Wolves appoint Portuguese Peixoto as new boss

Wolverhampton Wanderers have appointed Cesar Peixoto as their new head coach on a two-year deal.

The 46-year-old arrives from Portuguese top-flight club Gil Vicente and replaces Rob Edwards who was sacked last week.

Peixoto takes charge of a Wolves side who will play in the Championship for the first time since 2018 after they finished bottom of the Premier League last season.

It will be Peixoto's first job outside of Portugal having led Gil Vicente to a sixth-placed finish in the Primeira Liga in 2025-26.

His last role was the first time in his seven years as a manager that he completed an entire season in charge at one club.

"Throughout our discussions with him, it became clear very quickly that he possesses many of the qualities we believe are important for the future of this football club," Wolves executive chairman Nathan Shi said.

"We wanted clear identity, strong leadership qualities and a real hunger to succeed. Cesar demonstrated all of those characteristics, but what impressed me most was his mentality, his work ethic and his willingness to embrace the challenge in front of him.

"He is young, energetic and ambitious, but he is also thoughtful, accountable and willing to challenge himself and those around him in pursuit of improvement.

"We believe he will be an excellent fit for the culture and vision we are building at Wolves."

As a player, Peixoto won a single cap for Portugal in 2008, and was part of Jose Mourinho's Champions League-winning Porto squad in 2004.

Out of Wolves' past seven managers, Peixoto is the fourth from Portugal following Nuno Espirito Santo, Bruno Lage and Vitor Pereira.

"I'm proud to be here at this big, historic club in England," Peixoto said.

"It's a big opportunity for me and I'm prepared to do everything to put Wolves where it belongs in the Premier League.

"We have great players, but I think the team can improve a lot with me and I can improve as a technical head coach. I want to put my identity onto the team, build a strong identity at the club and also help the team to grow by showing my identity and my way of playing.

"This is an amazing club, and it is important for me to make Wolves play in a way which reflects the fans. It's a hard-working city with a lot of energy and a lot of passion, and I want them to see a team which plays an offensive game, with good organisation and a team who play for the fans.

"I want the supporters to be proud of our players, be proud of the way we play and the way we fight game after game to bring the victory, and to achieve the main aim, which is to put Wolves back in the Premier League."

"I am the person who takes full responsibility and I will be accountable for my job and the future plan of Wolves," said executive chairman Nathan Shi last month.

After the shock sacking of Rob Edwards last week, one which blindsided the manager and his staff along with many at Molineux, it is not just Shi who needs this change - which is a gamble - to work for Wolves.

Shi and owners Fosun led the change and after replacing Jeff Shi in December, he could find himself the focal point of supporters' anger just like his predecessor.

If it fails, a fanbase who had started revolting over the past 18 months will look for full revolution against the owners.

Automatic promotion is the plan next season and Cesar Peixoto has to have Wolves in the title race in the Championship.

Even then, there is no harmony or patience with Fosun after what supporters see as a managed decline over the years of selling off the club's best players and failing to replace them.

Wolves and the ownership deny that and they are expected to financially back Peixoto - just like they had planned to do with Edwards - to ensure they return to the Premier League at the first attempt.

The club wanted more experienced players, with knowledge of the English game, to help and also reflect the club and city better and Raul Jimenez's return does just that.

So there is positivity, the mistakes of last summer's window look to have been learned from.

But after Edwards' dismissal - him and his staff finding out about a possible change on social media - and the unity presented, with words like "alignment" used over the past few months, the direction of Wolves remains hard to judge.