The Wolverhampton Wanderers-bound Vitor Pereira took one giant step closer to securing a ‘dream’ move to the Premier League on Wednesday.
After twice missing out on the Everton job a decade apart, Wolves’ decision to sack Gary O’Neil in the aftermath of Saturday’s last-gasp 2-1 home defeat to Ipswich Town provided Vitor Pereira with the opportunity he has always been waiting for.
The former FC Porto, Shanghai SIPG and Olympiakos coach is expected to be appointed before Sunday’s trip to Leicester City.
And, on Wednesday night, Vitor Pereira’s current employers finally shone light one of the worst-kept secrets in Middle Eastern football. Al Shabab confirmed that Vitor Pereira was on his way out the door after Wolves agreed to pay a compensation fee of around £1 million.
A few hours later, meanwhile, it was the turn of Al Shabab’s president to break his silence.
And while Pereira’s departure has hardly arrived at an ideal moment – Al Shabab are only two points behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr with just 13 games gone in the Saudi Pro League season – Mohammed Al-Manjam will not hold any grudges.
Shanghai SIPG head coach Vitor Pereira celebrates after the 2019 Chinese Football Association (CFA) Super Cup between Shanghai SIPG and Beijing Guo...
Photo by Visual China Group via Getty Images/Visual China Group via Getty Images
Al Shabab president pays Vitor Pereira tribute ahead of Wolves switch
“Together, we have overcome challenges and proven that our strength increases with the difficulties,” Al-Manjam writes on his official X account. “There is no obstacle that cannot be overcome as long as we are united.
“The club does not stand on anyone, and the wheel continues until we reach our goals. Your trust and faith are the secret of our strength, so there is no need to worry.
“The future is more beautiful, God willing.”
Vitor Pereira does not tend to stay in one place for long. Living out of a suitcase and with more stamps on his passport than Michael Palin, the 56-year-old only took over at Al-Shabab in February. He lasted only three months in his previous role at Flamengo. An ill-fated spell at the Brazilian giants started in the worst possible way, too, when Vitor Pereira lost Joao Gomes to Wolves just weeks after taking over in 2023.
With Pereira now bound for Molineux, he will finally get the chance to work with a player who swapped Flamengo for Wolves to the tune of £15 million.
“My dear friend Vitor Pereira, I know this is football and its circumstances,” Al-Manjam adds. “You have always shared with me your dream that came true today, and I am happy that it came true thanks to God and to Al-Shabab Club.
“We have lived many dreams together, and every story has an end. Every end is the beginning of something more beautiful.
“We, at Al Shabab Club will continue to work to achieve our dreams. All the best to you.”
TBR understands that Wolves looked at David Moyes, Graham Potter and Sergio Conceicao recently. All three shunned the chance to take over in the Black Country, however. Perhaps Potter felt that a club mired in relegation danger, and who’s squad appears to be imploding by the week, would be the wrong move after his reputation took such a battering at Chelsea.
Sergio Conceicao is keen on the West Ham job, meanwhile. After winning 11 trophies in charge of FC Porto, Conceicao is a man who can surely afford to aim higher than a relegation battle.
In contrast, Vitor Pereira’s fierce desire to add England to his ever-growing collection of destinations means even Wolves’ current predicament was unlikely to put him off.
Vitor Pereira bids farewell to life in Saudi Arabia as he replaces Gary O’Neil
“The time has come to say goodbye to Al Shabab,” Pereira wrote on Instagram, officially confirming his departure. “Every day here has been a lesson. Every challenge, an opportunity to grow. Even though the passage was short, we achieved important goals and milestones, overcame obstacles and created memories that will never fade.
“On behalf of myself and my coaching staff, I sincerely thank the players, the staff, the managers and the fans, who have always supported us unconditionally.
“I take with me the pride of having been part of this club and the certainty that I gave everything, every day! Special thanks to president [Al-Manjam] for the friendship, respect and gratitude he has always shown us throughout this journey.
“This is not only a farewell, but also a reflection on the importance of each step on our path. Now, it’s time to look to the future, always with gratitude for what the past has given me.
“Thank you Al Shabab! I WISH the club much success for the rest of the season!”
Questions were asked when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was spotted watching Wolves lose to Ipswich over the weekend. TBR can confirm, however, that the former Manchester United boss was only there to meet up with his one-time assistant, and now Ipswich coach, Kieran McKenna.
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