12 hours ago
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11-month reign
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Wolves are searching for a new manager after sacking Vítor Pereira after 11 months in charge, following their winless start to the Premier League season. The Portuguese boss only penned a new three-year contract in the summer after impressively steering the club to safety and earning a nomination for Manager of the Year. However, Wolves have picked up just two points from their opening 10 league fixtures and already find themselves eight points from safety at the bottom of the table. A heavy 3-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Fulham underlined their sharp decline, and the Midlands outfit confirmed in a statement that he had been relieved of his first-team duties less than 24 hours after the defeat at Craven Cottage.
Pereira leaves after 38 games in charge with a 1.24 points-per-game average, lower than predecessors Nuno Espírito Santo (1.68), Julen Lopetegui (1.30) and Bruno Lage (1.29). However, it is widely accepted that he faced an impossible job this season after the club sold Matheus Cunha and Rayan Aït-Nouri without replacing them. With a fiendishly difficult upcoming schedule, any incoming boss will have a stiff task in righting the ship at Molineux. Under-21 head coach James Collins and under-18 head coach Richard Walker are taking training while owner Jeff Shi begins searching for a new head coach. But with Wolves rooted to the bottom and seemingly short on funds to spend in January, this rescue mission will be a tough sell. Here are five possible candidates who may fancy their chances of repeating Pereira's heroics from last season.
Gary O'Neil
A fan favourite for most of his 48-game reign before he was sacked during the 2024/25 campaign, O'Neil's name has been thrown back into the mix after struggling to secure a role elsewhere. The 42-year-old is regarded as a promising coach, although there are questions over his defensive tactics which led to a porous backline during his tenure. It is understood O'Neil remains on amicable terms with the Wolves hierarchy, which could give him the advantage over other managerial candidates whom represent something of a gamble at this point. If it counts for anything, O'Neil is the current favourite amongst bookmakers to return for a second spell. But with a PPG of 1.13 at Wolves, some may question if he is the right man to lift them out of the slump.
Edin Terzic
One look at how Fabian Hürzeler and Oliver Glasner have re-energised Brighton and Crystal Palace may tempt Wolves into rolling the dice with another Bundesliga name, ex-Borussia Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic. As well as taking Bayern Munich all the way to the final day in the 2021/22 season, he guided the Black Yellow to the Champions League final in 2023/24 - and some would argue they outplayed Real Madrid. Terzic, 43, is still highly regarded in Germany and it's a surprise he hasn't taken another role yet. With an excellent command of English and understanding of the Premier League, appointing him may prove to be a sublime decision.
Brendan Rodgers
Rodgers, who resigned from his post at Celtic last week, has Premier League pedigree with Swansea City and Liverpool. His impressive record with the Scottish champions cannot be ignored, although the Northern Irishman's acrimonious exit from Parkhead should be noted, given Wolves' proclivity to sign players linked with Jorge Mendes' Gestifute agency. His focus on possession-based football may not yield immediate results, which is what Wolves desperately need. But short-term thinking has cost this club too many times in recent seasons - starting again with Rodgers might well be a marriage of convenience for both parties.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
A recent mixed spell with Turkish Super Lig outfit Besiktas shouldn't tarnish the work Solskjaer did in his three years at Manchester United. The Norwegian was known to be a likeable character amongst the squad at Old Trafford before results took a nosedive, but he did guide the Red Devils to their joint-best finish post-Sir Alex Ferguson - second in 2020/21. That said, those with enduring memories of Solskjaer's disastrous spell at Cardiff City 12 years ago may exercise some caution as the Bluebirds were relegated that season.
Lee Carsley
The England Under-21 coach impressed in how he managed the senior squad during his interim spell last year, leading some to wonder if he should try his hand in the Premier League. There are only three English coaches in the top-flight - Eddie Howe, Scott Parker and Sean Dyche - showing the recent decline of top coaches from the UK. But Carsley's no-nonsense approach could be popular at Wolves after accusations were levelled at certain players for not putting in enough effort in that Fulham game. It's fair to say Carsley won't stand for that if he was placed in charge, but the most pertinent question is whether he would want to give up his comfortable role with the Young Lions.
