Kieran Trippier has used his first media appearance since joining Wolverhampton Wanderers to address the turbulence that followed his arrival at the club, insisting he was as surprised as anyone when manager Rob Edwards was sacked just three days after the deal was completed.
Speaking at Wolves' Compton Park training base, the 35-year-old defender dismissed reports suggesting he had considered tearing up his contract in the aftermath of Edwards' departure, calling such claims "nonsense" that did not originate from him. "I'm not going to sit here and lie, I wasn't expecting it," Trippier said of the managerial change. "But it's the club's decision. I had good chats with Rob, of course, but I'm here to play for Wolves." He revealed he was on holiday with his children in Mallorca when the news broke and simply focused on preparing for pre-season.
Trippier's move to Molineux ended a stint at Newcastle United, where he played a key role in the club's revival under Eddie Howe, including last season's Carabao Cup triumph. Before that, he spent three years at Atletico Madrid, winning La Liga under Diego Simeone, and four seasons at Tottenham under Mauricio Pochettino that included a Champions League final. He has also represented England at four major tournaments.
The drop into the Championship represents Trippier's first taste of the second tier since helping Burnley win promotion 12 years ago, and he was quick to reject any suggestion he views the move as beneath him. "I'm not ashamed to go to the Championship because I played in it for many years," he said, recalling his early career at Barnsley. He explained his decision was driven by conversations with Howe and Newcastle sporting director Ross Wilson, along with a desire to remain close to his children in Manchester.
Having experienced the division's demands firsthand—including a memorable 2-1 Burnley win at Wolves in 2013 that helped confirm the Midlands club's relegation to League One—Trippier has been passing on his knowledge to teammates unfamiliar with the Championship's rigours. "It's relentless, and it's totally different to the Premier League," he said, name-checking teammates Tommy Doyle and Adam Armstrong as players he has been advising ahead of trips to sides like Lincoln.
The defender also reflected on Howe's exit from Newcastle after four and a half years, crediting him with reconnecting supporters with the team following a difficult period under previous ownership. "The most important thing he did was reconnecting the supporters with the team," Trippier said, likening Howe's impact to that of England manager Gareth Southgate. He added that Howe's achievements, including Champions League qualification and the Carabao Cup win, secured his legacy at St James' Park.
On Wolves' new head coach, Cesar Peixoto, who arrived from Gil Vicente to replace Edwards, Trippier offered a detailed assessment. "Really demanding. Honest. On the training field he is 100mph, nuts—in a good way—but he's really, really demanding," he said, comparing the Portuguese coach's intensity to that of Pochettino and Simeone. Trippier, who is part of Peixoto's leadership group at the club, noted the manager's strict standards around punctuality and trust.
Asked about his own form ahead of turning 36 in September, Trippier struck an optimistic tone. "I feel good, I feel probably in the best shape I've been in for many, many years," he said, acknowledging a slight loss of pace but insisting his football intelligence remains sharp.
With Wolves opening their Championship campaign against Blackburn, Trippier acknowledged the scrutiny facing a side freshly relegated from the Premier League. "Our goal has to be to go straight back up to the Premier League," he stated, framing the new season as a fresh start regardless of last year's struggles.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.