It’s an understatement to say Wolves’ fans have waited a long time to get their hands-on silverware and although Nuno Espirito Santo hasn’t delivered anything in that regards either, he has built up the strongest team Molineux has witnessed in many years. But, what does the team need to get to that next level?
Purely for a bit of fun, here we look at players from the past who would get into our existing squad to make Wolves genuine contenders for the big prizes.
Number 5. Robbie Keane
Some might be surprised to see Keane feature on this list given he only spent a couple of years at Molineux but it’s hard to ignore a man who notched so many goals throughout his career. He burst on the scene as a 17 year old and went on to average one goal every three games across 74 appearances for the club and, not that we’ll ever know, but for the clubs financial situation he may have remained slightly longer and scored even more.
Instead though, the club cashed in on their teenage asset for a then record breaking fee (£8m). Wolves went their way and Keane went his, which happened to include scoring goals everywhere he played.
Number 4. Kenny Hibbitt
Every team could do with a goal scoring midfield player in their ranks and over a period of 544 matches Hibbitt netted 114 times for Wolves including the opening goal of the 1974 League Cup that Wolves went on to win. Hibbitt was also in the side that won the same cup 1980 and narrowly missed out on UEFA cup glory in 72.
His time with Wolves did wind down with a loan spell at Seattle Sounders where the lingo is more focus on the NFL Super Bowl bets than proper football. A permanent move to Coventry ended his stay with the club but he still has the honour of being one of the most capped players ever to have donned the gold shirt.
Number 3. Jimmy Mullen
How much would a Jimmy Mullen cost in today’s game? I suspect it might be out of Wolves’ price range as blistering wingers with end product don’t come cheap. The man, who was England’s first ever substitute, made his bow at age 16 and 43 days making him the clubs youngest ever player. That wasn’t the only mark Mullen left on the club though. He was a key part of the team that won three league titles in the fifties and was a FA Cup winner in 49. He was widely regarded as one of the best wide midfielders of his day and a record of 112 goals in 486 games would have been even more impressive if not interrupted by the war.
Number 2. Billy Wright
Wright spent his entire career at Wolves accumulating 541 appearances and during that time he skippered the side to four trophies – an FA Cup and three league triumphs. It isn’t just in Wolverhampton where Wright is treasured though; he became the world’s first international level centennial and won a total of 105 caps – wearing the captains armband on 90 occasions.
Wright was the ultimate centre half with leadership qualities to boot and, if playing in the modern game, he’d come with a price tag far bigger than the world record fee Man United paid for Harry Maguire.
Number 1. Steve Bull
£65,000 wouldn’t buy you much in today’s transfer market but back in 1986 it was enough to bring Steve Bull to Molineux and when he retired – prior to his brief comeback with Hereford – it worked out at just £212 per goal.
Bull arrived when Wolves were in the doldrums of the fourth division but his goals, which made him the clubs record scorer, fired them all the way to division one – the original top tier. He had the chance to play in the Premier League too, but Bully remained loyal to Wolves – and they love him for it all.
There you have it, five players from the history books that would transform the current squad from very good to simply sensational. Who else you would include in the list?
