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
Mayur Ranchordas
Nationality: English
Also a lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University. Works closely with chef Melissa Forde.
MEDICAL
HEAD OF MEDICAL SERVICES
Dr Franchek Drobnic
Nationality:
Brought to the club in December 2022 on recommendation of Lopetegui. Previously worked for Barcelona for 16 years. Works primarily with the first team.
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.
SPORTS THERAPIST
Danny Fishwick
Nationality: English
Appointed in March 2017 following a year at Fleetwood Town.
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.
