Wolves appoint Vitor Pereira as head coach to switch Gary O’Neil after sacking

Wolves have appointed Vitor Pereira as their new head coach following the sacking of Gary O’Neil.

Pereira has signed a one-and-half-year contract after compensation of simply over £800,000 was negotiated with Saudi Professional League aspect Al Shabab over his exit.

O’Neil was axed on Sunday after a dramatic 2-1 defeat to Ipswich at Molineux on Saturday, which was adopted by a scuffle that noticed Rayan Ait-Nouri pulled away from the pitch and Matheus Cunha charged with misconduct by the FA.

That consequence left Wolves nineteenth within the Premier League desk – 5 factors adrift of Seventeenth-placed Leicester, who they play away on Sunday.

Sky Sports activities Information was instructed Wolves have been completely satisfied to pay Pereira’s launch clause and the 56-year-old, who has gained league titles in three totally different nations whereas at Porto, Olympiakos and Shanghai, was eager on a transfer to Molineux.

Pereira – who had been in cost at Al Shabab since February – was linked with the Everton job in early 2022, however Toffees followers made their opposition clear with protests and Frank Lampard was appointed as a substitute.

Evaluation: Who’s Vitor Pereira?

Sky Sports activities options author Adam Bate:

The appointment of Pereira by Wolves takes the variety of jobs that the Portuguese coach has taken on since departing Porto in 2013 into double figures. A decade in the past, Pereira was briefly thought to be one of many brightest teaching prospects in Europe.

His achievements at Porto bear repeating. He gained the title in every of his two seasons, inheriting a crew that had gone unbeaten in changing into champions below Andre Villas-Boas. Pereira’s closing season was notably spectacular as Porto have been unbeaten once more.

He was a title winner with Olympiakos in Greece and gained the Chinese language Tremendous League throughout his time in Shanghai, however there was additionally a chaotic stint in command of Fenerbahce and a doomed try to keep up 1860 Munich’s standing in Germany’s second division.

Having additionally spent over a 12 months in Brazil, working at two large golf equipment in Corinthians and Flamengo, Pereira has pedigree however there may be additionally a component of danger concerning his credentials provided that that is his first job in one in every of Europe’s 5 main leagues.

There are parts that work in his favour. Wolves have a historical past of Portuguese coaches having been promoted to the Premier League below Nuno Espirito Santo and reaching top-half finishes within the competitors below each Nuno and his successor Bruno Lage.

The make-up of the Wolves squad nonetheless displays that affect. As many as eight of the squad for O’Neil’s closing recreation in opposition to Ipswich converse Portuguese as a primary language and that doesn’t embrace the suspended Brazil worldwide midfielder Joao Gomes.

A few of these are key figures inside the group, ones that Pereira will want onside if he’s to show round Wolves’ fortunes. Nelson Semedo is now the captain of the crew. Cunha is the undoubted star participant. Enhancing Andre’s kind could possibly be crucial.

The issue for Pereira is that he should act rapidly. Defeat at Leicester within the subsequent recreation would go away Wolves seven factors adrift of a crew they need to absolutely catch if they’re to remain up. Instilling self-discipline and providing hope must occur quick if he’s to succeed.

Wolves’ subsequent six Premier League fixtures

Leicester (a) – December 22, 2pm

Man Utd (h) – December 26, 5.30pm

Tottenham (a) – December 29, 3pm

Nottingham Forest (h) – January 6, 8pm – Dwell on Sky Sports activities

Newcastle (a) – January 15, 7.30pm

Chelsea (a) – January 20, 8pm – Dwell on Sky Sports activities

What occurred at Everton?

Pereira was near changing into the Everton supervisor in January 2022, even going as far as to talk to Sky Sports activities Information in a bid to stave off fan protests about his anticipated appointment. Finally, the Toffees opted to go along with Lampard as a substitute.

“It was either him or Lampard,” Sky Sports activities’ Information journalist Alan Myers explains. “I think the fans fancied Lampard more than him. They wanted Pereira out and he was not even in!” However for a time it appeared that Pereira had managed to persuade Everton’s hierarchy.

“He had an interview with Bill Kenwright and Bill raved about it. He did not think he was right for it at first and still voted for Frank Lampard in the end, but I remember him calling me and saying this was the most enthusiastic, inspiring person you could ever meet.

“Invoice stated he was immaculate, you could possibly have eaten a dinner off his swimsuit. He was completely greatly surprised. I believed he would get the job at that time. The board vote ended up being unanimous in Lampard’s favour however he was near it. Severe consideration was given.

“He had success at Porto and built his career on that, winning a few things, but he has had more clubs than Jack Nicklaus since then. He is certainly a character who will light up the Premier League in many ways. He does not hold back in whatever he is saying.”