Wolves supporters have quickly come to love Vitor Pereira.
The Portuguese arrived at Molineux last December with one simple mission: to keep Wolves in the Premier League.
Wolves had started the season horrendously under Gary O’Neil and many felt as though the club’s time in the Premier League was genuinely under serious threat.
Vitor Pereira was appointed, and in all honesty he did not fill too many people with confidence given his managerial history.
But Pereira surprised many people, ultimately fixing many issues and guiding Wolves to a 16th-placed finish.
Fans adore Pereira for his passion, and his connection with the supporters is fantastic to see.
But there’s also something else that is simply brilliant about Pereira.
Vitor Pereira adored by even non-football staff at Wolves
Pereira’s spell at Wolves could not really have gone too much better thus far.
He kept Wolves up comfortably in the end last season, while having to deal with plenty of challenges.
One of the biggest things he did was restore harmony – not just in the dressing room, but in the stands as well.
The feeling around the club was dour last Christmas, but Pereira worked his magic and that ‘One Pack’ mentality has hardly ever been stronger now.
Much has been made of Pereira as a coach. But he’s also clearly a brilliant human being.
Journalist Liam Keen said of the Wolves manager on the E&S podcast: “A really important thing that people don’t get, and we try and get across, is that he’s incredibly well liked amongst people that aren’t to do with football, at the football club.
“People that aren’t players or part of the staff, that are part of different teams that all help this football club be what it is. He’s incredibly well liked across all those different people, and the atmosphere in pre-season was actually very, very good amongst the group.
“Albeit from the outside, people see it as (there’s) not enough signings and Vitor being frustrated publicly in some of those Portuguese interviews. What you don’t see is how relaxed and happy he is and people are around the place. At the same time, he’s desperate for signings and understandably so!”
Pereira can be the new Nuno at Wolves, if Fosun allow it
There’s a lot to be said for Pereira having such a brilliant reputation amongst even non-football people at Wolves.
Ultimately, it is all about creating that feeling of everyone pulling together in the same direction.
Pereira – who will likely open talks over a new Wolves contract next month – clearly believes that all facets of a football club matter, and that is very refreshing.
It is easy to see why there have been Nuno Espirito Santo comparisons already, and there is no reason why he can’t ultimately enjoy a similar level of success at Molineux.
But it is going to depend a lot on Fosun and the recruitment team to give him the tools he needs.
To sell a manager who is this talented and already so popular short would be an absolute travesty.