Legendary Wolves captain Mike Bailey has sadly passed away at the age of 84.
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.
Born in Cambridgeshire, the midfielder was already established in the game by the time he signed for Wolves from Charlton Athletic for a reported £45,000 in 1966 – the start of his Molineux legacy, as he quickly took over the armband.
During his first full season with the club, Bailey helped Wolves back into the top flight with Second Division promotion in 1967, being voted Midlands Player of the Year in the process.
As Wolves then kicked on under Bill McGarry, Bailey was crucial, helping the club to Texaco Cup success in 1971 and the final of the UEFA Cup the following season, although he was only fit enough for a substitute appearance against Tottenham Hotspur.
Two further seasons on he was lifting the League Cup trophy at Wembley, having helped Wolves past Manchester City – his finest afternoon at the club.
The midfielder’s final season at Molineux saw the club earn promotion back to the First Division, albeit with little game time from Bailey, who moved to Minnesota Kicks in 1977, not after a well-deserved testimonial against West Bromwich Albion.
After retiring from playing two years later, the former England international tried his hand at management and, although he lived in Surrey, was a regular in Wolverhampton for matches and events in the years to follow.
Previously the chairman of the Former Player’s Association and a Hall of Fame inductee in 2010, Bailey was diagnosed with dementia ten years later and passed away earlier today.
The thoughts of all at Wolves are with Mike’s family and friends at this sad time.
