher=Malta Wolves| access-date=7 February 2013| archive-date=24 December 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224105538/http://maltawolves.blogspot.co.uk/| url-status=live}}</ref> Iceland and Norway<ref>{{cite web| title=Viking Wolves| url=http://www.vikingwolves.com/| publisher=Viking Wolves| access-date=6 August 2009| archive-date=25 September 2002| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020925204102/http://vikingwolves.com/| url-status=live}}</ref> amongst others. They have a particularly sizeable Scandinavian fanbase, due to the area's television coverage of Midlands football in the 1970s when the club were a regular top-flight team; the first English match shown live in both Sweden and Norway involved Wolves (Wolverhampton Wanderers 1&ndash;0 [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] in the [[Football League First Division]] on Saturday, [[1969–70 in English football|29 November 1969]]).<ref>{{cite web| title=The English Occupation of Sweden; How We Came to Love Your Football| url=http://www.thefightingcock.co.uk/2012/12/the-english-occupation-of-sweden-how-we-came-to-love-your-football/| publisher=thefightingcock.co.uk| date=11 December 2012| access-date=7 February 2013| archive-date=7 February 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130207055549/http://www.thefightingcock.co.uk/2012/12/the-english-occupation-of-sweden-how-we-came-to-love-your-football/| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Hugh've Been Framed!|url=http://www.wolvesheroes.com/2009/11/29/hughve-been-framed/|publisher=wolvesheroes.com|date=29 November 2009|access-date=7 February 2013|archive-date=17 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017054827/http://www.wolvesheroes.com/2009/11/29/hughve-been-framed/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Rivalries===
{{See also|Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. league record by opponent}}
Wolves' longest-established and strongest rivalry is with [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]], against whom the club contest the [[Black Country derby]]. The two clubs, separated by eleven miles, have faced each other 163 times;<ref name="Derby stats">{{cite web| title=Head to head: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. West Bromwich Albion| url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/head_to_head.sd?team_id=2848&team2_id=2744| publisher=Soccerbase| access-date=9 February 2024| archive-date=11 September 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911050248/http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/head_to_head.sd?team_id=2848&team2_id=2744| url-status=live}}</ref> their first competitive clash being an [[FA Cup]] tie in 1886.<ref name="Derby stats"/> A national survey by the [[football pools]] found the rivalry to be the strongest in English football.<ref name="Rivalries League">{{cite web| title=Rivalries League| url=http://www.footballpools.com/football-fever/Rivalries_Report_2008.pdf| publisher=The New Football Pools| date=February 2008| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015233159/http://www.footballpools.com/football-fever/Rivalries_Report_2008.pdf| archive-date=15 October 2013| df=dmy-all}}</ref> Both clubs are founder members of the Football League and the two once contested the league title in [[1953–54 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season|1953–54]], with Wolves finishing as champions.<ref>{{cite web| title=When the Black Country rivals Wolves and West Bromwich Albion ruled English football| url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/when-the-black-country-rivals-wolves-and-west-178706| publisher=Birmingham Mail| date=9 February 2012| access-date=7 February 2013| archive-date=16 October 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016033055/http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/when-the-black-country-rivals-wolves-and-west-178706| url-status=live}}</ref>

Wolves also share rivalries with the two Birmingham clubs, [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] and [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]], against whom there have been numerous matches dating back to the 19th century.<ref>{{cite web |title=Head to head: Wolves v Aston Villa |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/head_to_head.sd?team_id=2848&team2_id=154 |publisher=Soccerbase |access-date=7 February 2013 |archive-date=24 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224120616/http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/head_to_head.sd?team_id=2848&team2_id=154 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Head to head: Wolves v Birmingham City |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/head_to_head.sd?team_id=2848&team2_id=291 |publisher=Soccerbase |access-date=7 February 2013 |archive-date=24 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224115739/http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/head_to_head.sd?team_id=2848&team2_id=291 |url-status=live }}</ref> Wolves' closest geographic rival is actually [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]] but, as they have rarely competed at the same level,<ref>{{cite web |title=Head to head: Wolves v Walsall |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/head_to_head.sd?team_id=2848&team2_id=2737 |publisher=Soccerbase |access-date=7 February 2013 |archive-date=4 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604151758/http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/head_to_head.sd?team_id=2848&team2_id=2737 |url-status=live }}</ref> it is of less significance. As Wolverhampton historically sat within the boundaries of [[Staffordshire]], a Staffordshire derby between Wolves and [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] is also recognised.

