Wolves fans are on cloud nine at the moment with Gary O’Neil in the hot seat at Molineux – and many will be extremely relieved that the club never appointed Michael Beale, who was sacked by Sunderland today.
It has been a tremendous season so far for Wolves.
After Julen Lopetegui walked out just days before the new season, many had Wolves as certs to go down at the end of the season.
But Gary O’Neil has come in and blown everyone away, and fans are now daring to dream of potential European football.
It’s been an amazing journey so far, but many fans will be especially relieved today that the club did not go in a different direction back in October 2022.
Sunderland sack former Wolves managerial target Mick Beale
In news that will have certainly been of interest to many Wolves fans today, Michael Beale has been sacked by Sunderland.
The 43-year-old has been dismissed by the club, after only being appointed in December.
He took just 12 games for the Black Cats, winning just four of those.
According to the Guardian, tensions had been rising behind the scenes after Beale had voiced his concerns about his young team’s lack of an experienced centre-forward.
Beale is said to have never won the hearts of the Black Cats supporters, and some footage emerged at the weekend of the manager completely blanking Trai Hume, who tried to shake his manager’s hand after he’d substituted him off – Beale later apologised for this.
Wolves avoided potential nightmare with Beale
Before Julen Lopetegui was appointed by Wolves, the club famously made a play for Beale.
Talks were held but in the end, Beale chose to stay at QPR, saying (via Sky Sports): “I have been all-in here and I have asked other people to be all-in so I can’t be the first person to run away from the ship.”
Laughably, around one month after those comments, Beale then left QPR to join Rangers. He was sacked by the Scottish giants after just 43 matches and 10 months in charge.
Beale has now become the shortest-reigning permanent manager in Sunderland’s history, and it is difficult not to think about how Wolves might have ended up with him in the dugout at Molineux.
His rejection of the club’s advances looks to be a major sliding doors moment now, and it has ultimately led to a marriage made in heaven between Wolves and Gary O’Neil.
Had the club appointed Beale over Lopetegui, it is very possible, looking at what Beale has now done at Rangers and Sunderland, that Wolves would not currently be a Premier League club right now.