Wolverhampton Wanderers have reached an agreement to appoint Vitor Pereira as their new head coach, following the dismissal of Gary O’Neil.
The deal, which includes compensation of just over £800,000 to Al Shabab, has been finalized, with Pereira expected to sign a one-and-a-half-year contract.
The 56-year-old Portuguese manager is flying to England today, with official confirmation of his appointment anticipated within the next 24 hours.
O’Neil was sacked on Sunday, less than 24 hours after Wolves suffered a dramatic 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town at Molineux. The loss, which was followed by an on-pitch scuffle involving Rayan Aït-Nouri, left Wolves languishing in 19th place in the Premier League, five points adrift of safety.
Wolves face a critical match against 17th-placed Leicester City on Sunday, a game that could define their survival hopes.
Pereira’s Track Record
Pereira, who has won league titles in Portugal, Greece, and China, has been managing Saudi Pro League side Al Shabab since February. He was previously linked with the Everton job in 2022, but fan protests led the club to appoint Frank Lampard instead.
Renowned for his achievements at Porto, where he won back-to-back league titles, Pereira arrives with an impressive résumé.
During his tenure at Porto, he inherited a side that had gone unbeaten under André Villas-Boas and maintained that standard, finishing his second season without a single league defeat.
Pereira’s success extended to Greece, where he won the league with Olympiakos, and to China, where he clinched the Chinese Super League with Shanghai SIPG.
However, his career has not been without setbacks, including a turbulent stint at Fenerbahce and a failed bid to save 1860 Munich from relegation in Germany’s second division.
A Familiar Fit at Wolves
Pereira’s appointment aligns with Wolves’ history of relying on Portuguese managers. The club enjoyed success under Nuno Espírito Santo, who led them to promotion and top-half Premier League finishes, and Bruno Lage, who continued that trend.
The Wolves squad itself has a strong Portuguese influence, with eight players speaking the language as their first, excluding suspended Brazilian midfielder João Gomes.
Key figures such as captain Nélson Semedo and star player Matheus Cunha will be crucial to Pereira’s plans.
The Challenges Ahead
While Pereira’s pedigree is evident, this will be his first managerial role in one of Europe’s top five leagues, adding an element of risk.
His immediate task will be to galvanize a struggling Wolves side. Defeat at Leicester would leave Wolves seven points behind their relegation rivals, a gap that could prove insurmountable.
Discipline and swift tactical improvements will be vital if Pereira is to steer Wolves away from the drop zone. As Sky Sports writer Adam Bate observed, “Instilling discipline and offering hope needs to happen fast if he is to succeed.”
Wolves fans will hope Pereira can replicate his past successes and breathe new life into their faltering Premier League campaign.
