Wolverhampton Wanderers have dismissed head coach Rob Edwards and are on the verge of appointing Portuguese manager César Peixoto as his successor. The 46-year-old Peixoto most recently managed Gil Vicente, guiding them to a sixth-place finish in the Portuguese top flight last season.
Edwards shocked by sudden dismissal
The decision came as a major surprise to Edwards, who first learned of the potential move for Peixoto through social media rumours. While on holiday abroad, Edwards received a phone call informing him that his tenure had ended after just seven months, leaving even senior club officials stunned.
Edwards had been actively involved in planning for the upcoming season and appeared in the video announcing Raúl Jiménez's return to the club on Tuesday evening. He also played a key role in securing the signing of former England defender Kieran Trippier.
Working alongside technical director Matt Jackson, Edwards was preparing for further transfers and recently attended a fans' forum where he stressed the need for a cultural reset following the club's relegation.
“There were assurances that it would be a long-term plan but I’m aware, like anyone, that when you go into this job it is a results-based business,” Edwards said last month, referencing his decision to leave Middlesbrough in November. “I would’ve come here if this club was in the National League, I wanted to be here. If we get what we want of it, if we are able to do what we want to do in the summer, then we can make real positive changes to how everybody feels about the football club.”
Peixoto's background and Gestifute link
Peixoto, who has only managed in Portugal, is represented by Gestifute, the agency fronted by Jorge Mendes. Gestifute has a close relationship with Wolves' Chinese owners, Fosun, who have frequently appointed their clients as head coaches, including Vítor Pereira, Bruno Lage, and Nuno Espírito Santo. This long-standing connection, which began when Fosun acquired the club in 2016, also facilitated the signing of players like Pedro Neto and Rúben Neves.
Club chairman explains difficult decision
Executive chairman Nathan Shi described the sacking of Edwards, for whom Wolves paid £4 million in compensation to Middlesbrough, as an “extremely difficult decision.”
“Our decision was not about character, professionalism or dedication,” Shi said. “It was about determining what we believe gives Wolves the strongest opportunity to move forward from a sporting perspective. While there were positive signs and areas of progress, we ultimately concluded that a different football direction would better align with the style, identity and level of competitiveness we want to establish at the club.
“It would have been easier to continue with what was familiar. However, leadership is not about choosing the easiest path, but about making the difficult decisions we believe are right for the future of the football club which will put Wolves on the strongest platform to move forward.”
