The end of Wolves’ Portuguese era? | OneFootball

Wolves may have earned the nickname ‘the most Portuguese club in England,’ but that era appears to be coming to an end.

Only three Portuguese players remain, a number made even more striking by Vítor Pereira's recent decision to field a starting XI completely without them.

In last-minute team news for the clash with Tottenham, Pereira named a starting XI entirely devoid of Portuguese players.

José Sá, Toti Gomes and Rodrigo Gomes were all consigned to the bench, meaning Wolves lined up for a Premier League fixture without a single Portuguese starter for the first time in seven years.

It was a historic moment, ending a run of 272 consecutive Premier League matches featuring at least one Portuguese player - a streak spanning seven full seasons and five matches from 2025/26.

With that in mind, Playmaker stats decided to take a closer look at how Portugal’s influence on Wolverhampton has evolved over the years.

Reduced Portuguese presence

As mentioned earlier, the number of Portuguese players in the Wolverhampton squad has drastically decreased over the last few seasons, with the main exodus occurring in the transition from 2024/25 to the current season.

The number of Portuguese players at Wolves has dropped sharply in recent seasons, with the biggest exodus occurring between 2024/25 and the current campaign.

Between 2020/21 and 2022/23, Portuguese players dominated the squad and locker room. Since then, the club has always retained at least six Portuguese players, but Pereira’s side now counts just three - still the second-most represented nationality, but a far cry from previous dominance.

The impact of these Portuguese foundations has been profound. In total, 27 Portuguese players have donned the Wolves shirt, leaving a lasting legacy.

Rúben Neves tops the list with 253 appearances over six seasons, followed by João Moutinho (212) and Nélson Semedo (182). José Sá, still at the club, ranks fourth with 150 matches - four standout names from the Wolves’ Portuguese era.

This decline has also been mirrored on the touchline. After three seasons under Nuno Espírito Santo and a spell with Bruno Lage, the club appointed Julen Lopetegui and Gary O’Neil, before returning to Portuguese leadership with Pereira.

No Portuguese starters: a throwback to 2011/12

After six years away from England's top tier, Wolverhampton returned to the top flight in 2018/19, thanks to an extraordinary campaign in the EFL Championship 17/18. The presence of Portuguese elements was evident from the first moment/game, which represented a huge contrast to the last year the Wolves were in the top division.

At that time, the Wolves - led by Mick McCarthy and Terrence Connor (towards the end of the season) - did not have any Portuguese in their squad. In fact, only one Portuguese had represented the yellow team from England until then - Silas.

That 2011/12 season ended with five wins, ten draws, and 23 losses, a goal difference of 40-82, and relegation to the second tier.

Fourteen years on, Wolves find themselves in a similarly precarious position, albeit for different reasons. Pereira has struggled for results, with five defeats and a draw from six league games, leaving the club anchored at the bottom of the Premier League table.

Could the absence of Portuguese players this season be contributing to the rocky start to 2025/26? Time will tell.