Wolves Appoint Cesar Peixoto as Rob Edwards Era Ends

Wolves are preparing to draw a sharp line under Rob Edwards’ brief and bruising tenure, with a full agreement in place for Gil Vicente head coach Cesar Peixoto to take charge at Molineux.

The club has not yet formally announced Edwards’ dismissal, but the decision is made. The hierarchy has already moved on, striking a rapid deal with Peixoto after talks accelerated in recent days, heavily driven by the influence of super-agent Jorge Mendes and his long-standing relationship with owners Fosun.

Edwards out after relegation and rising doubts

Reservations over Edwards’ future began long before the final whistle on Wolves’ relegation campaign. Concerns first surfaced in December, when his inauspicious start raised alarms inside the club despite the romantic pull of a hometown manager returning to lead the Old Gold.

There were improvements. Performances steadied, and there were moments when it looked as though Wolves might claw their way to safety. They never did. The season ended with just 20 points and three wins, a meek descent out of the Premier League that stripped away any remaining protection around Edwards.

The original plan appeared to be different. Many inside and outside the club believed his appointment was as much about the Championship as the Premier League – a long-term bet on a young coach trusted to rebuild and drive an immediate return.

He did not waste his time behind the scenes. Edwards helped shape Wolves’ recruitment strategy, playing a key role in persuading Raul Jimenez to return to Molineux and in pushing through the move for experienced defender Kieran Trippier. On paper, that kind of influence usually buys patience.

It hasn’t. With new executive chairman Nathan Shi keen to stamp his authority on the club’s direction, scrutiny around Edwards intensified. Questions grew louder, and conversations with Mendes followed. The outcome is now clear.

Mendes moves, Peixoto steps in

Once Wolves opened the door, Mendes pushed hard. Sources indicate he actively promoted Peixoto as the alternative, presenting the 46-year-old as an emerging coach with a clear vision and a modern, adaptable tactical approach.

Talks moved quickly. Wolves’ decision-makers were given a detailed breakdown of Peixoto’s methods, his work on the training ground, and his handling of difficult conditions at Gil Vicente. Those meetings convinced them. A full agreement was reached, and Peixoto is lined up to take over immediately.

For English fans, his name might not carry the same weight as his playing CV. In Portugal, though, Peixoto is a familiar figure. As a player he wore the colours of Benfica and Porto and earned international honours with the national team. His coaching path, until recently, told a very different story.

Before 2025, his managerial record was underwhelming – short spells, limited impact, no defining success to hang his reputation on. Then came Gil Vicente. That job changed everything.

Peixoto guided the club to an impressive sixth-place finish, comfortably the standout achievement of his coaching career and a season that drew admiring glances from across Europe. It wasn’t just the league position that caught attention, but the way his side competed under testing circumstances, with restricted resources and little margin for error.

Inside Wolves, that work has resonated. The hierarchy view him as a coach with significant upside: tactically sharp, battle-tested by adversity, and hungry for a bigger stage.

High stakes at Molineux

This is not a gentle landing. Wolves have just dropped out of the Premier League, and the demand for an immediate return is not subtle. Expectation at Molineux is high, the pressure unforgiving.

Peixoto walks into a club that has already begun shaping a squad in which Edwards had a heavy say. He inherits the benefit of that recruitment – players like Jimenez and Trippier – but not the goodwill that often cushions a new manager. Results will have to come quickly.

Wolves are betting that a coach who rebuilt his reputation in Portugal can now rebuild theirs in England. The Edwards gamble is over. The Peixoto project starts now, with promotion the only acceptable measure of success.