Sean Ruiz, Wolves' head of kit, doesn't believe in closed spaces - a trait that has served him well behind the scenes at Molineux Stadium. In a small office adorned with shelves packed with gold shirts, badges, lettering, and numbering, Ruiz is more than just shirt sorters; he's a key member of the team that brings order to Wolves' kit.
Ruiz's days begin six hours before kick-off, when he, assistant Barry Piper, load their blank white van with an assortment of kits. The journey from Molineux to their away destination takes about 10 minutes, during which time security guards help unpack laundry bins into a vast dressing area. Once the team is confirmed, Ruiz hangs shirts in formation order and calls the digital department to set up screens above each spot.
Behind the scenes, there are many nuances that show themselves on matchdays. Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone always clocks his socks, while Tolu Arokodare trusts only Harry Warren to steam his boots. Piper flits around arranging bench coats, saying "Training days are about ticking over – this is when it comes alive."
As the game gets underway, Hwang Hee-chan needs his trainers, and more bananas are required. The substitutions board must be set - a task that was new to Ruiz just 12 months ago, when he told a white lie about having experience. "I had no idea what I was doing," he says with a grin. "But you can't say no in a new place, can you? You're in the service business. You've got to figure it out."
After Wolves' rarest of victories, 3-0 against West Ham, the buzz under the main stand is palpable. Ruiz's team enjoy a brief catchup with their counterparts before heading back to the training ground for the next match.
As Ruiz goes about his job, he often reflects on how his career path has taken him down this road. He assisted his dad, Fernando, at the MetroStars as a teenager and later stepped up to the first team after Fernando's cancer diagnosis. After graduation, Ruiz became a "full-blown kit guy," taking over from his dad.
Now, Ruiz is no stranger to the chaos of matchdays. With multiple shirt changes required during a game and players switching on and off all the time, it's essential for him and his team to keep up with each player's preferences. The head of kit must be able to name each player, number, size, and shirt preference from memory – no small feat.
Despite the challenges, Ruiz wears his heart on his sleeve when discussing his relationships with players and staff alike. "It's a blessing to have these relationships," he says. "To see them not just for what everybody else sees: a centre-back, a striker for Wolves. These guys are like family to me."
Ruiz's days begin six hours before kick-off, when he, assistant Barry Piper, load their blank white van with an assortment of kits. The journey from Molineux to their away destination takes about 10 minutes, during which time security guards help unpack laundry bins into a vast dressing area. Once the team is confirmed, Ruiz hangs shirts in formation order and calls the digital department to set up screens above each spot.
Behind the scenes, there are many nuances that show themselves on matchdays. Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone always clocks his socks, while Tolu Arokodare trusts only Harry Warren to steam his boots. Piper flits around arranging bench coats, saying "Training days are about ticking over – this is when it comes alive."
As the game gets underway, Hwang Hee-chan needs his trainers, and more bananas are required. The substitutions board must be set - a task that was new to Ruiz just 12 months ago, when he told a white lie about having experience. "I had no idea what I was doing," he says with a grin. "But you can't say no in a new place, can you? You're in the service business. You've got to figure it out."
After Wolves' rarest of victories, 3-0 against West Ham, the buzz under the main stand is palpable. Ruiz's team enjoy a brief catchup with their counterparts before heading back to the training ground for the next match.
As Ruiz goes about his job, he often reflects on how his career path has taken him down this road. He assisted his dad, Fernando, at the MetroStars as a teenager and later stepped up to the first team after Fernando's cancer diagnosis. After graduation, Ruiz became a "full-blown kit guy," taking over from his dad.
Now, Ruiz is no stranger to the chaos of matchdays. With multiple shirt changes required during a game and players switching on and off all the time, it's essential for him and his team to keep up with each player's preferences. The head of kit must be able to name each player, number, size, and shirt preference from memory – no small feat.
Despite the challenges, Ruiz wears his heart on his sleeve when discussing his relationships with players and staff alike. "It's a blessing to have these relationships," he says. "To see them not just for what everybody else sees: a centre-back, a striker for Wolves. These guys are like family to me."
of wolves' kit department! i was at the game against west ham and it was like magic how he kept everything organized and smooth, even when hwang hee-chan needed his trainers in like 2 secs lol. but what i found really touching was how he talks about his relationships with the players and staff... it's so clear he genuinely cares about them 
. and can we talk about how cool his office is? gold shirts and badges everywhere, like a shrine to wolves' kit 
I'm loving Sean Ruiz's vibe, you know? He's got this whole thing going on behind the scenes and everyone seems to love him. Like, he's part of the "family" and all that. You can't blame a guy for trying to make it work when his dad passes away and he takes over the kit gig. 
The way Sean Ruiz handles the kit for Wolves is actually really interesting 
. I mean, think about it - every player's got their own preferences and stuff, so you gotta be organized and on top of it all. It's not just about sorting shirts from whites to blacks or whatever, it's like a whole science 
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But seriously, having those relationships with the players is what makes his job so special, I think. It's not just about kits and stuff, it's about people and understanding who they are off the pitch 
or is there some kind of system in place?
. Like, seriously, who knew there were so many nuances to making sure the players have the right gear? And Ruiz is always stressing about remembering all those player details – I mean, that's some serious multitasking 
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. It's not like they're running the team or anything, but still... Ruiz seems like an absolute rockstar behind the scenes 
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. I mean, his role might seem behind-the-scenes, but trust me, it's a whole lot more than just sorting out shirts - it's about creating an experience for those players and staff who are literally on the pitch every week. I love how Ruiz is so down-to-earth about everything and genuinely seems to enjoy working with everyone. And can we talk about his dad? 
just read about Sean Ruiz, the wolves head of kit, and I'm worried about the mental health implications of working in such high-pressure environments 
i mean who knew being the head of kit at wolves could be so epic? 
and can u believe how down-to-earth he is? 
love that he got to grow up in the business with his dad and now has those close relationships with the players... total goal 
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It's crazy to think that there's someone like him behind the scenes making sure everything is just right for the team 
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It's not just about winning or losing, it's about being part of a team and feeling like you're all in this together 
. It's a pretty cool dichotomy, you know? The energy of the game versus the precision of the kit room 
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. What I love most about him is his relationships with the players - he really sees them as family! 
I feel so bad that his dad passed away, but it sounds like Ruiz is living up to his dreams now 
He's literally the glue that holds the team's kit together, and it's amazing to see his attention to detail and dedication to making sure each player has what they need on matchdays. I mean, have you seen the setup for the substitutions board? Genius! 
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can you even imagine having to deal with all those egos and preferences? i mean, sam johnstone clocks his socks 
and people think being a kit guy is boring 
get this dude a raise or something! 
! I think it's so impressive that Sean Ruiz is able to name each player, number, size, and shirt preference from memory – no wonder he has such strong relationships with the team! It just goes to show how much of a service-based industry sports can be, especially when it comes to kit management 
. And don't even get me started on the players having their own personal arrangements for socks, trainers, and bananas... it's just too much 
. I mean, I guess it's nice that Ruiz has a good relationship with the players and staff, but can't we just simplify things a bit? 
but have you seen his job requirements? the man's gotta remember every player's size, number, and shirt preference from memory, that's just crazy 
And can you believe he's got a whole process down pat for setting up the subs board? It's crazy how much goes into getting those kits out on time and making sure each player has what they need. 
The bit where he says "you can't say no in a new place, can you?" makes me chuckle too 