Pereira Promises Passion and Pints at the City Ground
Newly appointed Nottingham Forest manager, Vitor Pereira, has declared that his well-known post-match tradition of enjoying a pint with the fans will continue at the City Ground. However, he’s quick to add that this particular celebration will only be reserved for moments when he truly feels the team has earned it.
During his 11-month tenure with Wolves, Pereira endeared himself to the Black Country faithful by frequently celebrating victories “with the people.” It was a common sight to see him in a local Wetherspoons pub, often near the train station, basking in the glow of a successful outing. This ritual led to the now-famous phrase, “first the points, then the pints,” which even found its way onto a banner at Molineux. Wolves supporters would often serenade him with the chant, “We’ll see you in Spoons,” a testament to the connection he forged.
Now, just four months after his departure from Wolves, Pereira embarks on his second stint in English football. His immediate task is to steer 17th-placed Nottingham Forest away from the relegation zone. When questioned about whether his signature “points then pints” custom would make the journey from the West Midlands to the East Midlands, Pereira responded with characteristic honesty.
“This is something about my personality,” he stated. “I’m not an actor, I’m a simple guy, an honest guy, confident and when I feel I deserve the pints – of course!”
Pereira becomes Forest’s fourth managerial appointment of the current season, following the departures of Sean Dyche, Nuno Espirito Santo, and Ange Postecoglou. The 57-year-old Portuguese manager has a prior working relationship with Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, having previously managed Olympiacos. Under Pereira’s guidance, the Greek club achieved a league and cup double in the 2014/15 season.
Despite Marinakis’s reputation for frequent managerial changes, Pereira expressed his confidence in their working relationship. “He is ambitious, he wants to win,” Pereira explained. “Emotional, I know him very well. The conversation was about our time in Olympiacos. I remember the energy and the fire we created, in Greece there is a fire inside, they like to see the energy. He asked me to be myself, he liked the way when we worked together we won the league and cup. It was in the middle of the season and we created a good relationship. He trusts my work, I trust his personality. I think we need passion too.”
This appointment comes despite Pereira’s dismissal from Wolves in November, with the club then languishing at the bottom of the league. However, his previous success in guiding Wolves to safety in the 2024/25 season is a key factor in his hiring.
Pereira initially took over from Gary O’Neil in December 2024 with the specific objective of avoiding relegation. At that time, Wolves were in 19th place, having accumulated a mere nine points from their first 16 matches. Under his stewardship, the team comfortably avoided demotion, ultimately finishing the season in 16th place, a significant 17 points clear of the relegation spots.
Now, Pereira faces a similar challenge at Nottingham Forest, a team currently embroiled in a fierce relegation battle. With just 12 games remaining, Forest sits precariously three points above the bottom three.
Reflecting on his new role, Pereira emphasised his focus on the present and future. “I prefer to speak about the present and the future. But you know this is a difficult season for the players, because it’s different methodologies, different managers. It’s not easy, but I believe the reason why I accept this job is because I believe in the quality of the players, because I believe in the potential of this club, the ambition of the president (Marinakis). Of course, I believe that it’s possible (to stay up). I believe that we can get points, results and quality in the games.”
Pereira’s approach, blending tactical acumen with a genuine connection to the supporters, is expected to bring a much-needed injection of passion and belief to the City Ground as the Reds fight to secure their Premier League status.
