Vítor Manuel de Oliveira Lopes Pereira (born 26 July 1968) is a Portuguesefootballmanager and former player who played as amidfielder.
Following an amateur playing career, he became manager ofPorto, where he won thePrimeira Liga in both of his seasons. After leaving in 2013 he worked in several countries, winning a Greek league and cupdouble withOlympiacos in 2015 and theChinese Super League withShanghai SIPG in2018.
Born inEspinho, Pereira only played amateur football, and retired at the age of 28.[3][4] He started managing at junior level, and his first head coach experience arrived midway through the2004–05 season, when he was appointed atSanjoanense in thethird division.[5]
Subsequently, Pereira worked withEspinho of the same league,[6] being fired with ten games left in hissecond campaign and returning toPorto's juniors for a further season.[7] In 2008 he returned to head coaching again, withSanta Clara in theSegunda Liga, leading theAzores side to the third position in hisfirst year and the fourth inthe second, on both occasions narrowly missing out onPrimeira Liga promotion.[8][9][10]
Despite a less than stellar performance both inEurope – being knocked out of theUEFA Champions League in thegroup stage[14] and in theUEFA Europa League'sround of 32[15]– and in theTaça de Portugal,[16] Pereira led the club to theleague title in his first season in charge.[17] In March 2013, following the team'selimination from Champions League contention (2–1 on aggregate againstMálaga), he came under heavy criticism, notably due to his decision of benchingJames Rodríguez during the first half of both legs. The Colombian stated his disappointment in the coach's decision, but said that he respected him and trusted his reasons, adding that the situation was possibly created because of his questionable fitness, even though he claimed to be 100% fit.[18][19][20]
In early May 2013, as Porto ranked second in the league, Pereira deemed the Portuguese league as a "dirty competition".[21] Only a few days later, after his team defeatedBenfica at home to surpass its opponents – eventually winningthe league title, conceding six draws in 30 games[22]– he considered it to be a "highly competitive and prestigious league".[23]
On 10 June 2015, Olympiacos announced a mutual contract termination with Pereira.[27] The following day, he was appointed atFenerbahçe for two years.[28]
The Turkish side cut ties unilaterally with Pereira on 15 August 2016, with the case being subsequently taken to theCourt of Arbitration for Sport.[29][30] On 18 December, he was named head coach of1860 Munich in the German2. Bundesliga, with the one-and-a-half-year deal being made effective the following 1 January.[31] The team finishedthe season third from bottom, and eventually got relegated on 30 May 2017 after a 3–1 loss aggregate loss toSSV Jahn Regensburg in the play-offs.[32]
Pereira became the manager ofShanghai SIPG on 12 December 2017, replacing Villas-Boas at theChinese Super League club.[33] In hisdebut campaign, he guided them to their first-ever title in the competition.[34] In December 2019 he turned down a new approach from Everton[35] and, one year later, left Shanghai.[36]
Pereira returned to Fenerbahçe on 2 July 2021, on a two-year contract.[37] He was sacked on 20 December after a 2–2 home draw withIstanbul rivalsBeşiktaş; his side were in fifth position and 14 points behind leadersTrabzonspor.[38] A month later, he was again linked with Everton as ownerFarhad Moshiri's lead candidate, prompting anger and vandalism from fans who saw him as inadequate and wanted eventual appointeeFrank Lampard instead; he defended his reputation in an interview onSky Sports News.[39]
In October 2022, Pereira's team lostthe final of theCopa do Brasil onpenalties toFlamengo.[43] Just hours after the last match ofthe season on 13 November, it was announced that he would not renew his contract.[44] He said in a social media post that he had to return home due to his mother-in-law's health.[45][46]
Pereira returned to theSaudi Pro League on 4 February 2024, replacing the firedIgor Bišćan atAl Shabab on at a deal until the end ofthe season.[52] He took charge of the side when they were just four points above the relegation zone and led them to eighth place, subsequently renewing his contract until June 2025.[53]
On 19 December 2024, Pereira was appointed atPremier League clubWolverhampton Wanderers on a contract lasting until June 2026;[54] he replacedGary O'Neil with the task of avoiding relegation, with the team in 19th place and with just nine points from 16 matches.[55][56][57][58] On his debut three days later, he oversaw a 3–0 away win overLeicester City.[59]
On 5 April 2025, Wolves stretched its points total to 12 points above the relegation zone with a 2–1 victory atIpswich Town.[60] The following weekend, after defeatingTottenham Hotspur 4–2 at home, Pereira celebrated with fans at the Moon Under Water pub.[61] On the 20th, theyconfirmed survival with the 1–0 away win againstManchester United, completing a league double over their opponent for the first time since the1979–80 season.[62][63]
Pereira signed a new three-year deal on 18 September 2025, in spite of having lost the first four games of thenew campaign.[64] On 2 November, however, with the side bottom of the table with just two points, he was sacked.[65]
^"官宣!佩雷拉成为上港新任主帅 昔日曾辅佐博阿斯" [Official announcement! Former Villas-Boas assistant Pereira became the new coach] (in Chinese).Sina Sports. 12 December 2017. Retrieved12 December 2017.
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