Former Wolves forward Don Goodman reflects on his most elegant, skilful and stylish teammates, kits and moments which make up his beautiful game.
Most beautiful player | Hugo Sanchez
We played against a brilliant Leeds team that then went on to win the very last top division title before it became the Premier League, and they had the likes of Gary McAllister, Gordon Strachan and lads like that, so I’d throw those players into the ring. But I also played against Hugo Sanchez in a friendly against Real Madrid in the past, who was a goal scoring machine, and I played against Cafu in a pre-season friendly, so I’ve also got to chuck those names in.
Most beautiful Wolves teammate | Gordon Cowans
In the whole of my 20 years as a professional footballer, when I’m asked who the best player was I played with, people are not expecting the answer that I give, and it’s Gordon Cowans. He was a technical football genius, a striker’s dream, he had the vision to see your runs and put the ball right where it needed to be put. However, it was also a joy to play with a very young Robbie Keane, because he was a bag of tricks as well as being technical. Keano master of the unexpected and carried on playing exactly the same way that he did in the juniors and then when he made his first-team debut. You could see it in training and what a career he went on to have.
Most beautiful opposition | Swindon Town
Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle will be up there but I don’t think that will go down well with the Sunderland fans! But one of the hardest teams to get to grips with was Swindon Town when Glenn Hoddle was player-manager. During that time, everybody played 4-4-2, and then, all of a sudden, he came up with a sweeper system and Swindon passed everybody off the pitch. You couldn’t get near them. Just to be a little bit left field, I would say they were the hardest team to get to grips with.
Most beautiful goal | Goodman vs Grimsby Town, 1995
That’s a difficult one. My memory is so bad that there is probably going to be better ones that I was on the pitch for as well as scored myself, but I’m going to go for a diving header that I scored at Molineux in a 4-1 home win early on in the 1995/96 season. I think Tony Daley crossed it and I flung myself at the ball. It probably wasn’t the best goal of my career by far, but I remember it because diving headers were – and are still – rare.
Most beautiful kit | Sunderland away 1992
In all honesty, I really liked the Sunderland away kit of my era there. It was a white and they wore it in the 1992 FA Cup final against Liverpool. It was different and stylish.
Most beautiful stadium | Elland Road
As a Leeds United fan, I’d probably say Elland Road. Even when I go back there now to commentate, especially the atmosphere they generate is spectacular. Plus, I always seemed to score in that stadium every time I played, literally scored for every team I played for against then, I always seemed to score a goal against Leeds.
Most beautiful moment in history | Play-off final joy
I would say winning the League One play-offs with Walsall. I think it’s the most amazing way to get promoted, and to get little old Walsall into the Championship and keep them there the following season was an incredible moment. Earlier on in my career, I had also been promoted by winning a league, and although it’s great to win the league title, there's nothing better than winning a playoff final. I was there at the Millennium Stadium in 2003 with my young lad supporting Wolves and it was great to see them finally get that promotion to the Premier League. So, if you can guarantee winning, I’d take being promoted through the play-offs because it’s an amazing moment.
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.
