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Bruno Lage celebrates after guiding Benfica to the Portuguese title in 2019. SIPA USA/PA Images

Title-winning former Benfica manager confirmed as new Wolves boss

Bruno Lage takes charge at Molineux.

WOLVES HAVE APPOINTED former Benfica boss Bruno Lage as their new head coach.

The ex-Swansea City assistant replaces Nuno Espirito Santo, who left Molineux at the end of the season.

Wolves targeted Lage, a free agent, as they look to change direction following Nunoโ€™s four years in charge.

The 45-year-old initially failed to get through post-Brexit regulations but, at a hearing earlier this month, Wolves won their case and he was given the green light to move to the midlands club.

โ€œFirst of all, Iโ€™m very happy,โ€ Lage told the clubโ€™s website. โ€œItโ€™s a big opportunity. Iโ€™m very happy because Iโ€™ve returned to this country, and to be the manager of a big team.

โ€œItโ€™s a team and a club that wants to do history and a chance to compete in the Premier League. So, Iโ€™m happy, excited, with a big ambition to do great things for this club.โ€

Lage won the Portuguese title with Benfica in 2019 โ€“ also claiming manager of the year โ€“ before departing in 2020 after failing to defend their crown, finishing second behind Porto.

A move to Molineux marks a return to English football after Lage spent time as Carlos Carvalhalโ€™s assistant at Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea.

โ€œI was here (in the UK) for three years, so I know Wolves, but now, the best thing to do โ€“ the next thing to do โ€“ is to know everyone better,โ€ Lage added. โ€œThat includes the club, the fans, and also to try to create a plan, just not for the next game or the next training, but for the future.

โ€œThatโ€™s why for me, itโ€™s very important to create that dynamic of teamwork here in this building; to try to realise what we are doing in the future.โ€

Nuno left Wolves last month having taken them from the Championship to the Europa League quarter-finals.

He secured successive seventh-place finishes in the Premier League after promotion in 2018 but Wolves could only manage 13th in the 2020-21 campaign.

While his departure was officially by mutual consent, owners Fosun initiated the move as they looked to the clubโ€™s long-term future.

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