What to expect from Vitor Pereira: Tactics, play style, formation

With Vitor Pereira agreeing a deal to replace Gary O'Neil as Wolves manager in the Premier League, we look at what the Portuguese coach could bring to the Molineux hot seat.

Vitor Pereira achievements and trophies

As part of a vast CV spanning countries all over the globe, Vitor Pereira is not short of major honours as a manager.

A former amateur player, Pereira began coaching in the Portuguese lower leagues before joining Porto as Andre Villas-Boas' assistant manager.

Eventually assuming the top job at the Portuguese giants following Villas-Boas' departure to Chelsea in the summer of 2011, Pereira led Porto to the Primeira Liga title in his two seasons in charge before accepting an offer from Al Ahli of the Saudi Pro League in June 2013.

During a spell in which he managed five clubs in just eight years, Pereira spent under two years with Al Ahli before joining ranks with Olympiacos in Greece in January 2015.

Pereira added to his honours list with Olympiacos by securing the domestic Double of the Super League Greece and Greek Cup in his six months in charge.

Spells at Fenerbahce and 1860 Munich would follow, before Pereira added to his managerial winners' medals in charge of Chinese side Shanghai SIPG.

As manager of Shanghai SIPG between 2017 and 2020, Pereira led the club to their first ever Chinese Super League title in 2018.

The Portuguese manager has won no major honours since his spell in China, but did lead Brazilian outfit Corinthians to the Copa do Brasil final in 2022 before the Sao Paulo-based side went down to Flamengo on penalties after two legs.

Vitor Pereira formation

In his recent managerial spells in charge of Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League and Brazilian giants Flamengo and Corinthians, Vitor Pereira has typically favoured variations of 3-5-2 and 3-4-3 formations.

This experience of coaching teams in a shape utilising a back three and wing-backs should make Pereira's transition to Wolves relatively straightforward, with the Black Country club setting up in this system recently under the management of Gary O'Neil.

Pereira's teams typically line up with a back three, two forward-thinking wing-backs and three fluid forward players in attack.

Vitor Pereira tactics and philosophy

Perhaps crucial given Wolves' current plight, Pereira is a manager who places great emphasis on defensive structure and being difficult to play against without the ball.

Notably, in his 60 league matches in charge of Porto the Portuguese giants conceded only 33 goals.

As the leakiest team in the Premier League at present, Pereira's first port of call as Wolves boss will likely be to make the team more defensively compact and organised.

Rather than endorsing a high pressing approach which is common in the Premier League at the moment, Pereira prefers his teams to remain in shape, press following specific triggers and look to launch quick counter attacks.

Pereira is also recognised as a flexible coach who will make tactical tweaks in line with the strengths and weaknesses of the squad at his disposal, meaning the shape and outlook of his Wolves team may be somewhat different to the teams he has managed previously.

Pereira's tactics and coaching philosophy have been compared to those of his compatriot and former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo, currently in charge of Nottingham Forest.

Who will play under Vitor Pereira?

Incoming Wolves manager Pereira will be encouraged by the fact the bulk of the squad he is inheriting are comfortable operating in a back three tactical system which involves a number of specialised roles.

In swashbuckling left wing-back Rayan Ait Nouri and either Nelson Semedo or Matt Doherty on the opposite flank, Pereira has readymade wing-backs at his disposal.

Wolves also have a number of talented attacking players in their ranks, with the talismanic Matheus Cunha and impressive loan signing Jorgen Strand Larsen contributing 19 Premier League goal involvements between them so far this term.

Cunha is likely to be be deployed as one of two players supporting Strand Larsen as the focal point of Wolves' attack.

The potential identity of the Wolves back three and central midfield base looks less clear, with Pereira perhaps needing a bit of time to assess his playing staff before settling on his preferred personnel in these areas.

The January transfer window will also be crucial for Wolves as Pereira attempts to steer the club to Premier League safety, with a couple of defensive reinforcements likely to be at the top of the Portuguese's shopping list.

Possible strongest Wolves starting XI under Pereira (3-4-2-1): Sa, Semedo, Dawson, Toti, Doherty, Andre, Joao Gomes, Ait-Nouri, Sarabia, Cunha, Strand Larsen.