Sean Ruiz, Wolves' head of kit, has carved out a unique niche for himself within the club's inner circle. Behind the scenes of his office, which bears little resemblance to those in other kit rooms, lies a world of precision, routine and camaraderie.
Ruiz's domain is one of neat order, with shelves and pigeonholes overflowing with an astonishing array of Wolves' kits, badges, lettering, and numbering. Every inch of wall space is meticulously used, a testament to Ruiz's dedication to the job. Yet, despite his attention to detail, he confesses to still being haunted by a missing number from his days at New York Red Bulls - a reminder that even in the most seemingly routine tasks, surprises can lurk.
As the matchday approaches, Ruiz's world becomes even more complex. With dozens of opposition kits swapped post-match, and every player requiring two match shirts (with a third set printed just in case), the kit staff are busier than ever. Piper, Ruiz's trusted assistant, is an eight-year veteran of kit work, having previously worked with England, while Ian Round and Steve Hooper provide part-time support.
The task list for matchday is exhaustive, ranging from the mundane (resetting the training-ground dressing room after a session) to the more challenging (setting up the substitution board just in time for kick-off). Ruiz himself has only been in this role since August, following over 20 years at New York Red Bulls. The job was "stumbled into" during his father's illness and subsequent recovery - but one thing became clear: Ruiz had a knack for kit work.
As the dressing room fills with players preparing for the match ahead, the nuances of each individual routine become apparent. Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone requires extra socks, while Tolu Arokodare trusts only Harry Warren to steam his boots. Even the most mundane tasks can reveal their own charm - like Hwang Hee-chan's need for trainers.
Ruiz himself is refreshingly candid about his lack of experience before joining Wolves. His first matchday was a quadruple switch against Manchester City, and it's clear that he "figured it out" as he went along. Despite the demands of the job, Ruiz exudes a sense of calm and authority - a testament to his ability to balance routine with adaptability.
As the game unfolds on the pitch, Ruiz is back at the training ground, already planning for the next matchday. It's here that he finds true fulfillment, surrounded by a community of like-minded individuals who understand the value of attention to detail, hard work and dedication.
Ruiz's domain is one of neat order, with shelves and pigeonholes overflowing with an astonishing array of Wolves' kits, badges, lettering, and numbering. Every inch of wall space is meticulously used, a testament to Ruiz's dedication to the job. Yet, despite his attention to detail, he confesses to still being haunted by a missing number from his days at New York Red Bulls - a reminder that even in the most seemingly routine tasks, surprises can lurk.
As the matchday approaches, Ruiz's world becomes even more complex. With dozens of opposition kits swapped post-match, and every player requiring two match shirts (with a third set printed just in case), the kit staff are busier than ever. Piper, Ruiz's trusted assistant, is an eight-year veteran of kit work, having previously worked with England, while Ian Round and Steve Hooper provide part-time support.
The task list for matchday is exhaustive, ranging from the mundane (resetting the training-ground dressing room after a session) to the more challenging (setting up the substitution board just in time for kick-off). Ruiz himself has only been in this role since August, following over 20 years at New York Red Bulls. The job was "stumbled into" during his father's illness and subsequent recovery - but one thing became clear: Ruiz had a knack for kit work.
As the dressing room fills with players preparing for the match ahead, the nuances of each individual routine become apparent. Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone requires extra socks, while Tolu Arokodare trusts only Harry Warren to steam his boots. Even the most mundane tasks can reveal their own charm - like Hwang Hee-chan's need for trainers.
Ruiz himself is refreshingly candid about his lack of experience before joining Wolves. His first matchday was a quadruple switch against Manchester City, and it's clear that he "figured it out" as he went along. Despite the demands of the job, Ruiz exudes a sense of calm and authority - a testament to his ability to balance routine with adaptability.
As the game unfolds on the pitch, Ruiz is back at the training ground, already planning for the next matchday. It's here that he finds true fulfillment, surrounded by a community of like-minded individuals who understand the value of attention to detail, hard work and dedication.
his office is literally a treasure trove of neatness and organization 
I mean what's not to love about shelves and pigeonholes for every single Wolves kit badge and numbering? I'd totally freak out if my workspace looked like that, but at the same time I'm kinda jealous 
and don't even get me started on the matchday chaos 
dozens of kits swapped, players needing two shirts... the kit staff must be running around like headless chickens 
and I love that he's refreshingly candid about his lack of experience before joining Wolves 
I can totally relate to Sean Ruiz's situation, you know when you're super organized but still get those little things wrong? 
. But what I love about the way he handles it is that he just owns up to it and moves on, no fuss 
. It's not always easy, but Ruiz seems like a total pro who knows how to stay calm under pressure 
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. And that's what I love about his story, he didn't even plan to be Wolves' head of kit, it just kinda happened, and look at him now! He's got his routine down pat, but still makes mistakes like us all 
and what's up with the formatting on these articles? can't they do better than this? it looks like it was typed by a robot not even emojis work right 
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