The 2018–19 Premier League season was the first and only time ever that Wolves were the sole representatives of the West Midlands in the top flight of English football. The 2020–21 Premier League season saw Wolves play against both Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion.<ref name="Rivalries resumed">{{cite web| title=Rivalries renewed as long-awaited derbies return| url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/1755940| publisher=Premier League| date=21 August 2020| access-date=15 October 2020| archive-date=25 October 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025202806/https://www.premierleague.com/news/1755940| url-status=live}}</ref> Since Albion's relegation at the end of that season, Aston Villa has been Wolves' only West Midlands rival in the Premier League.

===Fan culture===
During the club's peak in the 1950s, the home crowd's signature song was "[[The Happy Wanderer]]", which was a chart hit in the U.K. in 1954 when Wolves first won the league title.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19540319/7501/ | title=Official Singles Chart Top 12: 19–25 March 1954 | publisher=The Official UK Charts Company | date=30 April 2019 | access-date=30 April 2019 | archive-date=30 April 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430032343/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19540319/7501/ | url-status=live }}</ref> In more recent times, "[[Hi Ho Silver Lining]]" – a 1967 rock song by [[Jeff Beck]] with its chorus modified to ''"Hi Ho Wolverhampton!"'' – has become a staple feature of home games.<ref>{{cite web| title=The Football Ground Guide: Molineux |url=http://www.footballgroundguide.com/wolverhampton_wanderers/index.htm#Visiting-Molineux | publisher=The Football Ground Guide| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217130801/http://www.footballgroundguide.com/wolverhampton_wanderers/index.htm#Visiting-Molineux| archive-date=17 February 2013| df=dmy-all}}</ref> "[[The Liquidator (instrumental)|The Liquidator]]" instrumental by the [[Harry J. Allstars]] was also popularly used in the stadium until a request from the [[West Midlands Police]] to cease due to concerns that the obscene lyrics used by some fans during the chorus could incite trouble.<ref>{{cite news| title=Can we play you every week?| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/funny_old_game/1680656.stm| publisher=[[BBC Sport]]| date=28 November 2001| access-date=28 September 2007| archive-date=13 January 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113022820/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/funny_old_game/1680656.stm| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Wolverhampton Council (Licensing and Environmental Protection Panel) Meeting| url=http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/15397180-2094-4B5E-871B-CC4725E39132/0/limi210503.pdf| publisher=Wolverhampton Council| date=21 May 2003| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227065704/http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/15397180-2094-4B5E-871B-CC4725E39132/0/limi210503.pdf| archive-date=27 February 2008| df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The club attracted a number of hooligans in the 1960s. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, a [[hooligan firm]] named "The Subway Army" would often ambush fans in the [[Subway (underpass)|subway]] adjacent to the ground. The group was gradually broken up and virtually ceased to exist due to a large number of arrests – many as part of the police's nationwide "Operation GROWTH" (or "Get Rid of Wolverhampton's Troublesome Hooligans") in the late 1980s.<ref>{{cite book | author=Gary Armstrong and Dick Hobbs | editor = Richard Giulianotti, Norman Bonney and Mike Hepworth | title = Football, Violence and Social Identity | year = 1994 | publisher=Routledge | location = London | isbn = 0-415-09838-6 | pages = 196–228 | chapter = Tackled from behind}}</ref>

