Wolves appoint ex-Porto boss Pereira to help with relegation battle

Wolves have named former Porto manager Vítor Pereira as their new head coach.

The experienced Portuguese boss arrives from Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab on an 18-month deal, with Wolves paying around £825,000 in compensation to secure his services.

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Pereira replaces Gary O'Neil, who was dismissed on Sunday after Wolves’ 2-1 defeat to Ipswich the day before, a result that left them second from bottom in the Premier League.

Pereira oversaw his first training session on Thursday and will make his debut in the dugout during Sunday’s clash with Leicester. The Foxes sit 17th in the table, five points clear of Wolves.

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The club had been exploring potential candidates for several weeks, considering options such as former West Ham boss David Moyes. However, Pereira emerged as the frontrunner and was swiftly appointed.

The 56-year-old boasts an impressive CV, having won back-to-back Primeira Liga titles with Porto in 2012 and 2013, as well as the Greek Super League with Olympiakos in 2015.

He took charge of Al-Shabab in February, leaving them in sixth place in the Saudi Pro League to take up the role at Molineux.

Pereira inherits a struggling Wolves side who have endured a tough season, losing 11 of their 16 league games and securing just two wins, against Southampton and Fulham. 

Their seven-year stay in the Premier League is starting to hang in the balance. Can the new manager turn things around for them?

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Who is Vitor Pereira?

The 56-year-old has transitioned from being a highly regarded professional—so much so that Jose Mourinho once referred to him as "more than an assistant manager." Many in Portugal believed he played a more significant role in Porto's historic treble campaign in 2010-11 than the head coach, Andre Villas-Boas. However, he has since taken on a more journeyman role in his career.

He has worked across a number of different countries. While he has attracted interest from the Premier League several times, he was never considered the right fit for the teams. It will be interesting see what Wolves have seen differently.

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