SBOTOP Vitor Pereira Sacked by Wolves: Portuguese Boss Axed After Winless Premier League Start and Carabao Cup Defeat

In a dramatic turn of events that has sent shockwaves through Wolverhampton Wanderers, the club has parted ways with Portuguese manager Vitor Pereira after a series of disappointing results. Despite an initial air of optimism surrounding his appointment, the former Porto and Olympiacos coach has been dismissed following a winless start to the Premier League campaign and a humiliating Carabao Cup defeat. The decision marks the end of a turbulent tenure that lasted only a few months and has left the club, its fans, and pundits questioning the future direction of Wolves.

Pereira’s sacking comes on the back of a string of poor performances that have seen Wolves fail to register a victory in the league, leaving them languishing in the lower half of the table. The club’s poor form in domestic competitions, notably a shocking early exit from the Carabao Cup, added further pressure, culminating in the board’s decision to remove him from his position.

For Pereira, the dismissal represents another setback in a career that has seen its fair share of ups and downs. His brief stint in England, which began with high expectations, has ended in disappointment, with questions now surrounding his ability to manage in the highly competitive Premier League.

The Rise and Fall of Vitor Pereira at Wolves

When Vitor Pereira was appointed as Wolverhampton Wanderers‘ head coach in the summer of 2025, it was seen as a bold and ambitious move by the club’s hierarchy. The Portuguese manager arrived with a strong pedigree, having won multiple domestic titles in Portugal with FC Porto and having experienced success abroad with Olympiacos in Greece. His tactical nous and experience in top-flight European football seemed to make him an ideal candidate to help Wolves push for a return to European football and challenge for mid-table supremacy.

Pereira’s appointment came after a period of relative stability under previous managers, but with the club looking for a fresh approach to make strides in a highly competitive Premier League. The initial reception from the fanbase was positive, with many hopeful that his tactical discipline and focus on team structure would usher in a new era at Molineux.

However, the optimism quickly began to fade as results on the pitch failed to meet expectations. Wolves kicked off the new Premier League season with a string of draws and narrow defeats. Although Pereira’s tactical approach appeared sound in theory, his inability to translate that into consistent results began to raise doubts about his effectiveness. Despite possessing a squad filled with talent — including key players like Ruben Neves, Pedro Neto, and Matheus Cunha — the team struggled to find the right balance in attack and defense.

As the weeks passed, frustration among fans began to mount. Wolves’ performances lacked the intensity and creativity that had become synonymous with the club’s identity in previous years. Despite being solid defensively, Wolves were unable to break down opposition sides or create enough clear-cut chances. Pereira’s rigid tactical system, which focused heavily on possession and compact defensive play, was often criticized for being too cautious and predictable.

Despite his growing difficulties, Pereira’s position appeared safe for a while, but it was the Carabao Cup defeat that proved to be the final straw. In a match that many expected to be a routine win against a lower-league side, Wolves suffered a humiliating 2-1 loss. The defeat was not only a blow to the club’s hopes of silverware but also highlighted the lack of resilience and urgency in Pereira’s squad. The loss further eroded any remaining confidence in the manager and signaled that a change was imminent.

The Winless Start A Mounting Pressure

Wolves’ struggles in the Premier League were the primary factor behind Pereira’s dismissal. A series of disappointing performances left the team near the relegation zone after five matches, with no victories to their name. Wolves’ failure to win a single game in the league raised serious concerns about the team’s prospects for the remainder of the season.

While some fans and pundits argued that the squad was not performing to its full potential, the consensus among the club’s board was that Pereira’s tactics were not working, and that change was necessary to avoid a protracted relegation battle. The decision was made all the more urgent by the club’s financial situation, as Wolves had invested heavily in their squad over the summer, expecting a push for a mid-table finish or even a challenge for a European spot.

In those early weeks of the season, Wolves’ performances lacked cutting edge. The team showed little flair in the final third, with only sporadic moments of quality from players like Neto and Cunha. Pereira’s defensive focus, though solid in parts, was unable to compensate for the lack of attacking impetus. The manager’s inability to adapt to the high-pressing and fast-paced nature of Premier League football made it difficult for Wolves to compete with more dynamic and fluid sides.

The lack of goals was a major issue. Wolves failed to score in four of their first five matches, a stark contrast to the attacking potential of the squad. Despite having players capable of unlocking defenses, such as Neves and Hwang Hee-chan, the team struggled to create chances. Pereira’s preference for a possession-based style of play often left the team looking too cautious, with too many sideways passes and not enough direct penetration. The results simply didn’t reflect the talent at his disposal.

The situation reached a boiling point when Wolves fell to a 1-0 defeat against newly promoted side Luton Town. The loss was a crushing blow for Pereira, who was unable to justify the team’s lack of ambition and toothless performance. At that moment, it became clear that a change was needed if the club hoped to avoid further embarrassment.

The Carabao Cup Humiliation The Final Nail in the Coffin

Despite the pressures mounting from the Premier League, it was the Carabao Cup that ultimately sealed Pereira’s fate. Wolves were drawn against a League One side in the third round, and expectations were high that the club would ease through to the next stage. However, in what can only be described as a dismal performance, Wolves were eliminated 2-1 by the lower-league team.

The defeat exposed several underlying issues within the team. Wolves’ starting lineup was relatively strong, but the performance was lackluster, with players failing to assert themselves and show any urgency in the final third. Pereira’s tactical approach, which had already come under scrutiny in the league, was once again questioned. His decision to play a more conservative, rotated squad for the fixture was seen as an attempt to rotate players for Premier League duties, but the lack of passion and energy in the Carabao Cup match led to a disastrous result.

It was a defeat that encapsulated the problems facing Pereira during his tenure. The inability to perform against weaker opposition was a serious concern, and the frustration among fans reached a breaking point. As one fan succinctly put it, “If we can’t beat a League One team, what hope do we have in the Premier League?”

The fallout from the loss was immediate, with calls for Pereira’s sacking growing louder by the hour. Fans took to social media in droves, expressing their dissatisfaction with the manager’s style of play and lack of progress. The club’s hierarchy, led by sporting director Matt Hobbs, knew that decisive action had to be taken if Wolves were to have any chance of turning their season around.