The club invites interaction with its supporters and has a Fans' Parliament, at which independently selected candidates meet with club officials discuss issues relating to the club.<ref>{{cite web| title=Fans' Parliament| url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/fans/fans-parliament/| publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C| access-date=25 September 2020| archive-date=20 October 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020210105/https://www.wolves.co.uk/fans/fans-parliament/| url-status=live}}</ref> An independent [[fanzine]] named "A Load of Bull" (ALOB), in part a reference to leading goalscorer [[Steve Bull]], published supporters' views between 1989 and 2012.<ref>{{cite news| title=Fanzine Focus – A Load of Bull 1989–2012| url =http://www.junkarchive.co.uk/wordpress/| publisher =Junk Archive blog| date =30 March 2012| url-status=dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120420014534/http://www.junkarchive.co.uk/wordpress/| archive-date =20 April 2012| df =dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = A Load of Bull: End of an era| url = http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/News/0,,10307~2705979,00.html| publisher = Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C| date = 30 March 2012| url-status=dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120405174851/http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/News/0,,10307~2705979,00.html| archive-date = 5 April 2012| df = dmy-all}}</ref>

==Ownership and finances==
The club is owned by the Chinese conglomerate group [[Fosun International]], which purchased the parent company of the club, W.W. (1990) Ltd., on 21 July 2016 for a reported £45&nbsp;million from previous owner [[Steve Morgan (businessman)|Steve Morgan]] and his company Bridgemere Group.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fosun Group takes over Wolves|url=http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/news-fosun-group-takes-over-wolves-3198807.aspx?pageView=full|publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C|date=21 July 2016|access-date=21 July 2016|archive-date=22 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922184220/http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/news-fosun-group-takes-over-wolves-3198807.aspx?pageView=full|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Wolves bought by Chinese conglomerate Fosun International for £45m|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36852323|publisher=BBC Sport|date=21 July 2016|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-date=11 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511060242/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36852323|url-status=live}}</ref> In the last published accounts of Wolves' group parent company (covering the 2018–19 Premier League season), a pre-tax profit of just under £20 million was recorded, with turnover for the year equalling £172.5m. £92.1 million was spent on staff wages and costs.<ref>{{cite book|title=Report and Financial Statements|publisher=W.W.(1990) Limited|date=31 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Headline financial information for 2018/19|url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/club/20200218-headline-financial-information-for-201819/|publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C|date=18 February 2020|access-date=23 February 2020|archive-date=23 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223181350/https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/club/20200218-headline-financial-information-for-201819/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Like most football clubs, significant commercial income is generated from shirt sponsorship deals.<ref>Historicalkits.co.uk</ref> Past shirt sponsorship deals were as follows: [[Tatung Company|Tatung]] (1982–86), Benjamin Perry (1986), Staw Distribution (1986–88), [[Mander Brothers|Manders Paint & Ink]] (1988–90), [[Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company|Goodyear]] (1990–2002), [[Doritos]] (2002–04), Chaucer Consulting (2004–09), [[Sportingbet]] (2009–13), [[What House?]] (2013–15), Silverbug (2015–16), [[Dollar Financial Group|The Money Shop]] (2016–18), W88 (2018–19).<ref>{{cite news|title=Wolves announce W88 as shirt sponsor|url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/club/20180613-wolves-announce-w88-as-shirt-sponsor/|publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C|date=13 June 2018|access-date=5 March 2019|archive-date=30 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330044239/https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/club/20180613-wolves-announce-w88-as-shirt-sponsor/|url-status=live}}</ref> ManBetX (2019–2022), [[AstroPay]] (2022-2024)<ref>{{cite news|title= AstroPay announces new Premier League partnership with Wolverhampton Wanderers|url=https://astropay.com/astropay-announces-new-premier-league-partnership-with-wolverhampton-wanderers/}}</ref> and DEBET (2024-).<ref>{{cite web |title=DEBET become principal partner in record deal |url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/club/20240611-debet-become-principal-partner-in-record-deal/ |website=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. |date=11 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705123456/https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/club/20240611-debet-become-principal-partner-in-record-deal/ |archive-date=5 July 2024 |access-date=3 September 2025}}</ref>

