On January 19th 2019, Diogo Jota became the first Wolves player in over 40 years to score a hat-trick in the top-flight, his ruthless treble helping Nuno Espirito Santo’s side edge Leicester City 4-3 at a bouncing Molineux.
It was another player in Old Gold who caught Mick Beale’s eye that day, however.
“Ruben Neves’ passing has been superb today,” the then-Rangers coach wrote on Twitter, having previously been tipped off about the Portugal playmaker’s talents by former Anfield colleague Pep Ljinders.
“Taking over from (Cesc) Fabregas as the midfielder in the Premier League that looks for his forwards at every opportunity. Pep Lijnders has been telling me about him for four or five years, after working with him at Porto.
“He wasn’t wrong! He is a top player!”
Mick Beale could now work with Ruben Neves at Wolves
One suspects the chance to marvel at Neves’ trademark 60 yard diagonals at close quarters will be a major factor in Beale deciding whether or not he wants to join one of the Premier League’s finest technicians in the Black Country.
After taking Queens Park Rangers to within three points of the top of the Championship table, The Athletic say that 42-year-old Beale is now the leading candidate to replace Bruno Lage in the Wolves dugout. There is a release clause in Beale’s QPR contract.
What’s more, the ex-Aston Villa assistant has made no secret about his desire to coach at the highest level. Taking sole charge of a Premier League club – one boasting talents such as Neves, Raul Jimenez, Adama Traore, Max Kilman and Matheus Nunes – would be a logical next step in his career. Even after just four months in West London.
“It’s obvious that I’m ambitious,” Beale explains. “It’s obvious that the players here at QPR want to go and play in the Premier League. And I want to go and manage there, in Europe and above.
“But you deal with today. And, today, I’m the manager of QPR.”
Indeed. But what about tomorrow?
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