Ex-England star useless at 84 as tributes pour in for ‘inspirational chief’
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Wolves legend Mike Bailey has passed away(Image: PA)
Wolverhampton Wanderers legend Mike Bailey has died at the age of 84, his former club has said.
The former Wolves captain – who was capped twice for England – was beloved by fans of the club, where he spent 11 years as a player during their revival in English football in the 60s and 70s.
During his first full season at the club, Bailey was part of the side who won promotion back to the top division in 1967 and was named Midlands Player of the year. One fan said: “He was a real player, a real captain, a proper man. Inspirational. Unforgettable.”
Mike Bailey was captain of Wolverhampton Wanderers during their revival
In a statement released on Monday night, Wolves described Bailey as a true leader at Molineux for over a decade and a pivotal part of some of the club’s most successful days.
They said: “As Wolves enjoyed a revival in the English game in the late 1960s and 1970s, Bailey was the club’s leader on the pitch, with the midfielder enjoying an incredible Old Gold career spanning 11 years, 436 games and 25 goals.
“During that popular Wolves stint, Bailey was known by those on the Molineux terraces for his love of a tackle, creative passing and eye for the occasional spectacular strike, but more than all that, his leadership.”
Mike Bailey holds up the League Cup in 1974(Image: Daily Mirror)
The Cambridgeshire-born midfielder signed for the club from Charlton Athletic for a reported £45,000 in 1966. He soon took over the armband and lead the club to promotion to the first division.
Once Wolves were back in the big time, he was a key figure in the team that reached the Uefa Cup final in 1972. Unfortunately, he was only fit enough for a substitute appearance as the club lost 3-2 to Tottenham Hotspur in an all-English affair.
But he got his hands on silverware two years later, as he captained the club to a League Cup triumph over Manchester City at Wembley in what the club described as his “finest afternoon at the club”.
The club were again promoted back to the first division in his final season in 1977, but Bailey didn’t play much and left the club following a well-deserved testimonial against arch rivals West Brom.
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