Fosun bought Wolves from Steve Morgan, who had taken ownership in August 2007 for a nominal sum of £10 with the proviso that £30&nbsp;million was injected into the club,<ref name="2007 deal"/> ending an almost four-year search for a new buyer.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hayward to quit Wolves|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/3141952.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|date=26 September 2003|access-date=20 March 2013|archive-date=12 July 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040712194000/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/3141952.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Morgan oversaw nine full seasons, but placed the club on the market for new owners in September 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Club statement: Steve Morgan|url=http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/club-statement-steve-morgan-2716227.aspx|publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C|date=28 September 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930024356/http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/club-statement-steve-morgan-2716227.aspx|archive-date=30 September 2015}}</ref> Morgan had bought the club from [[Jack Hayward|Sir Jack Hayward]], a lifelong fan of the club, who had himself purchased it in 1990 for £2.1&nbsp;million.<ref name="1990 deal"/><ref name="RichList">{{cite news|title=Rich List Profiles: Sir Jack Hayward|url=http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/richlist/profiles2011/2011/01/23/38-34-sir-jack-hayward-120million-130m-65233-28031766/|work=Birmingham Post|date=23 January 2011|access-date=20 March 2013|archive-date=2 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502161122/http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/richlist/profiles2011/2011/01/23/38-34-sir-jack-hayward-120million-130m-65233-28031766/|url-status=dead}}</ref> During his tenure Sir Jack invested an estimated £50&nbsp;million of his personal wealth to rebuild the club's stadium and fund new players, but the team only achieved one season in the top flight during his 17 years at the helm despite this increased spending power.<ref name="RichList"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Hayward frees Wolves|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/may/21/newsstory.wolverhamptonwanderersfootball|work=The Guardian|date=21 May 2007|access-date=13 December 2016|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202152500/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/may/21/newsstory.wolverhamptonwanderersfootball|url-status=live}}</ref>

Hayward's takeover greatly improved the club's financial health, after a turbulent 1980s in which the club twice was declared bankrupt.<ref name="1982 deal"/><ref name="1986 deal"/> In 1982 the club was "saved" from liquidation when it was purchased by two Saudi brothers, Mahmud and Mohammad Bhatti, as part of their company Allied Properties.<ref name="1982 deal"/> However, their failure to sufficiently invest in the club saw it face several winding-up orders as well as successive relegations through the football divisions.<ref name="Crisis3"/><ref name="Crisis1"/><ref name="Crisis2"/> In 1986 the [[Receivership|official receiver]] was again called in and a deal eventually brokered for [[Wolverhampton City Council]] to purchase [[Molineux Stadium|the club's stadium]] for £1.12&nbsp;million, along with the surrounding land, while a local developer, Gallagher Estates, in conjunction with the [[Asda]] supermarket chain, agreed to pay off the club's outstanding debts in return for the building of an Asda superstore on land adjacent to the stadium.<ref name="Matthews"/><ref name="1986 deal"/><ref name="Programme"/>

