Sergio Conceicao has been warned that Wolverhampton Wanderers would represent a sizeable downgrade from FC Porto as the Premier League strugglers look for a Bruno Lage replacement, former Portugal international Rodolfo Reis tells Record.
Whoever takes Lage’s place in the Molineux dugout will inherit one a squad of players most top-flight managers would love to call their own.
Simply put, a team containing Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho, Goncalo Guedes, Adama Traore, Pedro Neto, Daniel Podence, Jose Sa, Nelson Semedo, Max Kilman and Matheus Nunes should not even be in the same post-code as the relegation zone, even if injuries to both Raul Jimenez and Sasa Kalajdzic has left the Wolves looking more than a little toothless in the final third.
47-year-old Conceicao is almost certain to come into consideration again. He was a leading candidate to take over at Molineux following Nuno Espirito Santo’s departure in the summer of 2021.
Who will replace Bruno Lage as Wolves manager?
But Reis, in rather eloquent terms, has explained why the Porto boss would be making a big mistake swapping the reigning Portuguese champions for a team sitting 18th in the Premier League table.
“Wolverhampton? Sergio would go from horse to donkey,” Reis says; a less-than-flattering description of a club who are likely to delve into the Iberian market once again.
Conceicao, demanding and ambitious, has won no fewer than eight trophies since taking over at Porto in June 2017; including a trio of Primeira Liga titles. The one-time Nantes boss has also been named Portugal’s Manager of the Year on three separate occasions.
According to The Sun, Ruben Amorim – the man who broke Conceicao’s stranglehold on the domestic game in 2021 – is currently the leading candidate to take Lage’s place on the Wolves bench. The Black Country outfit would have to pay a staggering compensation sum of £20 million to lure 37-year-old Amorim away from Sporting Lisbon however.
Former Olympiakos boss Pedro Martins is another potential candidate. Ditto Javi Gracia and Carlos Carvalhal, who worked alongside Lage at Swansea City and Sheffield Wednesday.
Lage sacked by Wolves
“Bruno is an excellent coach,” explains chairman Jeff Shi. “A hardworking and dedicated manager, and a warm, wise and honest man.
“He and his staff have been a pleasure to work with throughout their time at Wolves. So it is with much sadness that we have had to make what has been a difficult decision.
“I honestly have no doubts about Bruno’s ability, and I’m sure he will succeed elsewhere, however the team’s form and performances over the last few months mean that we have no choice but to act.
“On behalf of everyone at Wolves, I would like to place on record our gratitude to Bruno and his coaching team for all their efforts during their time with the club, and wish them the very best for the future.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
