Vítor Pereira turned a modest playing career into an impressive managerial one and has established himself as one of the most well-traveled coaches in world football.

He played at amateur level before retiring at 28 and stepping into coaching with Portuguese third division side Sanjoanense.

It was the first club of 13 as Pereira’s career took him round the world with varying degrees of success.

At Porto the Portuguese head coach won the Primeira Liga twice, the Greek league and cup double with Olympiacos and lifted the Chinese Super League with Shanghai SIPG.

But he was relegated with 1860 Munich and sacked by Fenerbahce and Flamengo.

In December 2024, he took the reins at Wolves in December 2024 and steered the club away from the Premier League.

Pereira playing career

Pereira's playing career was modest, playing amateur football as a midfielder in the Portuguese lower leagues.

He had two spells at Avanca, as well as playing for Oliveirense, Esmoriz, Estarreja, Fiaes, Sao Joao de Ver before retiring at the age of 28 with Lobao in the 1995/96 season.

Pereira early managerial career

Pereira started managing at junior level, and his first head coach experience arrived midway through the 2004/05 season, when he was appointed at Sanjoanense in the third division.

He later worked with home town club Espinho before returning to Porto's youth system after getting the sack.

In 2008 he returned to head coaching again, with Santa Clara in the Segunda Liga, where he came close to achieving promotion to the top flight on two occasions.

Rise to prominence at Porto

His big break came when he joined Porto as assistant to André Villas-Boas in 2010.

When Villas-Boas left for Chelsea in 2011, Pereira stepped up to become head coach.

This proved to be the making of him as a manager - despite unimpressive performances in Europe and domestic cups, Pereira led the club to the league title in his first season in charge.

He delivered back-to-back Portuguese league titles the following season, and was beaten finalist in the Taça da Liga.

Pereira’s global journey

After leaving Porto in 2013, Pereira embarked on what became an extraordinary world tour of football management.

His first international adventure took him to Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia, before a successful stint at Olympiacos, where he achieved a league and cup double.

A mixed period followed, including two separate spells at Fenerbahçe, with an unsuccessful stint at 1860 Munich in between, where he suffered relegation.

Perhaps his greatest achievement outside Portugal came with Shanghai SIPG, where he delivered the club's first-ever Chinese Super League title in 2018.

In 2022, Pereira tested himself in Brazilian football with two major clubs - Corinthians and Flamengo and 2023. Though both stints were relatively brief and ended without major silverware.

He returned to Saudi Arabia in 2024 with Al Shabab where he dragged the club away from the relegation zone and led them to eighth place.

Moving to Wolves

He was named head coach at Wolves on December 19, 2024, inheriting a team in serious relegation trouble, sitting 19th in the Premier League with just nine points from 16 matches.

Pereira's impact was immediate with his first match in charge resulting in an impressive 3-0 victory away at Leicester City.

Two wins and a draw from his opening three matches immediately started the turnaround, and Wolves went on to pick up points from 12 of their next 18 under Pereira, including 10 wins.

Towards the end of the season, Wolves won six successive matches in the top flight for the first time since September/October 1970, before ending the 2024/25 season in 16th.

Pereira personal life

Pereira is married with three sons, and said in a social media post that he had to return home due to his mother-in-law's health when explaining his departure from Corinthians in 2022.
He celebrates wins by mingling with supporters in the local pubs of Wolverhampton.

Pereira net worth

Vítor Pereira's net worth is reportedly around £3million.

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After winning the Portuguese, Chinese and Greek leagues, head coach Vitor Pereira moved to England and saved Wolves from Premier League relegation.

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