==Honours==
In the all-time table since the league's inception in 1888, Wolves sit fourth in terms of points gathered in all divisions (as of the conclusion of the 2018–19 season), with only Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal having accumulated more points in total.<ref name="RSSSF">{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engprof-alltime.html |website=[[RSSSF]] |title=England&nbsp;– Professional Football All-Time Tables |access-date=4 February 2023 |archive-date=5 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005090341/https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engprof-alltime.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Wolves were the first side to win all four divisions of the English professional game and have won every competition currently contested in English domestic football.<ref>{{cite news|title=Wolves: The only team to have won it all|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/aug/09/theknowledge.sport|work=The Guardian|date=9 August 2001|access-date=20 October 2020|archive-date=23 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023035101/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/aug/09/theknowledge.sport|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''League'''
*[[Football League First Division|First Division]] (level 1)
**Champions: [[1953–54 Football League#First Division|1953–54]], [[1957–58 Football League#First Division|1957–58]], [[1958–59 Football League#First Division|1958–59]]
**Runners-up: [[1937–38 Football League#First Division|1937–38]], [[1938–39 Football League#First Division|1938–39]], [[1949–50 Football League#First Division|1949–50]], [[1954–55 Football League#First Division|1954–55]], [[1959–60 Football League#First Division|1959–60]]
*[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] / First Division / [[EFL Championship|Championship]] (level 2)
**Champions: [[1931–32 Football League#Second Division|1931–32]], [[1976–77 Football League#Second Division|1976–77]], [[2008–09 Football League Championship|2008–09]], [[2017–18 EFL Championship|2017–18]]
**Runners-up: [[1966–67 Football League#Second Division|1966–67]], [[1982–83 Football League#Second Division|1982–83]]
**Play-off winners: [[2003 Football League First Division play-off final|2003]]
*[[Football League Third Division North|Third Division North]] / [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] / [[EFL League One|League One]] (level 3)
**Champions: [[1923–24 Football League#Third Division North|1923–24]], [[1988–89 Football League#Third Division|1988–89]], [[2013–14 Football League One|2013–14]]
*[[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] (level 4)
**Champions: [[1987–88 Football League Fourth Division|1987–88]]

'''Cup'''
*[[FA Cup]]
**Winners: [[1892–93 FA Cup|1892–93]], [[1907–08 FA Cup|1907–08]], [[1948–49 FA Cup|1948–49]], [[1959–60 FA Cup|1959–60]]
**Runners-up: [[1888–89 FA Cup|1888–89]], [[1895–96 FA Cup|1895–96]], [[1920–21 FA Cup|1920–21]], [[1938–39 FA Cup|1938–39]]
*[[EFL Cup|Football League Cup]]
**Winners: [[1973–74 Football League Cup|1973–74]], [[1979–80 Football League Cup|1979–80]]
*[[FA Community Shield|FA Charity Shield]]
**Winners: [[1949 FA Charity Shield|1949]]*, [[1954 FA Charity Shield|1954]]*, [[1959 FA Charity Shield|1959]], [[1960 FA Charity Shield|1960]]* (* shared)
*[[EFL Trophy|Associate Members' Cup]]
**Winners: [[1987–88 Associate Members' Cup|1987–88]]
*[[Football League War Cup]]
**Winners: 1942
*[[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]
**Runners-up: [[1971–72 UEFA Cup|1971–72]]
*[[Texaco Cup]]
**Winners: [[1970-71 Texaco Cup|1970–71]]

==Records and statistics==
{{Main|List of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. records and statistics}}

{{See also|Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. in European football}}

===Individual records===
[[Derek Parkin]] holds the record for the most first-team appearances, with 609 (501 of which were league appearances).<ref name="Matthews"/> Highest goalscorer was [[Steve Bull]] with 306 (including 250 league goals - including a record 52 in one season).<ref name="Matthews"/> [[Billy Wright (footballer, born 1924)|Billy Wright]] was Wolves' most capped international, winning 105 England caps while with the club.<ref name="Matthews"/> Signed in August 2022 for £38 million, [[Matheus Nunes]] became Wolves' most expensive signing,<ref>{{cite news|title=Matheus Nunes: Wolves sign Portugal midfielder for club record £38m fee|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62586975|publisher=BBC Sport|date=18 August 2022|access-date=25 June 2023}}</ref> and became Wolves' record transfer when sold for £53 million to Manchester City in September 2023.<ref>{{cite news|title=Manchester City sign Matheus Nunes from Wolves for £53m|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66681948|publisher=BBC Sport|date=1 September 2023|access-date=1 September 2023}}</ref>

