“It Still Puts a Smile on My Face”: Mick McCarthy Reflects on His Time at Wolves, As Vítor Pereira Faces a Familiar Fight
In the fast-paced, often cutthroat world of football management, legacies are rarely clean. Even the most beloved of managers see their stories marked by sudden endings, harsh criticisms, and the unrelenting march of time. But when former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Mick McCarthy speaks about his time at Molineux, the emotions that come through aren’t regret or bitterness — they’re pride, affection, and joy.
“It puts a smile on your face,” McCarthy said recently on The Managers podcast, when asked about his memories of managing Wolves.
And for many fans of the Old Gold, the feeling is mutual.
McCarthy’s six-year tenure in the Black Country is remembered as a period of transformation — a gritty, underdog story that saw Wolves promoted to the Premier League and punch above their weight to survive. In an era before big investment and global scouting networks, McCarthy’s Wolves were a reflection of their manager: tough, honest, hardworking, and not afraid to challenge more glamorous sides.
Now, more than a decade on from his departure, Wolves are a very different club. The expectations have risen. The margins are tighter. And under current head coach Vítor Pereira, the club finds itself once again battling adversity — this time with far more on the line.
In exploring McCarthy’s lasting influence, we also find echoes of the same struggles Pereira now faces. The question is: can he build a legacy of his own?
Mick McCarthy: The Man Who Rebuilt Wolves
When McCarthy took over in 2006, Wolves were drifting in the Championship — a sleeping giant unsure of its identity. Financial resources were modest. The infrastructure was outdated. The club had sold a number of key players and expectations were tempered. Many predicted a mid-table finish, or worse.
But McCarthy immediately set about instilling discipline, unity, and belief. Known for his straight-talking style and dry humour, the Irishman focused on building a team of honest professionals who would fight for each other. That ethos quickly resonated with fans.
In his first season, McCarthy guided Wolves to the play-offs with a squad built largely on free transfers and academy players. Though they fell short of promotion that year, the message was clear: Wolves were no longer content to drift.
Three years later, in the 2008–09 season, McCarthy’s side stormed the Championship, finishing as champions and returning to the Premier League. It was a landmark achievement — not just for the club, but for McCarthy, who had rebuilt a side capable of surviving the top flight without the benefit of a lavish transfer budget.
And survive they did. In the 2009–10 season, Wolves finished 15th in the Premier League, defying critics and staying up. The following year, they pulled off remarkable results against teams like Manchester United, Chelsea, and Manchester City, narrowly avoiding relegation again.
But football is rarely fair to its overachievers. In 2011–12, results began to falter, and McCarthy was sacked after a humiliating 5-1 home loss to rivals West Brom. Wolves were in the relegation zone. Fans were divided. The club would ultimately be relegated that season, and then again the following year, falling all the way to League One.
Ironically, McCarthy’s dismissal marked the beginning of a far deeper decline — one many believe might have been avoided with a steadier hand.
Legacy Over Trophies: Why McCarthy Still Matters
Mick McCarthy may not have lifted a trophy with Wolves in the Premier League, but he achieved something far more rare in modern football: he built a team with identity, resilience, and character. He gave the club stability when it desperately needed it. And most importantly, he gave supporters hope.
Even now, Wolves fans often look back on his time as one of the most genuine, enjoyable eras in the club’s modern history. It was football without frills — but with heart.
And McCarthy himself hasn’t forgotten.
“When you start remembering, it puts a smile on your face,” he said in the podcast, reflecting not only on his time at Wolves but also his achievements with other clubs, like Sunderland.
It’s a sentiment shared by many long-time fans. In an age when football often feels dominated by money and short-term thinking, McCarthy’s Wolves remind us of something different — the kind of story that makes people fall in love with football in the first place.
Wolves in 2025: A Club That’s Grown – and Grown Uneasy
Since McCarthy’s departure, Wolves have undergone a major transformation. The club was taken over by Chinese conglomerate Fosun International in 2016, and under their ownership, Wolves quickly rose through the ranks again — this time with major investment, an ambitious project, and the help of super-agent Jorge Mendes.
With Nuno Espírito Santo at the helm, Wolves not only returned to the Premier League but established themselves as a force — finishing 7th two seasons in a row and reaching the Europa League quarter-finals.
It was an era of flair and style. Big names came through the doors: Raúl Jiménez, João Moutinho, Rúben Neves, Diogo Jota. The club’s profile skyrocketed.
But football moves quickly. And after Nuno’s departure, a series of managerial changes and inconsistent recruitment have left Wolves facing fresh uncertainty.
As of the 2025–26 season, the club once again finds itself in a difficult position. Results have been patchy. Goals have been hard to come by. And although the squad boasts talent, the cohesion and belief that defined Wolves during their high points seem to have faded.
Enter Vítor Pereira: A New Era, Same Pressures
Tasked with steering Wolves back toward stability is Vítor Pereira — a well-travelled Portuguese manager known for his tactical acumen and intensity. Appointed in the summer of 2025, Pereira arrived with a solid résumé, including spells at Porto, Fenerbahçe, Olympiacos, and Shanghai SIPG.
On paper, he’s a manager capable of steadying the ship. But in practice, his task is monumental.
Unlike McCarthy, who had the benefit of building a side slowly, Pereira has inherited a team with higher expectations, but arguably less unity. Wolves are no longer expected to merely survive — they are expected to compete. Mid-table mediocrity is no longer a success; it’s a warning sign.
Yet despite these challenges, Pereira has remained composed. In his interviews, he has praised the club’s structure, spoken positively about the fanbase, and backed his players to find form.
“We are building something here,” he said recently. “The results haven’t always matched the performance, but we are growing — and we will improve.”
The hope, of course, is that this growth comes in time.
Familiar Struggles, Different Stakes
The parallels between Pereira and McCarthy’s situations are striking in some ways. Both managers were (or are) tasked with uniting a squad, improving performances with limited resources, and giving fans a reason to believe again.
But the stakes now are higher. With the financial impact of relegation greater than ever, and the Premier League more competitive than it’s been in years — especially with the newly promoted sides punching above their weight — failure could cost the club far more than pride.
Yet, in that pressure lies opportunity.
If Pereira can rally his players, find consistency, and guide Wolves to safety — especially if he can do so with moments of bravery and ambition — he could write a legacy of his own. Not unlike McCarthy’s.
Because in the end, Wolves fans don’t demand perfection. They want to see commitment. Passion. A team that represents them on the pitch. They want to believe again — and Pereira has the chance to give them that.
Can Pereira Create His Own Chapter in Wolves History?
Every manager who walks through the doors at Molineux carries the weight of those who came before. McCarthy. Nuno. Even Kenny Jackett, who helped Wolves recover from their lowest point.
Now it’s Pereira’s turn.
His Wolves may not be promotion winners or European darlings — not yet, anyway. But the opportunity is there to build something meaningful. To bring the fight back to Molineux. To remind fans what it feels like to see a team that gives everything, even when the odds are against them.
And if he can do that — even if the results aren’t always perfect — he’ll be remembered.
Just like Mick McCarthy is.
Final Thoughts: Looking Back, Looking Forward
Mick McCarthy’s time at Wolves was far from flawless. But what it represented — effort, unity, resilience — left a lasting imprint on the club and its fans. It was a time when Wolves found their spirit again.
Now, Vítor Pereira stands at a crossroads. The modern Wolves are more ambitious, more visible, and more scrutinized. But in many ways, the path to success remains the same: hard work, belief, and a connection with the fans.
McCarthy may look back on his Wolves days with a smile — but if Pereira can weather the storm and guide the club through this tough period, there’s every chance he’ll one day do the same.