Wolves are saddened to learn of the passing of former winger Mark Lazarus at the age of 86.
Best known for his three spells at Queens Park Rangers, Lazarus spent one season at Molineux during the Stan Cullis era, scoring four times in nine games for the Old Gold.
Born in Stepney, east London, Lazarus went on to become one of the first well-known Jewish footballers in the English game. Having played youth football for Barking, the naturally gifted right-winger became a professional in 1958 when he joined Leyton Orient.
Lazarus made the first of his three moves to Queens Park Rangers two years later but would spend just 12 months at the third division club before top flight high-flyers Wolves – who had only once finished outside the top three in the country the previous 10 years – came calling.
Cullis spent a then-club record fee of £27,500 to bring Lazarus to Molineux, with the winger making his debut in a 1-1 draw at home to Cardiff City. He would open his goalscoring account in gold and black in just his third outing as Wolves dispatched Birmingham City 6-3 at St Andrews.
But despite finding the net another two times in wins over Manchester City and Sheffield Wednesday, a clash of personalities with Cullis signalled an early end in his time at Wolves after just nine appearances.
Lazarus’ spell in the Black Country would be the only season of his footballing career spent outside of the capital, as he soon returned to London and QPR in early 1962.
Also turning out for Brentford and Crystal Palace, Lazarus’ third stint at Loftus Road would see the winger score the winning goal against West Bromwich Albion in the 1967 League Cup final – which remains the Rs’ only major trophy triumph.
Following retirement from football in the late 1970s, Lazarus became a minder for snooker players, while also running a haulage firm in Romford.
The thoughts of everyone at Wolves are with Mark’s family and friends at this sad time.
