Wolves are currently in their fifth season outside the Premier League.
The 2011-12 season was one to forget for Wolverhampton Wanderers fans. Having stayed up by the skin of their teeth in 2010-11, they were cut well adrift the following season, finishing bottom of the league, 12 points from survival and even 6 points off 19th placed Blackburn Rovers.
It was a long and miserable season for the club, with Mick McCarthy’s ill-judged sacking without a proper replacement lined up proving costly. Perennial number two Terry Connor took permanent charge of the club from February onwards, but failed to win a single game between then and the end of the season.
Things went from bad to worse the following season with relegation from the Championship, before bouncing back by setting a record high points tally for League One. Four-and-a-half years on from their relegation from the Premier League, HITC Sport takes a look at where Wolves last top flight starting XI are now…
Ex-Wolves trio Sylvan Ebanks Blake, Karl Henry and Kevin Doyle
Dorus de Vries
Former Swansea City shot stopper Dorus de Vries spent two seasons at Wolves, but largely served as backup to Wayne Hennessey and Carl Ikeme. In fact, his start in Wolves’ last top flight game was one of just four Premier League appearances he made for the club. The 35-year-old Dutchman now plays for Celtic where he is number 2 to Craig Gordon.
Richard Stearman
Experienced defender Richard Stearman was born in Wolverhampton, but he came through the ranks at Leicester City, joining Wolves in 2008. After 7 years at Molineux, the former England youth international left to join Fulham in 2015, although he is currently back on-loan at Wolves.
Stephen Ward
Stephen Ward currently plays for Burnley in the Premier League
Another long-time servant for Wolves, Stephen Ward also spent 7 years at the club, making just shy of 250 appearances. The versatile Republic of Ireland international is still playing in the Premier League, having joined Sean Dyche’s Burnley in 2014.
Christophe Berra
Christophe Berra joined Wolves from his boyhood club Hearts in 2009, and spent five-and-a-half seasons as a regular at Molineux. The 31-year-old Scotland international departed for Ipswich Town in 2013 where he reunited with former Wanderers boss Mick McCarthy.
Ronald Zubar
Every one of Wolves back four in their last Premier League game spent 4 or more years at the club, and Guadeloupean international Ronald Zubar is no exception. The powerful defender joined Wolves in 2009 from Marseille before returning to France in 2013. Zubar is currently out of contract following a season in the MLS with the New York Red Bulls.
David Edwards
David Edwards has scored 7 goals this season for Wolverhampton Wanderers
A lot of Wolves fans have mixed views on Dave Edwards. Some see him as a solid, hard working and intelligent midfield player with a knack of getting into the right place at the right time, whilst some have accused him of allowing the midfield to be overrun and playing more like a forward at times.
Ultimately, most Wolves fans appreciate what Edwards does for the Wolves team and the effort and application he routinely shows. The only player to score in every season that Steve Morgan owned the club (10), Edwards is still at Wolves and a full international with Wales.
Karl Henry
Karl Henry now plays for Queens Park Rangers
Much-maligned midfielder Karl Henry had a mixed 7 years at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Whilst his first few years went well and he appeared to have been a bargain at just £100,000, his form and Wolves fans opinions of him decreased towards the end of his time at the club. Aged 34, Henry is currently contracted to Championship rivals QPR.
Stephen Hunt
A hard working player with a useful delivery, Stephen Hunt didn’t look out of place in the Premier League during his prime, winning Player of the Year at Hull City and Reading in the top flight. He joined Wolves following Hull’s relegation in 2010 and retired from the professional game at the end of the 2015-16 season. He has since written columns for the Irish Independent.
Matt Jarvis
Matt Jarvis impressed during his time at Wolves
Matt Jarvis has spent eight seasons as a Premier League player and even won an England cap back in 2011. The 30-year-old spent 5 years at Wolves before being sold to West Ham. The former Gillingham trainee is currently playing in the Championship with Norwich City.
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
Powerful forward Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was superb for Wolves in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons, but struggled following the team’s promotion to the Premier League. The 30-year-old former Plymouth ace left Wolves in 2013 with an impressive scoring record, and now plays for Shrewsbury in League One, on-loan from Chesterfield.
Kevin Doyle
Kevin Doyle in MLS action for the Colorado Rapids
Wolves top scorer the season they were relegated Steven Fletcher was benched for the final day of the campaign, and it was Kevin Doyle who partnered Sylvan Ebanks-Blake up top. The Irish international with 62 caps to his name scored 33 goals in 179 games for Wolves. He now plays in the US for the 2010 MLS Cup winners Colorado Rapids.
See also: Championship star discusses lack of opportunities and departure from Wolves.
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