Conor Coady is a hugely popular figure among the Wolves fanbase, like many who starred in their Europa League squads under Nuno Espirito Santo.
A product of Liverpool’s academy, Coady was signed by Wolves in 2015 for around £2 million and became a vital figure in the heart of their defence.
The Englishman wasn’t just crucial on the pitch but also in the dressing room, as the Old Gold celebrated years of success during his reign as captain, including promotion to the Premier League in 2018 and then back-to-back Europa League campaigns.
Across eight years at the club, Coady amassed an eye-watering 317 appearances before completing a transfer to Leicester City in 2023.
During a golden period at Molineux, the 31-year-old had the pleasure of playing next to several quality players, comparing one to a Liverpool great.
Conor Coady compared Ruben Neves to Steven Gerrard in 2018
Coming through the academy at Anfield, Coady watched and trained alongside some special players, with Steven Gerrard arguably the pick of the bunch.
Gerrard is one of the greatest-ever Premier League midfielders, and in 2018, Coady said the English legend reminded him of Portuguese maestro Ruben Neves, claiming he’s ‘one of the best’ he’s ever played with.
“Ruben Neves is by far one of the best players I’ve ever played with,” Coady said via BBC Sport.
“When I was coming through, Steven Gerrard was playing more as a sitting midfielder under Brendan Rodgers.
“Ruben is very similar, in terms of his passing range. The way he manipulates the ball around his feet and picks out passes.
“And the goals he has been scoring are sensational. He’s got six, all from outside the box. Obviously, people are still talking about the volley against Derby – that was the best of the lot, I was stood right behind it.”
Wolves made the headlines when they broke the Championship transfer record in 2017 to sign Neves for £15 million from Champions League side Porto.
Neves, much like Coady, was an integral part of their promotion to the Premier League, and then subsequent Europa League success.
The Portuguese midfielder is still adored by the fanbase and would be welcomed back to Molineux should the opportunity arise.
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Neves is a throwback midfielder
Comparisons to arguably one of the greatest-ever midfielders were far-fetched from Coady but they did carry some weight.
Neves was known for his long-range strikes, scoring six goals from outside the box in the 2017/18 season on their way to the title.
He carried that reputation into the Premier League, too, where Neves scored from range against Everton on his debut in the competition and then added several more to his collection.
But it’s his ability to shoot from range that arguably drew comparison to Gerrard, who created a collection of thunderbolts during his Liverpool career.
Unfortunately, in recent years, there has been less emphasis on players shooting outside the box but the likes of Neves and Gerrard typify what a proper midfielder looks like.