Wolves on the Verge of Appointing Vitor Pereira Just Days After Sacking Gary O’Neil

Gary O’Neil became the third managerial casualty of the 2024/25 Premier League season last week, as Wolves decided it was time for a change. His fate was sealed after a frustrating 2-1 defeat to fellow strugglers Ipswich Town—a result that proved to be the final straw for the club. With his tenure at Wolves now over, the West Midlands side already has a replacement waiting in the wings.

Wolves are reportedly deep in talks with Al Shabab manager Vitor Pereira, as they look to bring the Portuguese coach to the Premier League. Pereira boasts an impressive resume, with league titles in Portugal, China, and Greece under his belt. But stepping into the Premier League is a whole different ball game, which is why Wolves are eager to wrap up the deal quickly. Since Pereira is still under contract with Al Shabab, Wolves would need to pay a buyout fee to secure his services. Meanwhile, Gary O’Neil, who took charge at the start of last season, leaves Wolves in dire straits—sitting 19th in the table after four straight losses. With the league’s leakiest defense, having conceded 40 goals, they’re now five points adrift of safety and preparing for a must-win clash against Leicester on Sunday. 

Wolverhampton Wanderers announced their decision to part ways with Gary O’Neil via an official statement which read, “We’re very grateful to Gary for all of his effort, dedication and hard work during his time at the club, and we wish him and his team the best of luck for the future.” Wolves hired O’Neil at the start of last season after Julen Lopetegui quit his job just days prior to the start of the 2023/24 season, citing dissatisfaction with Wolves’ transfer strategy. Coming in at this crucial juncture – and on short notice – Gary O’Neil impressed many by guiding the West Midlands club to the 14th spot last season. However, cracks started to appear after an impressive February – in which they completed the league double over Chelsea and Tottenham as well as reached the FA Cup quarterfinal – as injuries to key players halted their momentum.  

A run of just two wins in their final 12 Premier League matches saw Wolves’ European ambitions crumble, leaving them to settle for a frustrating finish in the bottom half of the table. Wolves handed O’Neil a new contract back in August, but the struggles from last season have carried straight into this one. With just 9 points from 16 games, the situation looks bleak. If Vitor Pereira takes the reins, he’ll face an uphill battle to steer the West Midlands club to safety.