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It’s fair to say that when Conor Coady signed for Wolves in the summer of 2015, he couldn't have imagined how his career at Molineux would’ve played out.

Conor Coady’s first few years at Wolves

After coming through the ranks at Liverpool, Coady realised he would have to leave his boyhood club if he was to get regular game time. So, following a successful loan spell at Sheffield United in League One, he joined Huddersfield.

Coady’s time with the Terriers was brief, as he was there for just one season, with his performances catching the eye of Wolves.

At the time, Coady was a young, hungry midfielder, and Wolves paid £2m to bring that aggression and steel to the middle of the park.

Having just missed out on the play-offs under Kenny Jackett, Coady was the sort of signing that Wolves hoped could help them make that next step.

As it transpires, he couldn’t - at least at first.

Coady’s first two years in the Black Country were mediocre, even after Fosun bought the Championship side 12 months after his arrival.

The new ownership brought a change in management, and whilst Coady featured regularly, he played right-back as well as in midfield, and he didn’t always impress.

Fosun funded a major Wolves overhaul

After taking a year to settle into English football, Wolves’ Chinese owners decided the summer of 2017 was when they would really go for it.

Ruben Neves arrived for a club-record fee from Porto, whilst Diogo Jota and Willy Boly also moved to the club in deals that were barely believable for a Championship side.

Meanwhile, Nuno Espirito Santo was appointed as the new head coach, with his previous role having been with Valencia, demonstrating his pedigree.

Conor Coady became a key figure for Nuno Santo at Wolves

With promotion the aim, Nuno was prepared to be ruthless and a host of players were moved on to make way for the expensive, classy new recruits. Many outsiders presumed Coady would be one of those.

However, Nuno had clearly seen something he liked in the former England youth international, and he decided to move Coady to centre-back, in the middle of a back three.

It was a bold decision, but it’s one that has defined Coady’s career, and it was key to Wolves’ rise.

Able to see the entire pitch, Coady became a leader on the pitch, where he would bark instructions to teammates as they carried out the orders of the boss. Furthermore, his ability to switch play was a trademark of Nuno’s side, with Coady starting attacks from deep.

Wolves reach Europe

Wolves would win the Championship title in Nuno’s first season, and once again some outsiders may have had doubts over Coady.

Was he too slow for the Premier League? Would he be exposed when the side couldn’t dominate like they did in the second tier? Would Wolves go out and buy big to replace him?

Whilst they did spend significant sums on their return to the top, Coady’s position was never in doubt in the eyes of the manager, and he would take on the role as club captain.

Once again, more brilliant memories were created for all connected to the club.

Back-to-back 7th place finishes were recorded, and the side reached an FA Cup semi-final and a Europa League quarter-final, with Coady integral to everything that Wolves achieved, as he barely missed a minute.

International recognition would follow, and Coady eventually fulfilled the dream of all football fans when he went to the World Cup with England.

Nuno’s departure in 2021 undoubtedly impacted Coady, and he did leave last summer under a bit of a cloud after spending the previous season at Everton.

However, Coady’s status as a modern day Wolves legend is secured, and the four years he spent under Nuno were magic for all concerned - and nobody could’ve seen it coming.