Vitor Pereira may reportedly replace Gary O’Neil at Wolverhampton Wanderers, but time will tell whether he will prove more popular at Molyneux than at Everton.
According to reports, the Portuguese, currently commanding the Saudi team Al Shabab, is in talks to take over the club in a difficult situation Wolves, who are second from bottom of the Premier League simply because Southampton continues to be so terrible.
Saturday’s defeat to newly promoted Ipswich Town was the final straw for O’Neil, whose departure was announced on Sunday afternoon, potentially opening the way for former Porto and Olympiakos coach Pereira to take over.
Everton fans painted graffiti at Goodison Park in protest against Vitor Pereira’s potential appointment
Pereira was reportedly Farhad Moshiri’s preferred candidate to replace Rafa Benitez in January 2022, but some Everton fans were not thrilled with the prospect of appointing the three-time league champion in Portugal and Greece.
Protests greeted the news Graffiti was painted on the side of Goodison Park demanding “Pereira eliminate Lampard” – a wish that was ultimately granted and, of course, turned out to be fabulously good for all concerned.
Pereira then said in response: “It’s the first time in my career that I see something like this. I have never seen such a comment about me in my career.
“My CV speaks for itself, but I think this criticism is not directed at me, but at those around me, because the club is not in a good situation.
“The fans have passion and I think this passion is the strength of the club. I remember watching Everton games a few years ago and sometimes the spirit of the fans won the games.
“Passion for football can have a positive or negative side. What the manager should do right now is bring it [back] positive passion from fans. I don’t think these are personal attacks.”
Pereira insisted he still wanted the job, but Lampard was hired instead. Under his stewardship, Everton climbed from just 16th place, four points clear of the drop zone after his appointment, to a breathtaking peak of still 16th place and still four points clear of the drop zone at the end of the season.
Previous Chelsea and England midfielder place in 8th place FourFourTwo list of the best Premier League players of all time, he was sacked and the club fell from the bottom of the table on goal difference alone before Sean Dyche saved them from relegation.
