Play-off final hero Matt Murray reflects on his most elegant, skilful and stylish teammates, kits and moments which make up his beautiful game.
Most beautiful player | Joe Cole
The most elegant player that I played with outside of Wolves was Joe Cole. I played with Joe a lot when we were young kids coming through with England. I played with him from 16 all the way through to the 21s, and he was just amazing – his ball control was something else. I always remember when we were about 16 playing with England and he would say, ‘Matty, just give me the ball’, and I’d say, ‘But you’ve got three players around you’, and he said, ‘Yeah, well that just means other people are free, so give it me’, and what he did was just a joke. He was amazing.
Most beautiful Wolves teammate | Robbie Keane
At Wolves, it has to be Robbie Keane. His ball mastery was just ridiculous and he was so skilful. The first time we saw him in training we were like, ‘Wow, I've never seen skill like that before.’ I was in the year below Robbie, I was still a schoolboy, but I would go and train with the academy when Robbie first came over and was amazed by what he could do. I remember we went to this tournament at the end of the season, playing against the likes of Ajax, Sampdoria and others, and he was the player of the tournament because he was unplayable. Then, within months, he was in Wolves’ first-team, running rings around Norwich on his debut. But he was just unbelievable.
Most beautiful opposition | Arsenal
When I played, we were in the Championship where everyone was playing 4-4-2, so it was a bit different back then as it wasn’t like we were playing Man City and you were chasing shadows. But one of the games which stands out to me was when I was part of the travelling squad that went to Arsenal in the FA Cup in 1998. I had just turned professional and although I wasn’t on the bench, I still went down with the squad and got to watch that incredible Arsenal team of Overmars, Anelka, Vieira, Petit. They were special.
Most beautiful goal | Ndah vs Preston North End, 2003
When I was playing, it was when George Ndah picked up the ball on the edge of our box away at Preston and just ran through everyone and scored. He scored quite a few great goals for Wolves, there was the one against Leicester in the FA Cup as well, but he’d always seem to come up with those kind of moments did George where he would pick a worldie out of nowhere. But the best goal I commentated on was Ruben Neves’ volley against Derby at home. They were two great ones, but Ruben’s has got to be the best goal I’ve ever seen at Molineux.
Most beautiful kit | Wolves 2006/07 GK
I really liked the Chaucer kits and I always liked wearing a black kit, so one of the Chaucer black kits would be my pick. However, my mom always liked me in red, and I remember we had a red kit that we wore in that 2006/07 season under Mick McCarthy, so although I like the black, I’m a mummy’s boy so I’ve got to go for that red one.
Most beautiful stadium | Millennium Stadium
Just because it was a full house and the atmosphere was incredible, I’ve got to say the Millennium Stadium. Playing in front of such a big crowd, with half of the stadium decked out in their gold and black shirts, it was an incredible moment.
Most beautiful moment in history | Play-off final penalty save
I loved it when Kenny Miller put in the third goal, so we were 3-0 up at half-time, but obviously on a personal note, I’ve got to go with saving the penalty. It was a really nice moment. I had been at Wolves since I was nine years of age, and always dreamt of playing in the first-team. I would dream of getting the club promoted, so to be able to play my part, and save a penalty – for a goalkeeper, it’s like a striker scoring. It’s something that Wolves fans still talk to me about and to play that part in history, it still gives me goosebumps when I remember it. If you win the final it’s amazing, and I think because we hadn’t been promoted for so long, it made it even more special. I still think the best team and the best brand of football that I’ve seen at Wolves is what Nuno’s boys were playing and what they were able to do in the Premier League was amazing, but so many fans have said to me that the play-off final day was one of the best, if not the best day, they’ve experienced as a Wolves fan. Plus, getting to do it with my mates as well, that was so special. I loved that day.
This article originally featured in Wolves' official 2025/26 matchday programme. Last season's programmes are still available to purchase online through retailers Curtis Sports.
