The first words from Rob Edwards and Jeff Shi now, with appointment marking ‘new chapter’ for Wolves, following Vitor Pereira’s departure.
Edwards resigned from Middlesbrough to become new Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach on a 3.5-year deal, marking his fourth spell at the club.
The Telford-born ex-defender, who made 111 apps for Wolves between 2004 and 2008) returns having guided Boro to 2nd in Championship.
Chairman Jeff Shi hailed Edwards as “talented, someone knows the club, the city, and the fans” with it to bring fresh philosophy in the hope of resetting Wolves.
Welcome back, Rob Edwards 🐺
🗞️ https://t.co/wev3xlkSk0 pic.twitter.com/ayefCHi64R
— Wolves (@Wolves) November 12, 2025
Rob Edwards returns. 👋 pic.twitter.com/7l7eCTBTYi
— Wolves (@Wolves) November 12, 2025
WOLVES STATEMENT:
Rob Edwards is the new Wolves head coach, having signed a three-and-a-half-year deal to begin his fourth spell at the club.
The former Old Gold defender has taken to management impressively in recent years, earning promotions with Forest Green Rovers and Luton Town – to the Premier League – while enjoying a positive start to this Championship season with Middlesbrough.
Born in Telford, Edwards’ affinity with Wolves first began in 2004. He played 111 times across four seasons with the club, most notably in the centre of defence under Mick McCarthy.
Edwards, who was capped 15 times by Wales, later enjoyed spells with Blackpool – where he won promotion to the Premier League as a player – and Barnsley, and made his first steps into coaching with Wolves’ under-18s in 2014.
Within a year, he was working under Kenny Jackett as first-team coach, and in October 2016 took charge of two first-team matches on an interim basis, following Walter Zenga’s time at Molineux.
After a first taste of senior management with AFC Telford United, Edwards returned to Wolves once more as under-23 head coach and won a first promotion to the highest level of youth football for the club.
Time coaching within the Football Association followed, as did a first piece of silverware in senior management with Forest Green, having won the League Two title in 2022, before a brief stint with Watford.
It was at Luton where Edwards managed in the Premier League for the first time, having successfully guided the Hatters through the Championship play-offs in May 2023, and earned plaudits in the top flight.
Now, Edwards returns to Wolves on the back of a positive start to the season with Middlesbrough, who he leaves second in the Championship.
Jeff Shi said: “I know Rob very well and I have seen his growth in different jobs. He’s a very good person, he knows the club very well, he knows the city, the fans and he is very talented. When he was a youth coach here, he showed his tactical awareness, but after he took first-team jobs he started to grow his own identity, character and leadership.
“We need to refresh the whole club with a new coach’s philosophy, bringing his own identity and ideas, and we can build on that. We are at a new chapter for the club and Rob will be a key piece of that.”
Matt Jackson said: “Rob and his staff have demonstrated previously that they can be really good in shifting the culture, getting confidence quickly into players and building foundations for a really positive future. He loves being on the grass and making a change to a team, embracing the tactics of different situations.
“The energy that he brings off the field, we have to get it on to the pitch. We have to be realistic about where we are, and we definitely need to be held accountable. We now need to get that belief into the players quickly and think Rob will be great culturally for the whole football club.”
Edwards will be joined at the club by Harry Watling, who takes on the role of assistant head coach. After nine years in academy football, Watling gained managerial experience with Hartford Athletic in the US and Ebbsfleet United last year, before joining Edwards’ team at Middlesbrough. More backroom staff will be confirmed in the near future.
Favourites to become new Middlesbrough manager with Rob Edwards to Wolves now confirmed
MORE FROM JEFF SHI:
Chairman Jeff Shi believes Rob Edwards has the required skills, personality and knowledge to lead Wolves into a new chapter as head coach.
Edwards has returned to Wolves for a fourth spell, this time as permanent head coach for the first time, and it’s hoped his past with the club, and experience from four full-time senior management roles elsewhere will now be beneficial at Molineux.
Shi, who worked with Edwards during two of his previous three spells at the club, says he’s watched him evolve as a coach, and now insists the whole club will get behind the new head coach moving forward into a new era.
On welcoming Edwards back
“Nine years ago Rob helped us a lot in Paul Lambert’s team, and he coached the first-team for two games. We tried to get him into the first-team after Nuno came – it didn’t happen, but I’ve always rated his talent as a coach from beginning, when he was a youth coach.
