Wolves confirm appointment of Rob Edwards replacement after shock sacking

Wolves have appointed Portuguese Cesar Peixoto as their new head coach.

Peixoto, who has spent the last three months in charge of Portuguese club Gil Vicente, signs a two-year contract with the Championship club subject to a work permit.

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The hiring of Peixoto comes after the shock decision to sack Edwards, with talkSPORT understanding he only found out about his subsequent replacement via social media.

It prompted Edwards to call up Wolves‘ power brokers to find out the situation, where he was told he had indeed been relieved of his duties, much to his disbelief.

Peixoto eyes Premier League

Upon completing his move to Molineux, Peixoto told Wolves’ media channels: “I’m proud to be here at this big, historic club in England. 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.”

Meanwhile, executive chairman Nathan Shi said: “We are delighted to welcome Cesar to Wolves.

“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.

“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.

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“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.”

Wolves explain Edwards sacking in statement

Peixoto’s predecessor was left blindsided by his sacking with talkSPORT understanding he was actively planning for the season ahead with the hierarchy having been instrumental in signing Raul Jimenez and Kieran Trippier this summer.

“Our decision was not about character, professionalism or dedication,” Wolves said explaining Edwards’ departure in a statement.

“It was about determining what we believe gives Wolves the strongest opportunity to move forward from a sporting perspective.

“While there were positive signs and areas of progress, we ultimately concluded that a different football direction would better align with the style, identity and level of competitiveness we want to establish at the club.

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“It would have been easier to continue with what was familiar. However, leadership is not about choosing the easiest path, but about making the difficult decisions we believe are right for the future of the football club which will put Wolves on the strongest platform to move forward.”

Wolves were relegated to the Championship in the 2025/26 season, but many accepted it would have taken a miracle for Edwards to keep them up.

The club were winless when he arrived in November, with just two points on the board from 11 matches.

Despite some disgruntlement among the fanbase aimed at Edwards towards the end of the campaign, the former Middlesbrough boss was widely expected to be given the reins for the 2026/27 season.

He had signed a three-and-a-half-year deal but lasted just 30 games, winning only five of those.

Edwards’ final win with Wolves came against Liverpool on March 3. The 43-year-old is now on the hunt for his third club in the space of a year having joined Wolves from Boro last November.

Edwards’ uphill battle from the start

Edwards’ return to Wolves 17 years after he left as a player was met with criticism given Middlesbrough sat second in the Championship at the time of his exit.

He was also just six months into his tenure on Teesside.

Edwards was quick to downplay speculation when he was first linked to the Wolves post, with Boro also rejecting an approach from Wolves for their manager.

However, the situation quickly changed when Edwards expressed his desire to explore a move back to Molineux, ultimately paving the way for his return.