George Elokobi interview: From Wolves favourite to loveable manager

Committed, physical, energetic and willing to put his body on the line - Elokobi may not have been the most technical player in the squad but he had the biggest heart.

The former defender arrived at Wolves in January 2008 from Colchester United and played regularly in the Championship in the second half of that season.

He went on to play for Wolves in the Premier League and, alongside two loan spells, stayed with the club as they dropped down to League One with consecutive relegations before eventually leaving in 2014 after six years of service.

He scored at Old Trafford in the Carling Cup and also netted against Manchester United in a famous Molineux win in 2011.

He was signed by Mick McCarthy and enjoyed the best days of his playing career under him at Wolves, lasting three years in the top flight, but it all could have been over before it truly started.

At the beginning of his first full season in 2008/09, Elokobi started the campaign in the starting XI but just four games in he suffered a serious knee injury at Ipswich.

He did not return to the pitch until the last day of the season, a 1-0 home win over Doncaster on May 3, 2009, as Wolves ran away with the Championship title.

Years later, in 2012, he joined Bristol City on loan and suffered a nasty ankle injury on his debut and on two occasions where his career could have been over, Wolves stuck by him.

"I can't thank the gaffer enough for the support I had, but also the entire football club,” Elokobi told the Express & Star.

"I remember as soon as I was stretched off and I was taken into the medical room, Jez Moxey was at the game at Ipswich and he left the director's box and walked all the way to the medical room to reassure me that I was going to be looked after.

"As a player, what more can you ask for? Those words weren't just words, they were actions.

"I had a fantastic medical team behind me and the gaffer never lost faith in me.

"All I could envision at the time was to take it one day at a time to come back from this career-threatening injury and when I came on in the last game of the promotion season, the reception I got from our supporters was amazing.

"I still have the shirt from that game on my wall at home!

"The club stuck by me through two career-threatening injuries and kept believing in me and the supporters were incredible with me.”

Elokobi’s connection to Wolves’ Premier League success certainly helps his reputation with the fans, but it was his attitude to playing, his infectious personality and genuine affection for Wolves that links him so closely to supporters.

He has had a similar impact on many other clubs he has represented, but his connection to Wolves seems stronger than most.

"Every time I'm in Wolverhampton or near Molineux, I get goosebumps,” he added.

"It makes me want to put the shirt on again and be out on the pitch, playing in front of the fans, the community.

"I've got so many fantastic memories, but the highlight is the connection I made and some lifelong friendships.

"I always see Wolves as my family, it's my home and we had some incredible moments together.

"Scoring at Old Trafford for Wolves and then the goal against Manchester United at Molineux.

"Also survivor Sunday and we managed to keep the club in the Premier League, and then promotion from League One as well. I have so many fantastic memories.

"I'm connected to Wolves and, not forgetting, I had my first Cameroonian call-up playing for Wolves. There's so many dots that connect me to the supporters and this club.

"When I walked through the door, I knew this club was a huge club with a rich history. Everyone wanted to play the mighty Wolves and competing at Molineux showed you how big this football club is.

"When I signed it dawned on me, seeing the fan base, and the responsibility was to to leave everything out on the football pitch.

"The efforts put in in training, but also how I conducted myself around the community, embracing the culture of this football club and the community as a whole.

"I put so much pressure on myself to perform and I left everything out there.

"When you do that the Wolves fans will back you all the way.

"In football you have good and bad days and as long as the effort level is at maximum, that's all the Wolves fans can ask for, and I gave them that.”

Elokobi has since taken that dedication into coaching, having finished his playing days in 2022 at Maidstone United and then eventually getting the permanent gig as head coach in 2023.

He enjoyed plenty of success at the non-league club, taking them to the FA Cup fifth round in 2024 after a shock 2-1 win at Ipswich.

"I'm proud of the entire journey,” he said.

"But the thing I'm most proud of is connecting the community and having that right balance between winning football matches, but also the development of young talents coming through the club.

"That is the proudest moment as a manager. When I look back, I look at the talents that we've helped develop and moved to the leagues above. That is the pride that I take.

"We created memories for one another for life, in the FA Cup but also the league. There's so many different things that we take.”

He left Maidstone in April after deciding to step down and take the next step in his career.

That next step is not yet clear, but what is clear is his ambition to keep challenging himself.

"I always stay humble, look at how I've gone about it and it's time to reflect,” Elokobi said.

"I've taken time out and I've reflected and now I'll look at what the next phase of my career looks like.

"I've had lots of interest in myself, but it has to be the right one for myself and my family. Once we've agreed on that, the whole world is going to know about it.”

Elokobi was speaking to Midnite, the new principal partner of Wolverhampton Wanderers for the 2026/27 campaign, as the UK bookmaker gave back to fans in the form of free season tickets, via its "This Season's On Us" initiative.