Wolverhampton Wanderers have sacked manager Vitor Pereira and are preparing a surprising successor as the club languishes at the bottom of the Premier League. The decision comes just weeks after Pereira, 57, penned a new three-year contract. Saturday’s heartbreaking 3-0 defeat to Fulham proved to be the final nail in the coffin, leaving Wolves stranded at the foot of the table without a win in their opening 10 games.
Pereira made nine changes to his side’s starting XI after Wednesday’s heavy defeat by Chelsea in the Carabao Cup, but he was unable to deliver victory at Craven Cottage. Wolves played more than half the game with 10 men after Emmanuel Agbadu was sent off in the 36th minute, but by that point they were already leading 1-0. Harry Wilson then scored the second goal with Ryan Sessegnon’s opener, before Jelson Mosquera’s own goal sealed the defeat and ended Pereira’s 11-month tenure as manager.
“We are grateful to Vitor and his team for their tireless work on behalf of the Wolves and helping them get through a difficult period last season,” said Wolves Executive Chairman Jeff See.
“Unfortunately, this season has had a disappointing start. Despite our strong desire to give the head coach time and games to find improvement, we have reached a point where changes must be made. We thank Vitol and the staff for their efforts and wish them the best of luck in the future.”
And his successor, Gary O’Neill, could be in line to return to the job. The Athletic reports that the unemployed 42-year-old could return to Molineux, although unemployed Michael Carrick and Middlesbrough manager Rob Edwards are also candidates.
The trio is one of several options being discussed within the club. Wolves’ bosses want to secure a new manager as soon as possible, but there is no guarantee any appointment will be made before next weekend’s game against Chelsea.
Pereira, the Portuguese manager appointed to replace O’Neill in December 2024, successfully guided Wolves to safety last season. However, the departure of star player and top scorer Matheus Cunha was a devastating blow after Manchester United activated his £62.5m release clause.
Their only wins this season were in the Carabao Cup, both on home soil. Wolves beat West Ham 3-2 in the second round, followed by a 2-0 win against Everton.
Saturday’s defeat against Fulham left them precariously eight points behind. Even the two 1-1 draws that Pereira managed to put together, where he conceded a late equalizer away to Tottenham and at home to Brighton at the weekend, were heartbreaking.
Last Sunday, in a 3-2 home defeat to newly promoted Burnley, with the visitors scoring the winning goal in the 95th minute, Perriera faced furious supporters at Molineux. The former Porto, Olympiakos and Fenerbahce manager, infamous for his short spell at the club, was allowed to play two more games by the Wolves board, who have now taken their ax and begun the search for his replacement.
Their next match is an away game against Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday. Under-21s head coach James Collins and Under-18s manager Richard Walker will oversee training as Wolves search for Pereira’s successor.