===Team records===
* Record win: '''14–0''' vs [[Crosswell's Brewery F.C.|Crosswell's Brewery]], FA Cup 2nd round, 13 November 1886<ref name="Statto">{{cite web |url=http://www.statto.com/football/teams/wolverhampton-wanderers/records |title=Wolverhampton Wanderers : Records |publisher=Statto}}</ref>
* Record defeat: '''1–10''' vs [[Manchester United F.C.|Newton Heath]], Division 1, 15 October 1892<ref name="Statto"/>
* Most league goals scored in a season: '''115''' (Division 2; 1931–32)<ref name="Statto"/>
* Highest home attendance: '''61,315''' vs [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]], FA Cup 4th Round, 11 February 1939<ref name="Matthews"/>

==League history==
{{See also|List of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. seasons}}
Wolverhampton Wanderers was a founder member of the Football League in 1888. The 2024–25 season is Wolves' 126th in the Football League system. Wolves have spent 119 of their 125 completed seasons to date within the top two tiers of English football. Wolves played in the third tier on four occasions, each occasion lasting just one season; three of these seasons ended with promotion back to the second tier as Champions, and one ended in relegation to the fourth tier. The club has played two seasons in England's fourth tier (in the 1980s).

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
* 1888–1906 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]]
* 1906–1923 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]]
* 1923–1924 [[Football League Third Division North|Division 3 North]]
* 1924–1932 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]]
* 1932–1965 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]]
* 1965–1967 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]]
|
* 1967–1976 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]]
* 1976–1977 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]]
* 1977–1982 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]]
* 1982–1983 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]]
* 1983–1984 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]]
* 1984–1985 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]]
|
* 1985–1986 [[Football League Third Division|Division 3]]
* 1986–1988 [[Football League Fourth Division|Division 4]]
* 1988–1989 [[Football League Third Division|Division 3]]
* 1989–2003 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]]/[[Football League First Division|Division 1]] (Tier 2)
* 2003–2004 [[Premier League]]
* 2004–2009 [[EFL Championship|Championship]]
|
* 2009–2012 [[Premier League]]
* 2012–2013 [[EFL Championship|Championship]]
* 2013–2014 [[Football League One|League One]]
* 2014–2018 [[EFL Championship|Championship]]
* 2018–present    [[Premier League]]
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|
* Seasons spent at Tier 1 of the football league system: 70 (incl. 2024–25)
* Seasons spent at Tier 2 of the football league system: 50
* Seasons spent at Tier 3 of the football league system: 4
* Seasons spent at Tier 4 of the football league system: 2
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|
*Longest continuous run of seasons spent in Tier 1: 26 (1932–1965; league football suspended 1939-46 due to World War II)
* Longest continuous run of seasons spent in Tier 2: 14 (1989–2003)
* Longest continuous run of seasons spent in Tier 3: 1 (1923–24; 1985–86; 1988–89; 2013–14)
* Longest continuous run of seasons spent in Tier 4: 2 (1986–1988)
|}

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}

===Independent websites===
* [https://www.molineux.news/ Wolverhampton Wanderers – News] on Molineux News
* {{BBC football info|wolverhampton-wanderers}}
* [https://www.skysports.com/wolverhampton-wanderers Wolverhampton Wanderers] at Sky Sports
* [https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/38/Wolverhampton-Wanderers/overview Wolverhampton Wanderers FC] at Premier League
* [https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/teams/53357--wolves/ Wolverhampton Wanderers FC] at [[UEFA]]

{{Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.}}
{{Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. seasons}}
{{Original Football League clubs}}
{{Premier League}}
{{EFL Championship}}
{{EFL League One}}
{{Men's football in the West Midlands}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.| ]]
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