Wolves’ Championship winning full-back and former captain Kevin Foley discusses how he would fare if he was at the peak of his footballing career in the modern-day game.
Team most like to play against | Liverpool
I’d like to put myself against Liverpool. They’re the best attacking side right now and you’d just want to see how you’d do against a side like that. It could obviously end badly, but you always want to test yourself against the best players. The current Liverpool have a lot more speed on the last line in attack, with the likes of Diaz and Salah, but when I played them, they had a lot more power in the team with the likes of Gerard and Torres. Also, at the back, they’re all really comfortable on the ball, but back then, you might have been able to nick it off a Skrtel or a Jamie Carragher.
Team least like to play against | None
Back in the day, playing someone like Stoke City was a really tough game. They were super physical and I always found that tough. If you try and compare them to a current side, there aren’t any teams that come to mind. The Prem these days are full of teams who like to play football. Maybe the way we [Luton] were was the closest you’d get to that Stoke team, with the way we’d press everyone and were very physical, and we’d take teams by surprise, but there’s no-one like that this season.
Player most like to face | Jack Grealish
I would like to play against someone like Jack Grealish because coming in on his right foot from the left hand side, he was a bit like Ashley Young back in the day when Young would play on the left and he could go either way and he could cross with either foot. He’d only need half a yard to spin it back to his right foot and put it into the box, so that was pretty tough, and I think Grealish has a bit more skill to him and a bit stop-start, so I’d like to see how I’d cope against him.
Manager most like to play for | Eddie Howe
That’s a good question. From the current managers in the Prem, I think I’d like to play for Eddie Howe. Firstly, he’s British so he gets the whole British mentality, and on top of that, I don’t think it’s too complicated the way Newcastle play. He doesn’t overcomplicate it and he gets the best out of his players. He’s been at the club for a long time and it seems like for him, if you play well, he will play you. He’ll stick by the players who do well for him.
Competition most like to win | FA Cup
My dream was to play in the World Cup, but I never got the chance to do that, and it’s far-fetched to say I’d have liked to have won a World Cup, so realistically, it would have been the FA Cup. It has such a great history and if you look at Wolves five or six years ago when they got to the semi-final, it is achievable if you get on a good run. To go to Wembley and to have won a cup would have been amazing, just because of the history and nostalgia around it.
Stadium most like to play at | Wembley
I’ve played at most of them, but the one that stands out is Wembley. I’ve never played at Wembley, I’ve never played in a play-off final, I’ve never played in a cup final, so I missed that. I speak to my mates in football and it seems like everyone has played at Wembley apart from me. I would have loved to have played there.
Aspect most like to have | Goal kick rule
I would have loved to have had the short goal kick rule where defenders are allowed in the box. Back when I was playing, it was literally 90 per cent of goal kicks were long, so you had to win the first ball or the second ball, which I really enjoyed doing and it tested me defensively, but the way it’s set up now with a full-back or centre-back taking the ball in the box and playing intricate football – although it can be a bit nervy for the fans at time – I’d have liked to have been in those situations to play out.
Aspect least like to have | Five substitutes
I won’t be boring and say VAR, it’s more than VAR for me, it’s five substitutes. Nowadays, your basically changing half of your outfield team in a game. Whereas 10 years ago, you’d make three subs most, with some games only making one of two, and for me, the fittest and strongest team would get through the game, and for me, there’s too much changing within a game now. I felt it was better when it was three subs and it tested you more as a team, and the five subs ruins the flow of a match.
This article originally featured in Wolves' official 2024/25 matchday programme. Last season's programmes are still available to purchase online through retailers Curtis Sports.
