Henry Winter has dropped a Wolves managerial update by giving news on some of the candidates who could replace Nuno Espirito Santo.
The Lowdown: Nuno leaving
It has been confirmed by the Midlands club that Nuno will leave after he took charge of his final game against Manchester United at Molineux as the Premier League season drew to a close this afternoon.
Interestingly, it has been reported that Fosun initiated the end of his reign and moved to take action after what has been a highly disappointing season overall for Wolves.
It is understood that the Chinese ownership thought that the 47-year-old leaving was the way forward after months of tension behind the scenes, as they were left frustrated by some poor displays and results, while there have also been arguments over the transfer policy and Nuno’s communication.
The Latest: Winter on manager candidates
Winter has since dropped a manager update, as The Times journalist tweeted that both Rui Faria and Sergio Conceicao are ‘not in the frame’, while Bruno Lage is Nuno’s ‘likely successor’.
All three managers are Portuguese and duly fit in with the club’s current model, as they will be expected to announce their new manager in due course.
The Verdict: Lage not ideal
Faria and Lage are both currently without a club and so would perhaps be the easiest coaches for Wolves to approach, but according to Winter, it does not seem as if Jose Mourinho’s long-time assistant is being considered at this moment in time.
Conceicao would have been a viable option, having guided FC Porto to a commendable second-placed finish in the Portuguese top flight this term while also taking them far in the Champions League, knocking out Serie A giants Juventus before eventually being beaten by finalists Chelsea over two legs in the quarter-finals.
Lage’s preferred formation is a 4-4-2, which was not a system that Nuno preferred to play, so if the 45-year-old were to become the next manager, some players may struggle to adapt to his tactics and philosophy.
With no prior experience of managing in the Premier League either, the former Benfica coach may struggle to adapt to this league, and the English top flight is a whole different animal to the Primeira Liga.
Nonetheless, with the summer transfer window not open yet, Wolves can afford to wait a little before making such a big decision.
In other news, find out who else is a leading contender to replace Nuno!
