Favourites to become new Wolves manager revealed with Bruno Lage sacked

The favourites to become new Wolves manager is revealed with Bruno Lage sacked having just won once in the last 15 Premier League games.

After the 2-0 defeat away at West Ham on Saturday evening, reports emerged that Wolverhampton Wanderers would hold talks that could result in Lage being axed.

Comments from Ruben Neves have hinted at the manager being abandoned by his players as his side slipped to their fourth league defeat of the campaign.

Wolves are prepared to sack Bruno Lage after poor results, confirmed as reported by Portuguese press. 🚨🟠 #WWFC

Official statement expected soon — then time to appoint new manager. pic.twitter.com/UlaMwyI6e6

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 2, 2022

They slip into the relegation zone and highlighted concerns over the club’s direction under Lage while Fosun have been urged to do something about the worrying start with European dreams turning into survival hopes.

Their tally of wins over their last 15 league matches dating back to last season stands at just one.

The Telegraph report that Wolves are now expected to appoint a new manager ahead of the game at Chelsea next Saturday, with e-Olympiacos coach Pedro Martins expected to be a strong contender for the role.

Julen Lopetegui, who is expected to be sacked as Sevilla manager, has been a previous target for Wolves and could come come into the frame again.

Ange Postecoglou, Celtic boss and previously linked with the Brighton job, has also been discussed as an option though there are doubts over whether he will leave Scotland at this stage of the season.

WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

(Sky Bet – Oct 2nd – 4:20pm)
Rúben Amorim – 5/1
Sérgio Conceição – 5/1
Pedro Martins – 6/1
Paulo Fonseca – 7/1
Julien Lopetegui – 8/1
Sean Dyche – 8/1
Ange Postecoglou – 10/1
Andre Villas-Boas – 14/1
Leonardo Jardim – 16/1
Lucien Favre – 16/1
Rafa Benitez – 16/1
Rob Edwards – 16/1
Sabri Lamouchi – 16/1
Chris Wilder – 20/1
Gennaro Gattuso – 20/1
Scott Parker – 20/1
Mauricio Pochettino – 22/1
Nuno Espirito Santo – 25/1
Sam Allardyce – 25/1
Thomas Tuchel – 25/1
Marcelo Bielsa – 33/1

(Sky Bet – Oct 2nd – 5:40pm)
Julien Lopetegui – 3/1
Pedro Martins – 4/1
Andre Villas-Boas – 6/1
Rúben Amorim – 6/1
Sean Dyche – 7/1
Paulo Fonseca – 10/1 ?
Sérgio Conceição – 10/1
Abel Ferreira – 14/1
Joao Moutinho – 14/1
Ange Postecoglou – 16/1

(Sky Bet – Oct 3rd – 8:30pm)
Rúben Amorim – 5/4
Julien Lopetegui – 4/1
Pedro Martins – 6/1
Andre Villas-Boas – 8/1
Sean Dyche – 10/1
Sérgio Conceição – 12/1
Joao Moutinho – 14/1
Ange Postecoglou – 16/1
Abel Ferreira – 18/1
Artur Jorge – 20/1

CLUB STATEMENT:

Wolves have parted company with head coach Bruno Lage.

Lage had been in charge at Molineux since June 2021, guiding Wolves to a 10th place finish in his first Premier League season.

During that campaign, Lage was awarded the Premier League Manager of the Month for January and guided the club to memorable victories at Aston Villa and Manchester United.

While improving Wolves’ points tally from the 2020/21 season, Lage developed young players such as Maximilian Kilman and Rayan Ait-Nouri and oversaw the squad’s transition, which brought the likes of Jose Sa and Matheus Nunes to the club.

Wolves chairman Jeff Shi said: “Bruno is an excellent coach, a hardworking and dedicated manager, and a warm, wise and honest man.

“He and his staff have been a pleasure to work with throughout their time at Wolves, so it is with much sadness that we have had to make what has been a difficult decision.

“I honestly have no doubts about Bruno’s ability, and I’m sure he will succeed elsewhere, however the team’s form and performances over the last few months mean that we have no choice but to act.

“On behalf of everyone at Wolves, I would like to place on record our gratitude to Bruno and his coaching team for all their efforts during their time with the club, and wish them the very best for the future.”

Wolves can confirm that experienced coaches Steve Davis and James Collins will prepare the team this week for the trip to Chelsea.

Despite concerns over financial fair play, Wolves did back Lage in the summer.

And with the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and Leander Dendoncker sold, Lage was able to sign Goncalo Guedes and Matheus Nunes, among others.

Saša Kalajdžić also came in from Stuttgart in the hopes of giving the front line added bite. However, the Austria international suffered an ACL injury on his debut and Wolves’ woes in front of goal show no signs of easing either.

Diego Costa made his debut against West Ham and came close with a headed effort. However, he is 33 and is lacking match time.

Wolves are the league’s lowest scorers with just three goals in eight matches, a contributing factor to Wolves considering a change at the helm.

The Telegraph first reported Wolves are ‘considering the future’ of Lage and would hold talks over whether to end his reign at 15 months.

The club’s hierarchy were content to give Lage more time with the fixture list easing in October. However, the West Ham loss might just be the defining moment.

Wolves’ higher-ups felt Lage should be doing much better with the quality of players he has at his disposal.

Few would argue a team containing the likes of Jose Sa, Ruben Neves, Matheus Nunes and Pedro Neto should be anywhere near the relegation zone.

Speaking after the Hammers loss, Lage was asked if he’s feeling the pressure.

“I feel pressure since the first day I came, that’s why I make pressure for everyone,” he said (via the Express and Star).

“To bring the players as soon as possible to adapt to the country and in the new system we are playing.

“Sometimes when you look at the situation with a manager you need to forget it, the question will be whether we have a striker fit to play 90 minutes.

“We need to continue to work hard and find the solutions. This is the momentum. We don’t have strikers and players go to the national team and get injured, like Hwang.

“It looks like everything goes wrong and we need to turn it around with hard work.”

🗣️ “We are a different team when we have a striker.”

Wolves boss Bruno Lage says his side had good opportunities against West Ham but needed a striker from the start to make the difference. pic.twitter.com/it4W1U1S6t

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 1, 2022

Ruben Neves also spoke to the press, and hinted the playing personnel have done Lage no favours.

Neves took aim at an lack of effort in training from certain players and did his best to take the heat off his under-fire manager.

“We need to stop talking about performances,” said Neves.

“We always try to play our best to win but it is not enough. We need to make sure everyone goes on the same path.

“It is time to look to ourselves. What we are doing in the Premier League is not enough.

“If you don’t train like you play you will not be able to win enough games at the weekend. The good thing is we still have time to change this.

“Everyone, including me, can give a little bit more. We are not in good form so something needs to change.

“It is not the manager’s responsibility it is everyone. We are the ones that can get the results. It is about us not anybody else.

“We struggled a bit in the beginning with a lot of new players, a lot of players going out, but no more excuses.”

🐺💬

— Wolves (@Wolves) October 1, 2022