Wolves Part Ways with Vitor Pereira Following Disappointing Start
No victories and just two points. It was only a matter of time before Wolverhampton Wanderers decided to part ways with Vitor Pereira.
The 57-year-old manager, who enjoyed celebrating victories with Wolves fans at the pub last season, has been dismissed after just 11 months at Molineux.
Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Fulham marked the team's eighth loss in ten games, a performance that typically leads to managerial changes and potential relegation. The match against a relegation rival featured a red card and an own goal, underscoring the struggles of a team currently sitting at the bottom of the Premier League.
Although the club's hierarchy had been supportive of Pereira leading up to the weekend, the disastrous performance in London prompted a swift change. With the team now eight points adrift of safety, Wolves are on the hunt for their fifth permanent manager in four years.
Pereira had signed a new three-year contract just 45 days prior, having successfully guided Wolves to safety last season. He took over from Gary O'Neil last December, who also faced a winless start, and led the team to a six-match winning streak between March and April, the club's best run in the top flight since 1970.
Initially, it appeared to be a perfect match, with Pereira even nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Year. However, issues began to emerge during the summer, leading Pereira to regret not leaving Molineux at the start of the season. The former Porto manager, who won the Portuguese league title twice, aimed to build on last season’s success after finishing 17 points clear of the relegation zone.
Despite a significant investment of around £100 million in five new players, none had Premier League experience, and Pereira was disappointed not to secure his first-choice targets. While he approved the signings, including striker Tolu Arokodare and winger Jhon Arias, the loss of key players such as captain Nelson Semedo and Matheus Cunha—who transferred to Manchester United—left the team lacking crucial experience.
Wolves scored 63 goals last season, but 32 of those came from players who have since left the club. The organization is now looking to shift its strategy towards recruiting more homegrown talent to enhance their squad depth and feels they are at the beginning of a new cycle, albeit one fraught with risk.
Despite the challenges, there is a long-term vision at Molineux, with owners Fosun not seeking to sell the club but rather open to minority investments in Fosun Sports Group. However, this focus on long-term planning may have distracted them from immediate concerns, leaving the club in a precarious position as they face another relegation battle.
The players have become mentally fatigued after conceding late goals that cost them potential victories against Tottenham and Brighton. Last week’s late 3-2 defeat to Burnley saw fans turn on Pereira for the first time, highlighting the team’s inability to respond effectively under pressure.
At Craven Cottage, the sight of Joao Gomes casually walking the ball back into his own half late in the match illustrated the players’ mindset. When asked by BBC Sport how Wolves could become the only team in Premier League history to survive with just two points from ten games, Pereira struggled to provide a satisfactory answer.
He acknowledged the challenge of winning six consecutive games, even for top teams, and emphasized the need for a positive result following significant changes to his starting lineup.
Pereira's changes were aimed at enhancing the team's defensive solidity, but Wolves conceded a goal just nine minutes into the match, due to an error by Santi Bueno. He was well-liked by the staff and took time to connect with the fans, coining the phrase 'first the points, then the pints.' His struggles at Fulham were evident, and he seemed aware that his time was running out.
After Stamford's 3-1 victory over Stourbridge in the Southern League Premier Central, Wolves now find themselves as the only team across the top seven tiers without a league win this season. Despite executive chairman Jeff Shi's commitment to loyalty, the results have left the club stranded at the bottom of the table, with little indication of an impending turnaround.
Wolves will face Chelsea next Saturday and are in search of a swift appointment to replace Pereira. In the meantime, Under-21 head coach James Collins and Under-18s manager Richard Walker have been placed in caretaker charge. Pereira described the defeat at Fulham as the worst performance under his leadership, and a debrief was scheduled for Monday to discuss the situation, although he will not be part of it after his dismissal.