In a move that stunned few but saddened many, Wolverhampton Wanderers have dismissed manager Vitor Pereira after just 10 winless games into what was meant to be a season of resurgence. The Portuguese tactician, who had only recently penned a fresh long-term deal with the club, was shown the door on Sunday morning, mere hours after a humiliating 3-0 defeat at Fulham that left Wolves rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table.
The decision, confirmed by the club in a terse statement late yesterday, marks the end of a turbulent nine-month stint for Pereira at Molineux. Appointed last December as a replacement for Gary O’Neil, the 56-year-old arrived with glowing credentials from his time at Porto, Olympiacos, and Fenerbahce, promising a blend of defensive solidity and flair that would drag Wolves away from the relegation scrap. Early signs were encouraging – a mid-table finish last season and whispers of European ambitions – but this campaign has unravelled spectacularly.
“It’s a tough day for everyone connected with the club,” Wolves chairman Jeff Shi said in the official announcement. “Vitor brought energy and ideas that we believed in, and we’re grateful for his efforts. But results matter in this game, and we need to act decisively to give ourselves the best shot at turning things around.”
Pereira’s tenure will be remembered for its stark contrasts. Just weeks ago, in late September, he was handed a contract extension through 2028, a vote of confidence amid a summer of shrewd signings including the likes of midfielder Joao Gomes and forward Jorgen Strand Larsen. Fans had started to buy into the vision, with chants of “Vitor’s Wolves” echoing around the stands during a gritty draw against Manchester City in August. Yet, what followed was a nightmare sequence: seven league defeats, three draws, and an early exit from the Carabao Cup at the hands of League One strugglers Blackpool.
The tipping point came at Craven Cottage on Saturday. Fulham, hardly firing on all cylinders themselves, tore through a beleaguered Wolves defence with goals from Alex Iwobi, Andreas Pereira, and a late sealer from substitute Rodrigo Muniz. It was the eighth clean sheet Wolves had conceded this season – no goals scored in six of those matches – and the post-match inquest was brutal. Pereira, his face etched with frustration, admitted the squad had “lost its way” but vowed to fight on. By breakfast time the next day, that fight was over.
Sources close to the club suggest the players’ waning faith in Pereira’s methods played a significant role in the board’s swift intervention. Training ground morale had dipped noticeably over the past month, with reports of cliques forming and key figures like captain Conor Coady questioning tactical setups that left the team exposed on the counter. “The lads gave it everything, but it just wasn’t clicking,” one insider confided. “Vitor’s a top coach, but sometimes the fit isn’t there, no matter how hard you try.”
Now, the search for a successor begins in earnest. Early names in the frame include Luton Town’s Rob Edwards, whose high-pressing style could inject some much-needed vigour, and a surprise return for O’Neil, who knows the club inside out after his ill-fated spell last year. Other whispers point to abroad – perhaps Anderlecht’s Brian Riemer or even a wildcard like ex-Chelsea interim Graham Potter. Whoever it is, they’ll inherit a squad brimming with potential but scarred by doubt, facing a festive fixture pile-up that includes clashes with Arsenal and Liverpool.
For the Wolverhampton faithful, already weary from years of near-misses and boardroom upheavals under the Fosun ownership, this feels like déjà vu. Molineux, once a fortress, has become a house of horrors, with attendances holding steady but the atmosphere turning toxic. “We’ve backed the chairman’s picks time and again,” said lifelong supporter and local podcaster Mark Davies. “But sacking a manager mid-contract after extending it? That’s either bold or bonkers. Fingers crossed it’s the former.”
As the Black Country digests this latest blow, one thing’s clear: Wolves are at a crossroads. Pereira’s exit might just be the reset button they need – or the first domino in a full-scale collapse. With 28 games still to play, the Premier League’s trapdoor looms large, but so does the chance for redemption. For now, though, the only winless streak that matters is the one they’re desperate to snap.