Wolves staff profiles

Pen pics of Wolves' coaching, performance and analytics staff. For more profiles, click HERE.

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

SPORTING DIRECTOR

Mathew Hobbs

Nationality: English

First joined the club in 2015 as scout for the south-west of England. Went on to become Head of Emerging Talent, Head of Academy Recruitment, Chief Scout and Head of Recruitment. In November 2022 he was appointed Sporting Director, taking on "management of the sporting and performance departments at the club."

COACHING

HEAD COACH

Gary O'Neil

Nationality: English

Played almost 500 senior games, many of them in the Premier League. Moved into coaching Liverpool U23s assistant and then became first-team coach under Jonathan Woodgate at Bournemouth. Went on to become manager for most of 2022/23 and kept the side in the Premier League. His reward was the sack, in the following close season, but then he got the opportunity at Wolves on the eve of the campaign.

ASSISTANT

Shaun Derry

Nationality: Irish

Played alongside O'Neil at Portsmouth. Was U23s Head Coach at Crystal Palace before being promoted to first-team coach in August 2021. Was sacked by Patrick Vieira in February 2023 before being reinstated by Roy Hodgson the following June.

FIRST-TEAM COACH

Tim Jenkins

Nationality: English

Also worked with O'Neil at Bournemouth and with Liverpool U23s. Background in analysis, having worked for Prozone and then for Liverpool as Academy Head of Analysis. Promoted to Head of Individual Development with the Reds.

FIRST-TEAM COACH

Ian Burchnall

Nationality: English

Began coaching at 22 at the University of Leeds and took his first first-team role with Norwegian club Sarpsborg 08 in 2012. After that he became manager of Viking in Norway, Ostersunds in Sweden and then Notts County and Forest Green in England, before six months with Anderlecht. Joined Wolves in September 2023.

GOALKEEPER COACH

Neil Cutler

Nationality: English

Made more than 200 appearances as a player and has coached at Walsall, West Brom, Aston Villa and now Wolves in the Midlands.

PERFORMANCE

HEAD OF HIGH PERFORMANCE

Phil Hayward

Nationality: English

Initially worked for club from May 2008 to December 2019, latterly as Head of Medical. Then moved to United States as Director of Performance for LA Galaxy, before working as Andy Murray's physio on the ATP Tour last year. Returned to Molineux in 2023 in current role, which involves overall responsibility for performance and medical in men's and women's senior teams and Academy.

SPORTS SCIENTIST

Tom Male

Nationality: English

Responsible for use/ analysis of GPS at first-team and Academy levels.

PSYCHOLOGIST

Dr Martin Littlewood

Nationality: English

Replaced Kate Ludlum, who had been Head of Psychology for 17 months, in December 2022. Littlewood previously worked under Steven Gerrard at Rangers and Aston Villa.

CHEF

MELISSA FORDE

Nationality: English

Another appointed in the revamp at the start of 2021/22.

NUTRITIONIST

Matthew North

Nationality: English

Joined in November 2022. Has previously worked for Yorkshire Cricket.

MEDICAL

DOCTOR

Dr Kai Win

Nationality:

Arrived from nearby Birmingham City, where she was also first-team doctor, at the start of 2021/22.

HEAD PHYSIO

Ben Macdonald

Nationality: English

Appointed in September 2021, having spent the previous there-and-a-half years as Lead Physio for British Cycling.

PHYSIO

Ollie Leaper

Nationality: English

Previously worked for Birmingham and Watford. Joined Wolves in April 2017.

PHYSIO

Rui Fuste

Nationality: Portuguese

Arrival pre-dated that of Nuno Espirito Santo and stayed on after his compatriot's departure at the end of 2020/21.

PHYSIO

Matt Butterfield

Nationality: English

Was Head of Academy Physiotherapy before being promoted to First-Team Physio in June 2023.

OSTEOPATH

Jon Murray

Nationality: English

Appointed in March 2023 after nine years with UK Athletics.

ANALYSIS

HEAD OF PERFORMANCE & RESEARCH

Mathew Pearson

Nationality: English

Graduate of Liverpool John Moores who worked for Qatar FA and Aspire before joining Wolves' Academy in February 2017, Promoted to first team in August 2017 and then this new role in October 2020.

COACH-ANALYST

Woody Dewar

Nationality: English

Started this new role in September 2023. Joined from Watford, where he was Lead First Team Analyst and Scouting Co-Ordinator. Has also worked for Tottenham, as Head of Academy Analysis, and Manchester City, as U18s Analyst.

ASSISTANT ANALYST

John Boston

Nationality: English

Intern at Leicester City before joining Wolves in July 2015. Focuses on post-match analysis.

ASSISTANT PERFORMANCE ANALYST

Tom Hocking

Nationality: English

Worked for the Academy for four years before being promoted to first-team duties in August 2022.

FOOTBALL RESEARCH & METHODOLOGY ANALYST

Francisco Belo

Nationality: Portuguese

Newly-created role that involves "trend and research analysis across Wolves’ performance, the Premier League, as well as other global football trends”, as well as supporting the first team analysts in their pre and post-match analysis. Belo joined in January 2021 from Everton, where he had been Technical Coaching Analyst for six seasons.

RESEARCH & SUPPORT ANALYST

Ed Ames

Nationality: English

Joined in August 2016 as an intern, having graduated from the University of Worcester. Got a full-time role in the Academy before being promoted to the first team in 2018.

OTHER

KIT CO-ORDINATOR

Sam Perrin

Nationality: English

Joined Wolves in December 2019 having previously worked for three-and-a-half seasons at Notts County.

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