Vitor Pereira Appointed Nottingham Forest Manager
Nottingham Forest have confirmed the appointment of Vitor Pereira as their new manager on an 18-month contract. The 57-year-old Portuguese coach becomes the club's fourth manager during the current campaign.
Pereira replaces Sean Dyche, who was dismissed on Thursday. One of Pereira's primary objectives will be to help Forest avoid relegation from the Premier League. Currently, the club sits 17th in the league standings, three points clear of the relegation zone, following just two wins in their last 10 matches.
Upcoming Matches and Managerial Background
Pereira's inaugural match in charge will be the first leg of the Europa League knockout round play-off against his former club Fenerbahce, scheduled to take place in Turkey on Thursday. Subsequently, Forest will host Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, 22 February.
This appointment marks Pereira's return to English football after his previous tenure at Wolves, where he was dismissed in November after 11 months in charge. Since September, Forest have seen three managers: Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou, and Sean Dyche.
Dyche was relieved of his duties following a disappointing goalless draw against bottom-placed Wolves on Wednesday.
Pereira's Previous Experience and Connection to Forest Owner
Pereira, who secured 14 wins in 38 games at Wolves and played a role in their Premier League survival last season, quickly emerged as the preferred candidate for the Forest role. He has prior experience working under Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis during his time at Greek club Olympiacos.
During his six-month spell at Olympiacos in the 2014-15 season, Pereira won both the Greek Super League title and the Greek Cup before moving on to Fenerbahce.
Pereira joined Wolves in December 2024 but was dismissed three months later when the club had only accumulated two points from their first 10 league fixtures.
Beginning his managerial career with Portuguese club Sanjoanense in 2004, Pereira has held roles in Germany, China, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia, making this his 15th managerial position.
His coaching team at Forest will include assistant coaches Filipe Jorge Monteiro Almeida and Luis Miguel Moreira Da Silva.
Forest's Managerial Changes and Recent Form
Forest dismissed Nuno Espirito Santo just three games into the season in September, following his statement that his relationship with owner Marinakis had deteriorated, despite the club finishing seventh and qualifying for European competition the previous season.
Australian coach Ange Postecoglou was appointed as Nuno's successor but lasted only 39 days, failing to secure a league win in eight matches, with two draws and six losses.
Sean Dyche's arrival initially appeared to stabilize the team, with seven wins in his first 12 games. However, a poor recent run of form prevented Forest from distancing themselves from relegation danger, with some players reportedly unconvinced by Dyche's methods.
Following the goalless draw against Wolves, several players were summoned to meet with owner Marinakis. Additional opinions were sought after Forest's 3-1 defeat at fellow relegation-threatened Leeds on Friday.
Match Recap: Wasteful Forest Held at Home by Wolves
Forest's recent home match against Wolves ended in a goalless draw, a result that contributed to the decision to dismiss Dyche.
