Wolves are expected to finalize the appointment of Vitor Pereira as their new head coach within the next 24-48 hours. A broad agreement on a compensation package with his current club, Al Shabab, is in place, and plans are being made for Pereira to arrive in England mid-week to prepare the team for their weekend match against Leicester.1 This appointment continues Wolves’ trend of hiring Portuguese managers, following Bruno Lage and Nuno Espírito Santo. While Wolves’ owners, Fosun, have strong ties with Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes, his involvement in this particular appointment is unclear.2
Pereira, who has won league titles in three different countries, has never managed in the Premier League but is highly regarded by the Wolves hierarchy.3 He was previously a candidate for the Everton managerial position before Frank Lampard was appointed. This move comes after Wolves sacked Gary O’Neil following a 2-1 defeat to Ipswich, a result that leaves the team 19th in the Premier League, five points adrift of 17th-placed Leicester.4 Wolves chairman Jeff Shi thanked O’Neil for his efforts in a statement.
Wolves had been considering several other candidates, including Carlos Corberan and John Eustace. However, O’Neil’s dismissal has drawn criticism, with some arguing that he was put in an impossible situation. The club’s decision to sell key players like Pedro Neto and Max Kilman is seen as undermining the manager’s ability to succeed. While O’Neil’s record of 11 defeats in 16 games is concerning, critics argue that no manager could consistently perform well under such circumstances.
The situation at Wolves represents a shift from their previous approach, which saw significant investment and success under Nuno Espírito Santo. That era saw Wolves compete for top-seven finishes and European football. The current squad is a far cry from the teams featuring players like Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho, Diogo Jota, and Raul Jimenez. This decline in investment and the sale of key players explain the fans’ frustration and why O’Neil’s excuses about a difficult fixture list didn’t resonate. The stark contrast between Wolves’ performances last season, even with Neto’s limited appearances, and their current form ultimately led to O’Neil’s dismissal.
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