Following an amateur playing career, he became manager of Porto, where he won the Primeira Liga in both of his seasons. After leaving in 2013 he worked in several countries, winning a Greek league and cup double with Olympiacos in 2015 and the Chinese Super League with Shanghai SIPG in 2018.
Football career
Early career
Born in Espinho, Pereira only played amateur football, and retired at the age of 28.[2] He started managing at junior level, and his first head coach experience arrived midway through the 2004–05 season, when he was appointed at A.D. Sanjoanense in the third division.[3]
Despite a less than stellar performance both in Europe – being knocked out of the UEFA Champions League in the group stage[12] and in the UEFA Europa League's round of 32[13]– and in the Taça de Portugal,[14] Pereira led the club to the league title in his first season in charge.[15] In March 2013, following the team's elimination from Champions League contention (2–1 on aggregate against Málaga CF), he came under heavy criticism, notably due to his decision of benching James Rodríguez during the first half of both legs. The Colombian stated his disappointment in the coach's decision, but said that he respected him and trusted his reasons, adding that the situation was possibly created because of his questionable fitness, even though he claimed to be 100% fit.[16][17][18]
In early May 2013, as Porto ranked second in the league, Pereira deemed the Portuguese league as a "dirty competition".[19] Only a few days later, after his team defeated S.L. Benfica at home to surpass its opponents – eventually winning the league title, conceding six draws in 30 games[20]– he considered it to be a "highly competitive and prestigious league".[21]
On 10 June 2015, Olympiacos announced a mutual contract termination with Pereira.[25] The following day, he was appointed at Fenerbahçe S.K. for two years.[26]
The Turkish side cut ties unilaterally with Pereira on 15 August 2016, with the case being subsequently taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.[27][28] On 18 December he was named head coach of TSV 1860 Munich in the German 2. Bundesliga, with the one-and-a-half-year deal being made effective the following 1 January.[29] The team finished the season third from bottom, and eventually got relegated on 30 May 2017 after a 3–1 loss aggregate loss to SSV Jahn Regensburg in the play-offs.[30]
Pereira became the manager of Shanghai SIPG F.C. on 12 December 2017, replacing Villas-Boas at the Chinese Super League club.[31] In his debut campaign, he guided them to their first-ever title in the competition.[32] In December 2019 he turned down a new approach from Everton[33] and, one year later, left Shanghai.[34]
Pereira returned to Fenerbahçe on 2 July 2021, on a two-year contract.[35] He was sacked on 20 December after a 2–2 home draw with Istanbul rivals Beşiktaş JK; his side were in fifth position and 14 points behind leaders Trabzonspor.[36] A month later, he was again linked with Everton as owner Farhad Moshiri's lead candidate, prompting anger and vandalism from fans who saw him as inadequate and wanted eventual appointee Frank Lampard instead; he defended his reputation in an interview on Sky Sports News.[37]
In October 2022, Pereira's team lost the final of the Copa do Brasil on penalties to CR Flamengo.[41] Just hours after the last match of the season on 13 November, it was announced that he would not renew his contract.[42] He said in a social media post that he had to return home due to his mother-in-law's health.[43][44]
Pereira went back to the Saudi main division on 4 February 2024, replacing the fired Igor Bišćan at Al Shabab FC on at a deal until the end of the season.[50]
^Da Cunha, Pedro Jorge (15 March 2013). "Vítor Pereira e James: afinal, quem tem razão?" [Vítor Pereira and James: who's right, after all?] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
^"官宣!佩雷拉成为上港新任主帅 昔日曾辅佐博阿斯" [Official announcement! Former Villas-Boas assistant Pereira became the new coach] (in Chinese). Sina Sports. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2017.