Wolverhampton Wanderers have officially appointed Vitor Pereira as their new head coach on an 18-month contract. The experienced coach, known for his success across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, replaces Gary O’Neil, who was dismissed on December 15 following four consecutive Premier League defeats.
The 56-year-old Portuguese coach takes on the role at a crucial moment, with Wolves currently sitting in 19th place in the Premier League table. The appointment was confirmed in a statement on the club’s website Thursday afternoon.
Pereira has previously managed top clubs such as Porto, Olympiacos, and Shanghai SIPG, and his career includes winning four league titles across Portugal, Greece, and China. Club chairman Jeff Shi expressed confidence in the new appointment, hopeful it will bring positive change to the team.
“We are delighted to welcome Vitor Pereira to Wolves as the new head coach of our men’s first team. Vitor is a highly respected and experienced coach who has achieved success across different leagues and will bring a new approach for the test ahead,” he said.
Shi acknowledged the precarious position Wolves find themselves in but reaffirmed his confidence in Pereira’s ability to steer the club toward safety.
He added, “This is a challenging moment for the club, and we want to thank Vitor for taking on this responsibility. We have full confidence in his ability to guide us back on track, alongside the players and staff, and the entire club will be united in supporting him to achieve success.”
Pereira’s coaching career began in 2004 with Sanjoanense, and he has since held 13 managerial positions, with his most notable stint at Porto. There, he won back-to-back Primeira Liga titles in 2012 and 2013, losing only one league match over two seasons.
His dominance continued in Greece with Olympiacos, where he secured the Super League title in 2015, and later in China with Shanghai SIPG, where he claimed the league crown in 2018. After leaving Saudi Pro League club Al Shabab, Pereira led his first training session with Wolves on Thursday.
Sporting director Matt Hobbs discussed the qualities that made Pereira a standout candidate during the recruitment process, emphasizing his experience and success across multiple leagues.
“Vitor is a highly experienced and accomplished head coach who has demonstrated his ability to succeed at the highest level. His personality, desire, and leadership qualities stood out to us during this process, and we’re excited to see how he applies his expertise here at Wolves,” Hobbs said.
He also emphasised the collaborative effort required to turn the club’s fortunes around:
“I’m looking forward to working closely with Vitor and his team on a daily basis, supporting them in every way possible—from getting the maximum out of our staff at Compton, to recruitment in the upcoming transfer window—as we work together to strengthen the squad and achieve our collective goals.”
Pereira will make his Premier League managerial debut this weekend when Wolves travel to Leicester City.
The Portuguese tactician, who briefly worked with current Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes during his stint at Flamengo, expressed his eagerness to embrace the challenge of England’s top-flight football.
“The Premier League is one of the most competitive leagues in the world, and I am honoured to have the opportunity to manage Wolves. This is a club with a rich history and passionate supporters, and I am fully committed to helping the team achieve its potential,” Pereira said.
With the January transfer window on the horizon, Pereira’s experience and tactical acumen will be pivotal in revitalising the Wolves’ season, fans noted reacting to his announcement and arrival.
