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Wolverhampton Wanderers have announced the appointment of Vitor Pereira as their new head coach on an 18-month contract. The 56-year-old Portuguese coach joins from Al-Shabab, in Saudi Arabia, and replaces Gary O’Neil, who was dismissed on Sunday after the 2-1 home defeat by Ipswich Town left Wolves 19th in the table with nine points, five from safety. In a statement on the club website, chairman Jeff Shi said: "We are delighted to welcome Vitor Pereira to Wolves as the new head coach of our men’s first team. Vitor is a highly respected and experienced coach who has achieved success across different leagues and will bring a new approach for the test ahead. “This is a challenging moment for the club, and we want to thank Vitor for taking on this responsibility. We have full confidence in his ability to guide us back on track, alongside the players and staff, and the entire club will be united in supporting him to achieve success. ” Former midfielder Pereira played as an amateur, retiring at the age of 28 in 1996. He started on the coaching ladder at junior level, beginning his first job as head coach midway through the 2004/05 season when he was appointed at Sanjoanense in Portugal's third tier. From playing as an amateur midfielder to title success at Porto, everything you need to know about the 56-year-old Pereira worked with his hometown club Espinho, leaving with 10 matches remaining in his second season, and returned to FC Porto's juniors for a further season before then moving to Santa Clara in the Segunda Liga. Pereira left in the summer of 2010 to take up the role as assistant coach to Andre Villas-Boas at Porto, and following the latter's departure to Chelsea in June the following year he was promoted to head coach. It was at Porto where Pereira enjoyed success, winning the Primeira Liga in both of his seasons at the helm. Then followed a passage of globetrotting, in which Pereira took up roles in five countries including Greece, Turkey, Germany, China and Brazil across an eight-year period. He moved to Saudi Professional League side Al-Ahli Saudi, before joining Olympiacos in January 2015, and led the Greek side to the double. After a short stay with them, he was announced as new head coach at Fenerbahce. Pereira then had spells with German side 1860 Munich and Shanghai SIPG in China, where he replaced Villas-Boas, and he guided them to their first ever Chinese Super League title. Fenerbahce came calling again in 2021, kickstarting a spell of four different clubs for Pereira in as many years including Corinthians (2022), Flamengo (2023), Al-Shabab (2024) and now Wolves. Pereira will become the eighth Portuguese to manage in the top flight, and the third to take charge of Wolves, following in the footsteps of Nuno Espirito Santo and Bruno Lage at Molineux. He is the second Portuguese to be appointed this season, after Ruben Amorim's arrival at Manchester United. Pereira's first match in charge is at Leicester City on Sunday, which will pit two new Premier League bosses against each other, after Ruud van Nistelrooy took charge of the Foxes last month. The two sides are just five points apart in the relegation battle. Sam Bonfield discusses some of the best value defensive options for FPL managers ahead of the busy festive period Or enter your details Incorrect email or password Your details have been submitted successfully. You have already entered this competition. Please check your email for further information. Your details have been submitted successfully.