Wolves have confirmed the appointment of Vítor Pereira as their new head coach following the dismissal of Gary O’Neil. Pereira has signed a one-and-a-half-year deal after Wolves negotiated compensation of just over £800,000 with Saudi Pro League side Al Shabab to secure his release.
The 56-year-old Portuguese coach took charge of his first training session on Thursday and will lead Wolves in Sunday’s crucial Premier League clash against Leicester City.
Wolves chairman Jeff Shi expressed optimism about the new appointment, saying, “We are delighted to welcome Vítor Pereira to Wolves as the new head coach of our men’s first team. Vítor is a highly respected and experienced coach who has achieved success across different leagues and will bring a fresh approach to the challenges ahead. This is a tough moment for the club, and we are confident he will guide us back on track with the support of the players, staff, and the entire Wolves community.”
Pereira replaces Gary O’Neil, who was sacked on Sunday following a 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town at Molineux. The loss, marred by a post-match altercation involving Rayan Aït-Nouri and a misconduct charge for Matheus Cunha, left Wolves in 19th place in the Premier League, five points behind safety. The dismissal marked the end of a difficult tenure for O’Neil, with Wolves eager to bring in Pereira to steady the ship.
Pereira, a seasoned coach with league titles at Porto, Olympiakos, and Shanghai SIPG, has long been viewed as a strong candidate for managing in the Premier League. Wolves were willing to pay his release clause, and Pereira reportedly welcomed the opportunity to return to Europe.
Pereira was previously linked with the Everton job in early 2022, but fan protests against his appointment saw the club opt for Frank Lampard instead. Having managed Al Shabab since February, Pereira now faces a significant task to lift Wolves out of the relegation zone, starting with Sunday’s must-win game against 17th-placed Leicester.
