Wolverhampton Wanderers announced on their official website on Wednesday that Middlesbrough manager Rob Edwards has been officially appointed as the club's new head coach.

According to Wolves' official statement, Edwards has signed on a three-and-a-half-year contract with the club which runs until the summer of 2028.

His assistant, Harry Watling, will also join Wolves from Middlesbrough as his assistant. Other members of the coaching staff are yet to be determined.

Furthermore, according to Sky Sports' renowned Italian transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Wolves paid Middlesbrough a £4.5 million release clause to complete the transfer because the latter were initially reluctant to allow Wolves to approach and appoint Edwards.

However, this transfer has led Middlesbrough fans, currently in title contention, to label Edwards as a "traitor."

It's worth noting that this is Edwards' fourth stint with Wolves, having previously served the club three times as a player and youth team coach.

Regarding Edwards' appointment, club chairman and Fosun International Vice President Jeff Shi stated through the Wolverhampton Wanderers official website: "I know Rob very well and have witnessed his growth in various roles. He is an honest person, has a deep understanding of the club, the city, and the fans, and is exceptionally talented."

"He demonstrated excellent tactical awareness as a youth team coach here; and after taking charge of the first team, he gradually developed his own style, personality, and leadership."

"We need a new coach who can inject new vitality into the club with his philosophy, bringing his unique style and ideas so that we can continue to develop."

"The club is entering a new chapter, and Rob will be a key part of it."

Wolves officially announced on November 2nd that of their former Portuguese head coach, Vitor Pereira, has been sacked due to a winless start to the season and a the club being at the bottom-of-the-table position.

About Rob Edwards

Born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1982, in Telford, England, the 42-year-old Edwards is 1.85 meters tall and of Welsh descent. As a player, he was a Wales international centre-back, who had played for Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Derby County, Norwich City, and Blackpool, and from 2004 to 2008, played for Wolverhampton Wanderers.

As a player, Edwards won the EFL Championship play-offs with Blackpool in 2010.

After retiring in October 2013, Edwards immediately returned to Wolves as a youth academy coach. His outstanding performances led to his promotion to first-team coach in the summer of 2015.

The following October, Edwards was appointed Wolves' interim manager. He remained a first-team coach under then-manager Paul Lambert until his departure in the summer of 2017.

After leaving Wolves, Edwards was immediately appointed manager of his hometown club, Telford United.

During this spell, he not only failed to help the club achieve promotion but also only managed to narrowly avoid relegation, leading to his resignation the following summer.

In July 2018, Edwards returned to Wolves for the third time as manager of their U23s team.

During this spell, he attracted the attention of the Football Association by leading the club to their first-ever U23s Premier League title.

The following October, Edwards was appointed the England U20s national team coach, and in September 2020, he became manager of the U16s national team.

In May 2021, Edwards was appointed manager of Forest Green Rovers.

During this spell, he won the EFL League Two title with the club, helped them achieve their first and only promotion to League One, and was named League Two Manager of the Year.

The following May, Edwards replaced former England manager Roy Hodgson as Watford manager.

However, due to poor results, Edwards was sacked after only four months.

In November 2022, Edwards was appointed manager of Luton Town.

During his two-and-a-half-year spell at the Hatters, Edwards became famous for his ability to manage the club with limited funds, boldly give second chances to some unknown or past-their-prime players and helping the club end a decade-long slump, by winning the EFL Championship play-offs, and gain promotion to the Premier League.

Despite failing to avoid relegation, Edwards was still highly praised for his outstanding abilities.

However, unfortunately, due to the team's subsequent decline and poor results, Edwards was sacked in January 2025.

In June 2025, Edwards replaced former Manchester United and England legend Michael Carrick as Middlesbrough manager.

During his six-months managing Boro, Edwards managed the EFL Championship club in 15 matches across all competitions, achieving 7 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses, with a win percentage of 46.67%. In August, he was named Championship Manager of the Month for winning the first 4 opening matches of the season with a perfect record and conceding only one goal.