Pereira signs deal as Forest boss until end of next season

Nottingham Forest have turned to Vitor Pereira in a bid to secure Premier League survival, handing the 57-year-old Portuguese coach a contract that runs through the end of next season. Pereira becomes the club’s fourth manager of a turbulent campaign, replacing Sean Dyche, who was dismissed early Thursday morning after a 0-0 home draw with bottom-of-the-table Wolves.

Forest, currently 17th and only three points above the relegation zone, have taken just two wins from their last 10 league matches. Although the club has yet to officially confirm the appointment, Pereira is expected to be in the dug-out for Thursday’s Europa League knockout round play-off first leg against former club Fenerbahce in Istanbul, followed by Sunday’s Premier League visit of Liverpool.

Pereira’s prior experience in English football ended abruptly in November when Wolves sacked him after 11 months in charge. During his tenure at Molineux he oversaw 38 matches, winning 14, and steered the club to safety last season. He had joined Wolves in December 2024, but a poor start—two points from the first 10 league games—prompted his exit three months ago.

The new City Ground boss previously worked with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis at Olympiacos, guiding the Greek giants to a league and cup double in 2014-15 before departing for Fenerbahce. Pereira began coaching in 2004 with Portuguese side Sanjoanense and has since held posts across Germany, China, Brazil and Saudi Arabia, making Nottingham Forest his 15th managerial role.

Forest’s managerial merry-go-round began in September when Nuno Espirito Santo was dismissed after only three matches, citing a breakdown in his relationship with Marinakis despite last season’s seventh-place finish and European qualification. Ange Postecoglou’s reign lasted a mere 39 days, during which he failed to win any of eight league fixtures, drawing two and losing six. Dyche initially brought a measure of stability, winning seven of his first 12 games, but a subsequent dip in results and reported unease among players led to his exit after Wednesday’s stalemate with Wolves.

Pereira now faces the immediate task of reviving confidence within the squad and extracting points from a daunting February schedule that pits Forest against elite European opposition and a resurgent Liverpool side.

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