Former Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Mike Bailey dies aged 84

Former Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Mike Bailey has died at the age of 84 after a long illness, the club announced on 17 August 2026.

Mike Bailey's first England cap arrived in a 10-0 win over the United States in 1964 and he was capped twice by England in total.

Bailey began his senior career with Charlton Athletic before joining Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1966. He made 436 appearances for Wolves and scored 25 goals. He lifted the League Cup in 1974 after helping the West Midlands club reach the Uefa Cup final two years earlier. In his final season at Wolves, 1976-77, he helped them earn promotion back to the top flight.

He had a brief spell in the North American Soccer League (NASL) with Minnesota Kicks before returning to England to become player-manager of Hereford. Those moves followed his decade-plus playing career at Molineux.

Wolves paid tribute in a club statement: "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," Wolves said in a statement. "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."

He later took charge of Charlton, Brighton, Greek club OFI and non-league side Leatherhead.