When the inevitable subject is raised, Kieran Trippier is keen to clarify what happened. Dressed entirely in Wolves training gear after a session – vest, shorts and club sliders – he enters a room at the Compton Park training ground. The discussion quickly turns to the development that stunned fans and observers: only three days after Trippier joined, Rob Edwards, the manager whose presence had strongly influenced his decision to move into the second division, was dismissed. At the same time, Wolves were stepping up their efforts to appoint César Peixoto as his successor.
“I’m not going to pretend otherwise; I didn’t see it coming,” Trippier says. “However, that was the club’s call. Rob and I had several positive conversations, but I signed to represent Wolves. Football is full of unexpected developments, and this was certainly one of them. I can’t deny that. I simply carried on. I was in Mallorca on holiday with my children, keeping fit and waiting for the first day of pre-season.”
More claims appeared after the surprising announcement. “I saw all kinds of stories saying I wanted to tear up my contract and other rubbish. In reality, I was excited about returning to Wolves. Honestly, I have no idea where the suggestion that I wanted to cancel my deal originated. It definitely did not come from me. If that had been my intention, people would have heard it directly from me because that is the kind of person I am.”
That response reflects the direct and honest personality that has made Trippier popular throughout his career. He departed Newcastle at the end of last season after playing a central role in the club’s progress under Eddie Howe, highlighted by their Carabao Cup triumph the previous year. Before that, he spent three seasons with Atlético Madrid under Diego Simeone and won La Liga, following four years at Tottenham with Mauricio Pochettino that ended with an appearance in the Champions League final. He also represented England at four major competitions and started every match during the run to the Euro 2024 final.
Trippier is now returning to the second tier for the first time since helping Burnley earn promotion 12 years ago. He is expected to feature when Wolves begin their Championship campaign against Blackburn on Friday. He admits the change is far from conventional: after facing Barcelona at St James’ Park last September, he could now be preparing to meet Bolton at Molineux in October.
“I have no embarrassment about playing in the Championship because I spent several years in this division,” Trippier says. He remembers his earliest experience at this level, when he was a teenager defending alongside Darren Moore at Barnsley. “I spoke at length with Eddie Howe and Ross Wilson [Newcastle’s sporting director], and by the end of the season I decided that I wanted a fresh challenge. Several clubs showed interest, but staying near my children was a major consideration.”
Based in Manchester, Trippier understands the demands of the unforgiving competition. He remembers playing for Burnley when they defeated Wolves 2-1 in the second-to-last match of the 2012-13 season. That result removed Burnley’s remaining relegation concerns while leaving Wolves close to dropping into League One. “I have talked to my teammates because most of them have never competed in the Championship. It is therefore important for me and the others with experience at this level to support them and explain just how challenging it will be.
“I told them that the schedule never lets up, because that is the reality, and the competition is completely different from the Premier League. An away match at Lincoln will be extremely demanding, but this is a good group. They have listened to me, Tommy [Doyle] and Adam [Armstrong], and everyone will be prepared.”
This is Trippier’s first interview with an outside outlet since agreeing to a two-year Wolves contract that includes an option for another season. Before completing the move, he sought advice from Doyle, Conor Coady, John Ruddy and Sam Johnstone, who was holidaying with him in Turkey, to gain a better understanding of life inside the club. Edwards’ abrupt departure naturally remains a major talking point. It occurred a month after André pledged his future to Wolves and only 48 hours after Raúl Jiménez returned, adding to the optimism surrounding Trippier’s arrival. The full-back also has insight into several other subjects, including Howe’s departure after four and a half years.
“He twice helped the club preserve its Premier League status, secured Champions League qualification on two occasions and delivered a trophy. His greatest achievement, though, was restoring the relationship between the supporters and the team. I was told that before the [Saudi Arabia-led] takeover, the atmosphere was poor, with fans opposed to the owners and the board. Once the new ownership and manager arrived, he [Howe] brought everyone together, much as Gareth Southgate did with England.”
Does Howe’s contribution merit a statue? “He did win a trophy, didn’t he?” Trippier replies with a smile. “Still, that is not my decision. The parade was remarkable, and the huge display featuring the manager showed how much affection the fans had for him and continue to have. When I first arrived, it was a difficult environment, particularly after the FA Cup third-round loss to Cambridge. In hindsight, perhaps that defeat helped us because it allowed us to concentrate entirely on remaining in the Premier League. He will undoubtedly be remembered as an important part of the club’s history. I’m very disappointed to see him leave.”
Trippier also reflects on England’s World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina, when their deep defensive setup eventually failed late in the match. “I experienced that situation countless times under Simeone. I could probably identify 30 matches in which he used the same approach and we successfully protected the result. That is classic Simeone. He is an expert at the darker side of the game and at closing out matches. Thomas Tuchel has encountered those circumstances many times as well. He won the Champions League with Chelsea and performed exceptionally at Bayern Munich, but on this occasion it simply did not work. We were facing one of the finest footballers ever, someone capable of changing a match instantly,” Trippier says of Lionel Messi, clicking his fingers. “I played against him many times. He might appear to stroll around for an hour and then suddenly score three goals. That is what makes him extraordinary.”
Peixoto may be unfamiliar to many people, but Trippier says he already knew about the Portuguese coach’s reputation before the 46-year-old replaced Edwards. Peixoto had spent the previous season managing Gil Vicente. Because he speaks English well, Trippier has not had to rely on his Spanish during their conversations. “When a postal worker came to the house in Madrid, I used to ask my son to answer because he spoke the language fluently,” Trippier says with a smile.
What is Peixoto like to work with? “He is extremely demanding and very straightforward. During training, everything happens at incredible speed. It is intense, but in a positive sense. If we want to achieve our objectives, I believe that level of expectation is exactly what the players require. His standards remind me of Pochettino and Simeone. He has clear principles: never betray his confidence and never arrive late. Put it this way, I would not want to get on the wrong side of him.”
Trippier will turn 36 in September, making him twice the age of Mateus Mané, the promising youngster he marked while playing for Newcastle last season. Wolves hope Mané will be among the players who make the coming campaign an encouraging one. “I feel excellent and probably fitter than I have been for a long time. I may not have the pace I once possessed, but I have always trusted my intelligence and speed of thought,” Trippier says, pointing to his temples. “I believe I still have several good years ahead of me.”
For Wolves, securing his signature represented a significant success. “It reminds me of joining Newcastle after leaving Atlético Madrid. Plenty of people questioned that decision too, but I have gone through my entire career without regrets.”
As a member of Peixoto’s leadership group, Trippier knows Wolves will start the season as a team every opponent wants to defeat. “When we face Blackburn in the opening match of the Championship campaign, attention will be firmly focused on us,” he says.
“Whenever a club comes down from the Premier League, every opponent is especially motivated to beat them. Wolves endured a difficult year last season, but this campaign offers a fresh beginning and an opportunity to reset. We are now a Championship club, and that is the situation we must accept. The players need to leave the past behind, remain optimistic and concentrate on what comes next. Our objective must be immediate promotion back to the Premier League.”
What do you feel about this post?
Like
Love
Happy
Haha
Sad
