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Wolves Part Ways With Rob Edwards, Name Cesar Peixoto as New Head Coach
Wolverhampton Wanderers announced on 11 June 2026 that head coach Rob Edwards had been dismissed and that the club had reached an agreement in principle with Portuguese manager Cesar Peixoto to take over the role.
Edwards, who was appointed by Wolves in November 2025, had been brought in from Middlesbrough after the club paid a reported £3.8 million to secure his services and those of assistant Harry Watling. He inherited a squad that had been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2025‑26 season, finishing bottom of the Championship table with 20 points and only three victories. Despite the overall poor campaign, Wolves recorded a win over Liverpool and a draw with eventual champions Arsenal in March, performances that had been cited as signs of potential.
During his brief tenure, Edwards was credited with helping the club secure the signings of former England international Kieran Trippier and Mexican striker Raul Jiménez. The Wolves statement said the club had “conducted a comprehensive review at the conclusion of the season” and that a “change in leadership is necessary as Wolves enters the next stage of its development.” Executive chairman Nathan Shi added that the decision was not a judgment on Edwards’ character or professionalism but rather a strategic move to align the club’s sporting direction with its future ambitions.
The club’s announcement came a day after the completion of Jiménez’s transfer. Wolves’ statement did not detail the reasons for the dismissal beyond the need for a new sporting direction. It noted that the club had “undertaken a thorough review of every aspect of the football operation” and that the decision was made after “careful consideration of many factors.”
Cesar Peixoto, 46, was appointed head coach of Primeira Liga side Gil Vicente in March 2025. He guided the club to a seventh‑place finish in his first season, securing survival, and then to a sixth‑place finish in 2025‑26, the highest league position in the club’s recent history. Peixoto is represented by the Gestifute agency, headed by Jorge Mendes, which has a long‑standing relationship with Wolves’ Chinese owners. Wolves have previously hired three Gestifute clients as head coach—Vitor Pereira, Bruno Lage and Nuno Espírito Santo—and the agency’s network has helped the club sign players such as Pedro Neto and Ruben Neves.
The Wolves statement said that Peixoto’s appointment would “provide the strongest platform for future success.” While the club did not disclose contractual details, the move follows a pattern of Wolves seeking managers with a proven track record of building competitive teams and a willingness to work within the club’s broader strategic framework.
Wolves are currently competing in the EFL Championship after their relegation from the Premier League. The club’s objective for the 2026‑27 season is to secure promotion back to the top flight. Peixoto’s experience in a top‑flight European league and his recent success in achieving a high league finish with Gil Vicente are seen as assets that could help Wolves rebuild momentum.
The club will begin the new season with a home match against Leeds United on 15 August 2026. Peixoto will have a limited window to assess the squad and implement his tactical philosophy before the first fixture. Wolves’ board has indicated that the club remains committed to a long‑term project and that the coaching change is part of a broader strategy to achieve sustainable success.
In summary, Wolverhampton Wanderers have terminated the contract of Rob Edwards and have agreed to appoint Cesar Peixoto as head coach. The decision follows a comprehensive review of the club’s sporting direction and is intended to position Wolves for a swift return to the Premier League. The next few months will be critical as Peixoto works to integrate his ideas, assess the squad, and prepare the team for the Championship campaign that will begin in August.
Edwards, who was appointed by Wolves in November 2025, had been brought in from Middlesbrough after the club paid a reported £3.8 million to secure his services and those of assistant Harry Watling. He inherited a squad that had been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2025‑26 season, finishing bottom of the Championship table with 20 points and only three victories. Despite the overall poor campaign, Wolves recorded a win over Liverpool and a draw with eventual champions Arsenal in March, performances that had been cited as signs of potential.
During his brief tenure, Edwards was credited with helping the club secure the signings of former England international Kieran Trippier and Mexican striker Raul Jiménez. The Wolves statement said the club had “conducted a comprehensive review at the conclusion of the season” and that a “change in leadership is necessary as Wolves enters the next stage of its development.” Executive chairman Nathan Shi added that the decision was not a judgment on Edwards’ character or professionalism but rather a strategic move to align the club’s sporting direction with its future ambitions.
The club’s announcement came a day after the completion of Jiménez’s transfer. Wolves’ statement did not detail the reasons for the dismissal beyond the need for a new sporting direction. It noted that the club had “undertaken a thorough review of every aspect of the football operation” and that the decision was made after “careful consideration of many factors.”
Cesar Peixoto, 46, was appointed head coach of Primeira Liga side Gil Vicente in March 2025. He guided the club to a seventh‑place finish in his first season, securing survival, and then to a sixth‑place finish in 2025‑26, the highest league position in the club’s recent history. Peixoto is represented by the Gestifute agency, headed by Jorge Mendes, which has a long‑standing relationship with Wolves’ Chinese owners. Wolves have previously hired three Gestifute clients as head coach—Vitor Pereira, Bruno Lage and Nuno Espírito Santo—and the agency’s network has helped the club sign players such as Pedro Neto and Ruben Neves.
The Wolves statement said that Peixoto’s appointment would “provide the strongest platform for future success.” While the club did not disclose contractual details, the move follows a pattern of Wolves seeking managers with a proven track record of building competitive teams and a willingness to work within the club’s broader strategic framework.
Wolves are currently competing in the EFL Championship after their relegation from the Premier League. The club’s objective for the 2026‑27 season is to secure promotion back to the top flight. Peixoto’s experience in a top‑flight European league and his recent success in achieving a high league finish with Gil Vicente are seen as assets that could help Wolves rebuild momentum.
The club will begin the new season with a home match against Leeds United on 15 August 2026. Peixoto will have a limited window to assess the squad and implement his tactical philosophy before the first fixture. Wolves’ board has indicated that the club remains committed to a long‑term project and that the coaching change is part of a broader strategy to achieve sustainable success.
In summary, Wolverhampton Wanderers have terminated the contract of Rob Edwards and have agreed to appoint Cesar Peixoto as head coach. The decision follows a comprehensive review of the club’s sporting direction and is intended to position Wolves for a swift return to the Premier League. The next few months will be critical as Peixoto works to integrate his ideas, assess the squad, and prepare the team for the Championship campaign that will begin in August.
