Nottingham Forest have appointed Portuguese coach Vítor Pereira on an 18-month deal, making him the club’s fourth permanent manager of the campaign as they battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
The 57-year-old replaces Sean Dyche, who was dismissed following a disappointing run of results that left Forest 17th on the table, just three points above the drop zone with only two wins in their last 10 league matches.
Pereira is expected to take his first training session at the City Ground on Monday, before overseeing his first match in charge in the UEFA Europa League knockout round play-off first leg against his former side Fenerbahçe in Turkey. He then faces an immediate domestic test with a league clash against Liverpool.
The appointment sets an unwanted record, with Forest becoming the first club in Premier League history to go through four permanent managers in a single season. Pereira follows Nuno Espírito Santo, Ange Postecoglou and Dyche in a turbulent managerial spell since September.
Pereira is no stranger to English football, having previously managed Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he spent 11 months before being sacked in November. Despite helping Wolves avoid relegation last season, a poor start to the current campaign ended his tenure.
He also shares a working history with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, having coached Greek giants Olympiacos to a league and cup double in the 2014/15 season before moving to Turkey.
Forest’s struggles in front of goal were a major factor in Dyche’s dismissal. During his 114-day spell, the club recorded 241 shots ; ninth highest in the division but posted a conversion rate of just 8.3%, the third worst in the league. A goalless draw against Wolves, in which Forest registered 35 attempts without scoring, proved the final blow.
For Pereira, the challenge is immediate and clear: stabilise results, improve attacking efficiency and preserve Forest’s Premier League status in what has already been a season of instability at the City Ground.
