Nottingham Forest Appoints Vitor Pereira as New Head Coach

omidbasir- Sean Dyche, who managed Nottingham Forest for 25 games over 114 days, was dismissed on February 12 following a disappointing 0-0 draw with bottom-placed Wolves, which prompted considerable discontent from the fans.

Currently embroiled in a relegation battle, Nottingham Forest has appointed Vitor Pereira, who previously led Wolves to safety after taking over the club in December 2024. Pereira is tasked with replicating that success at Forest.

The club announced that Pereira has signed an 18-month contract, extending until the summer of 2027. He has prior experience working with Evangelos Marinakis, the owner of Nottingham Forest, during his time at Greek club Olympiacos.

A club statement outlined Pereira’s managerial journey, which began in Portugal in 2002. After gaining valuable experience, he took over Porto in 2011, achieving back-to-back league titles in a highly successful two-year period. Following a stint at Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia, Pereira moved to Olympiacos in January 2015, where he won the domestic double.

His extensive portfolio also includes managing Fenerbahçe in Turkey and Shanghai SIPG in the Chinese Super League, where he led the latter to their first-ever league title during his inaugural season and secured the Chinese Super Cup. He has also managed Brazilian teams Corinthians and Flamengo.

Most recently, Pereira served as head coach of Wolves, where he transformed the team’s fortunes from being in the relegation zone to achieving a six-game winning streak that ultimately secured their Premier League status during the 2024-25 season. This run was the longest of any top-flight team that season and coincided with a record number of goals scored by Wolves.

Nottingham Forest has also confirmed Pereira’s coaching staff, which includes Filipe Jorge Monteiro Almeida (Assistant Coach), Luis Miguel Moreira Da Silva (Assistant Coach), Bruno Filipe Araujo De Moura (Head of Physical Performance and Opposition Analysis), and Pedro Simao Capela Silva Lopes (Opposition Analyst).

Concerns have been raised regarding Forest’s frequent managerial changes potentially jeopardizing their top-flight status. Former England international Peter Crouch commented on the “trigger-happy” nature of the club, suggesting they are in a state of “turmoil.”

Gary Lineker also expressed concerns about the club’s shifting playing styles, questioning how players can adapt to rapid changes in tactics. He emphasized the need for a cohesive style of play rather than a constant flip-flop between different approaches.

While some fans grew weary of Dyche’s uninspiring football, it has been reported that senior players had concerns regarding exhausting training sessions, impacting their performance.

Pereira faces a crucial challenge ahead, with his first five matches including a two-legged Europa League knockout tie against Fenerbahçe and Premier League clashes against Liverpool, Brighton, and Manchester City.