A look back at where Wolves’ starting line-up against Crusaders in the Europa League is now and how their careers have progressed.
It has now been five years since Wolves returned to European football. Nuno Espirito Santo guided the Molineux outfit to the Europa League in their first season back in the Premier League.
Here, the Old Gold enjoyed a highly-memorable campaign that was later overshadowed by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Their journey began in the qualifiers as they took on the Northern Irish side Crusaders in the second round. On July 25, 2019, Wolves played their first leg at Molineux which ended 2-0 thanks to goals from Diogo Jota and Ruben Vinagre.
Below, Molineux News has looked back on each player who started in the tie and how their careers have progressed since.
GK – Rui Patricio
After leaving Wolves in 2021, Rui Patricio joined Italian side Roma. Here, the goalkeeper enjoyed three years in the capital where he helped the club lift the Europa Conference League, the club’s first-ever European trophy.
This summer, Patricio was released at the end of his contract and is yet to find a new club.
RWB – Adama Traore
Adama Traore only left Wolves last summer after the expiration of his contract. He then proceeded to join Fulham where he helped secure a mid-table finish in the Premier League.
CB – Ryan Bennett
Ryan Bennett departed Wolves at the end of the 2019/20 campaign after a loan spell at Leicester City. The defender joined Championship side Swansea City where he enjoyed two seasons at the club.
After this, the centre-back then dropped down into League One, joining Cambridge United. Here, he spent another two seasons before leaving at the end of his contract this summer. He is currently without a club.
CB – Conor Coady
The former Wolves captain only left the club last summer. The defender joined Leicester City where he played a part in their title-winning campaign which has seen them immediately return to the Premier League.
CB – Willy Boly
The last centre-back in Wolves’ back three, Willy Boly left the club in 2022 for newly promoted Nottingham Forest. Over the past two years, he has helped keep Forest in the Premier League making 31 league appearances across both campaigns combined.
LWB – Jonny
The most recent departure of this team, Jonny only left Wolves in January 2024. The wing-back had his contract terminated via mutual consent and he subsequently joined Greek side PAOK three days later.
By the end of the campaign, Jonny helped the side lift the Greek League title and is set to play in the Champions League this season.
CM – Leander Dendoncker
Leander Dendoncker was a surprise departure in 2022 when he left the club to join local rivals Aston Villa. Here, he has helped the club return to Europe and the Champions League.
For the latter part of the 2023/24 campaign, he was sent out on loan to Italian side Napoli but his stay was not made a permanent one.
CM – Ruben Neves
Ruben Neves’ magical stay at Molineux came to an end last summer when the captain departed the club for Saudi side Al-Hilal. At his new side, he has won three trophies in his first year including the league title, the King Cup and the Super Cup.
CM – Joao Moutinho
Wolves’ midfield maestro Joao Moutinho left the club last summer along with Traore when his contract expired. From there, he returned to Portugal and signed for Braga where he helped the club win the Taca da Liga Cup in his first campaign.
ST – Morgan Gibbs-White
The Wolves academy graduate is now an unpopular man around Molineux. The Englishman departed the club for Nottingham Forest in 2022 where he has become a star player at the City Ground. In his first two seasons, he has helped Forest remain in the Premier League.
ST – Diogo Jota
Diogo Jota left the club at the end of the 2019/20 campaign joining Liverpool. During his four seasons in Merseyside, the attacker has won two Carabao Cups and an FA Cup.
Jota also just missed out on a Champions League medal in 2022 as the club were defeated by Real Madrid 1-0 in the final.