Sean Ruiz, the head of kit at Wolves, has spent over 20 years in New York, where he worked with his dad Fernando as a teenager at the MetroStars. But after his father's cancer diagnosis, Ruiz stepped up to the first team and eventually found himself working as a full-time kit man.
Ruiz's office is a treasure trove of kits, badges, lettering, and numbering, every inch of every wall covered with pigeonholes crammed with garments. He has no desk or computer but spends his days surrounded by an endless array of shirts that he and his team meticulously prepare for each matchday. Ruiz attributes the close relationships between himself and players to a deep understanding of their personal preferences - shirt color, length, style.
For every Premier League fixture, Ruiz is responsible for creating two sets of kits; most players change in half-time, leaving Ruiz with one spare set that could be sold online post-match. Each player has specific requirements when it comes to their kit. There are long sleeves or shorts; baggy or tight shirts - even the under-18s kit doesn't have any sponsor logos.
Ruiz is the first point of contact for the team's kit, and he takes pride in knowing every single detail about each player's kit preferences. "I can name each player, number, size, and shirt preference from memory," Ruiz says with a laugh, although admitting that he still has trouble remembering two digits that were missing at one point.
The morning of matchday starts six hours before the kick-off as Ruiz, Piper, and Warren load up their van with everything they need - shirts, shorts, goalkeeping gloves, coats, base layers, towels, boots, flip-flops, chewing gum, coffee. A 10-minute drive later, security guards are helping unpack all the laundry into a vast dressing area.
Ruiz's role extends beyond just kit selection; he has to make sure that the screens above each place have the correct information and that everything is precise. It's not an easy job but Ruiz thrives under pressure, calling it "the best days" as matchdays come alive with tension.
Ruiz's office is a treasure trove of kits, badges, lettering, and numbering, every inch of every wall covered with pigeonholes crammed with garments. He has no desk or computer but spends his days surrounded by an endless array of shirts that he and his team meticulously prepare for each matchday. Ruiz attributes the close relationships between himself and players to a deep understanding of their personal preferences - shirt color, length, style.
For every Premier League fixture, Ruiz is responsible for creating two sets of kits; most players change in half-time, leaving Ruiz with one spare set that could be sold online post-match. Each player has specific requirements when it comes to their kit. There are long sleeves or shorts; baggy or tight shirts - even the under-18s kit doesn't have any sponsor logos.
Ruiz is the first point of contact for the team's kit, and he takes pride in knowing every single detail about each player's kit preferences. "I can name each player, number, size, and shirt preference from memory," Ruiz says with a laugh, although admitting that he still has trouble remembering two digits that were missing at one point.
The morning of matchday starts six hours before the kick-off as Ruiz, Piper, and Warren load up their van with everything they need - shirts, shorts, goalkeeping gloves, coats, base layers, towels, boots, flip-flops, chewing gum, coffee. A 10-minute drive later, security guards are helping unpack all the laundry into a vast dressing area.
Ruiz's role extends beyond just kit selection; he has to make sure that the screens above each place have the correct information and that everything is precise. It's not an easy job but Ruiz thrives under pressure, calling it "the best days" as matchdays come alive with tension.
I mean, can you even imagine having to know every single detail about a team's kit preferences? 20+ years of experience and all 
. It's not just about the shirts and shorts, but also the tiny little things that make each player unique. And it's not like they're making up the kits as we go along, they have to create TWO sets for every matchday! That's dedication right there 
. I think what I love most about Sean Ruiz is how he takes pride in knowing all the players' preferences by heart 
. It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it 
.
And how he knows every player's exact preference is literally insane, i need some of that focus for my own life lol. 
The way he describes his job it sounds like an all-day, all-night kit party 
and I am here for it! The fact that security guards are helping unpack the laundry at the venue just shows how much prep goes into matchdays. Ruiz takes pride in what he does and that's so admirable. He really is the unsung hero of the Premier League 
OMG, can you believe Sean Ruiz has been working on kit duty for Wolves for over 20 years?! 
and can u even imagine how many different sets of kits he makes for each match day?! its mind-blowing. i feel bad for him having to deal with players changing in half-time tho...that must be so stressful 
I mean, can you imagine having to keep track of so many different shirts and preferences? 
). And have you seen that van of theirs? packed with all the gear they need for matchday? 
! I mean, who needs a desk when you've got pigeonholes for the win? 
And can you imagine having to remember every single player's kit preference from memory? That's some next-level organizational skills right there 
. And it's not just about looking good, it's about what makes them feel comfortable on game day 
.
. It's amazing how much passion and dedication goes into something as simple as a football kit 
.
. He's like a master of his domain, making sure everything is perfect before the big game starts 
. I'm inspired by his work ethic and enthusiasm - he truly loves what he does 
!