“He left us for several years and did very well in different jobs, and sometimes I think it’s destiny of life. He’s reunited with us and I’m very happy because it’s not easy to have an old friend join us as the leader of the club, to start a new chapter for the whole club.”
On starting an exciting new chapter
“I think the club should reset. Sometimes in the past we tried to renew the old cycle, but at the moment I feel we need to refresh the whole club, the philosophy, but without a new coach, it can’t happen, because he’ll bring his own identity and ideas. After the takeover in 2016, it’s been almost 10 years, we are at a new chapter and Rob will be a key member for that.”
On Edwards being the right man
“I know him very well and I have seen his growth. I have seen his performances in different jobs. He’s a very good person, he knows the club very well, he knows the city, the fans and he is very talented. When he was a youth coach, he showed the tactical awareness, but after he took first-team jobs he started to grow his own identity, character and leadership.
“Rob will bring new things to the club, and I think we truly have the base to work as a whole club – every member of staff will be linked to the first-team and the whole club will support the first-team to perform, and with him we have the base to do that.”
On crucial skills and experience
“He communicates very, very well and he is clear on what he wants. He’s still young and has a humble heart to work with us. It’s sometimes tough to find a coach who is strong at his job but also willing to think about the long-term growth of the club. I hope he can be the next one to really have all the elements in his personality and skillset.
“To work at different clubs will help you to be more adaptable to different environments, which is a key skillset for any coach in the world. In different clubs, you’ll have different challenges, and it makes you more all rounded. For the job of a coach, every day you have new challenges, so to have multiple experiences in different areas will be very good for him.”
Inside the appointment of Rob Edwards as the new #Wolves head coach.
🐺 why Edwards was the No 1 target🐺 #Boro anger🐺 Coady & Trollope targeted🐺 Fosun accept ‘mistakes’🐺 January window🐺 A new chapter for Wolves?https://t.co/nyHCEQvmXD
— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) November 12, 2025
Here’s how fans reacted amid the first words from Rob Edwards and Jeff Shi with the appointment marking a ‘new chapter’ for Wolves…
@AA_Richards: Very much the opposite approach to what every sensible club is doing because keep on swapping coaches and flip-flopping between identities/philosophies ultimately leads to the mess in which Wolves currently find themselves! #WWFC
@FChungSport: Rob Edwards going to Wolves not only smacks of his character to me, but also for me accepts Wolves are down and are going to have a crack at the Champ next year. Fascinating logic and very intriguing appointment #WWFC #MFC
@dinglette1972: We all know things aren’t looking good for the club right now and we all know where the blame firmly lies. Rob Edwards has come home and is now our gaffer. He has a massive task on his hands. All we can do as fans is get behind him and hope for the best. Welcome back RE 🙏🏾 #wwfc
@wvBuckley: Nobody’s surely expecting him to keep us up. I don’t think anybody could at this stage. But I do think it’s a fantastic appointment for someone to rebuild us in the championship and to come back up stronger.
@MolineuxExpress: Not sure why but after this video alone, this move just feels right. The togetherness in the club could be back. Give Rob Edwards the backing and he CAN turn Wolves around. And if he doesn’t, he can give Wolves a good crack at coming back up first time of asking. #wwfc
@jemull_: All the fans saying “get ready for the worst football you’ve ever seen” like we have been watching great stuff for the past 7 months 😂 we’re horrendous lads, stop trying to get one up on us #wwfc
@philauton1985:Absolute chancer! Roll the bingo card…1. We are a family2. We are in it together3. This is a huge clubGood riddance
@Itismesilly: The look etched on his face is the same one that any one of us would have if we had just landed the job of our dreams @ our club. The reaction from staff also tells it’s own tale. If you can’t get behind this (one of our own) stay at home! GOOD LUCK ROB #wwfc
@ozrubyslippers: Any refresh of @Wolves has to be WITHOUT Jeff Shi. Sack him @Fosun_Intl. Immediately. A footballing top tier including Rob Edwards, Conor Coady & Joleon Lescott with some nous about the game, the interests of Wolves at heart and overdue big investment? I could go for that. #wwfc
@TheKevinLeslie: Look at that smile, he’s happy to be home. I wish him all success and hope he gets the support from the board that’s needed. #RobEdwards #wwfc 🐺
@CJ_7171: I’d have never appointed Edwards in a million years & it perfectly sums up just how far the Chinese crooks have sunk us but he’s one of us & wants to be here. Good luck in getting another 10 pts Rob, you’ll need it fella 👊🏻 still need the dictator c*** sacked mind #wwfc #shiout
