Vítor Pereira Sacked by Wolves After Winless Premier League Start

Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) dismissed head coach Vítor Pereira on Sunday, following a disastrous start to the Premier League season that left the club rooted to the bottom of the table. The Portuguese manager was informed of his dismissal Sunday morning, just 45 days after signing a new long-term contract.

Pereira's sacking came after Wolves failed to secure a victory in their opening 10 league matches, accumulating only two points from two draws and eight losses. The club is currently eight points adrift of the last safe spot, facing a severe risk of relegation to the Championship, a league they have not played in since the 2017-18 season.

The 57-year-old manager's final match in charge was Saturday's 3-0 defeat away to Fulham, a performance Pereira conceded was the "worst performance" of his 11-month tenure. During the match at Craven Cottage, Pereira was subjected to chants from traveling fans calling for his dismissal. The loss followed a 4-3 defeat to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup fourth round earlier in the week.

Wolves confirmed the change in leadership via a club statement, noting that "results and performances this term have fallen below acceptable standards." Executive chairman Jeff Shi thanked Pereira, who took charge in December 2024, for guiding the club through a challenging period last season and helping them retain their top-flight status.

The club's current position is historically precarious; reports indicate that no club in Premier League history has survived relegation after accumulating two or fewer points through the first 10 matches of the season. Wolves last won a top-flight game in April.

The dismissal is notable given that Pereira had signed a new three-year contract with Wolves on September 18, despite the club being bottom of the table at the time, having lost their first four league games. Pereira, who was considered a Premier League manager of the year candidate last season for his work in saving the club from relegation, was informed of the decision on Sunday morning. It is understood that the severance package due to Pereira is not significantly different from the terms of his previous contract, which was set to expire in June 2026.

Alongside Pereira, all eight members of his backroom staff also departed the club. However, Director of professional football Domenico Teti, who worked with Pereira in Saudi Arabia and joined Wolves in June, remains in his position.

While the club works to finalize the appointment of a new head coach, training duties will be overseen by under-21 head coach James Collins and under-18 head coach Richard Walker.