NEW DELHI: Wolverhampton Wanderers have appointed Vitor Pereira as their new head coach on an 18-month contract, with the Premier League club hoping the Portuguese can guide them out of the relegation zone.
The 56-year-old replaces Gary O'Neil, who was dismissed after a four-game losing streak left Wolves second-bottom in the table with nine points from 16 matches.
Pereira, who departed Saudi Pro League club Al Shabab, becomes Wolves' third Portuguese manager after Nuno Espirito Santo and Bruno Lage. He inherits a team five points adrift of safety and with the worst defensive record in the league, having conceded 40 goals.
The new manager faces a challenging task to turn around Wolves' season, with disciplinary issues also plaguing the team in recent weeks.
Mario Lemina was stripped of the captaincy after an altercation with West Ham United's Jarrod Bowen, while Matheus Cunha was charged by the Football Association for clashing with an Ipswich staff member.
Wolves chairman Jeff Shi expressed confidence in Pereira's ability to guide the club back on track, with the entire club united in supporting him to achieve success.
"This is a challenging moment for the club, and we want to thank Vitor for taking on this responsibility," Wolves chairman Jeff Shi said. "We have full confidence in his ability to guide us back on track, alongside the players and staff, and the entire club will be united in supporting him to achieve success."
Pereira's first game in charge will be against 17th-placed Leicester City on Sunday, with tougher fixtures against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur later this month.
Pereira has a wealth of experience, having previously managed Porto, where he won the Primeira Liga twice, as well as clubs like Olympiakos Piraeus, Fenerbahce, Shanghai Port, and Flamengo.
He has twice come close to managing in the Premier League, being interviewed for the Everton job in 2013 and being the preferred candidate in 2022 before the club hired Frank Lampard.
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