UEFA Europa League: Round of 32: RCD Espanyol vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. is one of English football’s most storied clubs. Based in the town of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands, ‘Wolves’ have spent almost their entire history in English football’s top two tiers and were instrumental in the rise of European competition. The club plays at Molineux Stadium, where it has resided since 1889.

Wolves was founded in 1877 and was one of the 12 founding members of the Football League in 1888, competing in the first ever Football League match. The club celebrated early success, winning the first of four FA Cups in 1893. Wolves also regularly challenged for the League Championship and appeared in several FA Cup Finals prior to the Second World War.

Bookended by two FA Cup wins in 1949 and 1960, Wolves’ longest period of success came in the 1950s under manager Stan Cullis as the club won its three only league titles to date and regularly finished in the First Division’s top three. The star of the Wolves team was its centre-half Billy Wright, who captained both Wolves and England at three World Cups. Wolves also led the introduction of floodlights and club games against European opposition, giving them a rightful claim as pioneers in British football.

Wolves underwent a slight decline thereafter but remained successful until the 1980s, contesting the 1972 UEFA Cup Final and winning two League Cups in 1974 and 1980. Since 1982 the club has remained mostly in English football’s second division, barring two spells in the Premier League.

Now under Chinese investment and back in the Premier League after a six year absence, Wolves has a new, vibrant Iberian flavour thanks to an influx of Portuguese coaches and players including Nuno Espirito Santo and UEFA European Championship winners Rui Patricio and Joao Moutinho, marking them as an intriguing team to watch live.