OFFICIAL: Wolves have appointed Vitor Pereira as their new manager on an 18-month contract

Vitor Pereira, 56, has officially joined Wolverhampton Wanderers as their new head coach after a significant stint in the Saudi Pro League with Al Shabab, where he spent the past ten months. His appointment comes following the recent dismissal of Gary O’Neil, who was sacked after Wolves suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Ipswich last weekend, a result that proved critical in the club’s decision-making process.

Pereira has signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with the club, and the transition involved a compensation package of just over £800,000 that was negotiated with Al Shabab, facilitating his move to England. As he steps into this new role, Pereira is stepping into a challenging situation; he took training on Thursday and is set to make his managerial debut when Wolves face Leicester City in a crucial matchup on Sunday.

The decision to part ways with O’Neil was precipitated not only by the lackluster performance against Ipswich but also by a dramatic aftermath that included a scuffle involving players on the pitch—most notably Rayan Ait-Nouri being pulled away and Matheus Cunha facing charges of misconduct from the FA. This tumultuous situation has left Wolves languishing in 19th place in the Premier League, five points behind 17th-placed Leicester, who are their opponents this weekend in a must-win situation.

According to sources at Sky Sports News, Wolves were proactive in securing Pereira, reportedly willing to pay his release clause to bring him to Molineux. The Portuguese coach has a rich pedigree, having won league titles in three different countries during his stints at esteemed clubs such as Porto, Olympiakos, and Shanghai. His appointment brings a wave of hope to Wolves supporters who are eager for a turnaround in fortunes.

It’s worth noting that Pereira was once linked with the managerial position at Everton back in early 2022. However, that potential move was met with backlash from Toffees fans, who expressed their discontent through protests, ultimately leading to Frank Lampard being appointed instead. With his extensive experience and previous successes, Pereira aims to revitalize Wolves and steer them away from the relegation zone, hoping to instill confidence and a winning mentality among the players.