Nottingham Forest: Coach who transformed Osayi-Samuel now in charge of Aina & Awoniyi

Nottingham Forest have officially appointed former Portuguese tactician Vítor Pereira as their new head coach, Afrik Foot reports.

The former Fenerbahçe manager will be at the City Ground on an 18-month deal until the summer of 2027.

Pereira takes over following the departure of Sean Dyche, who was recently sacked after a brief spell in charge.

The club moved quickly to secure Pereira, who had been linked to the role after Dyche’s exit, with Forest hoping the Portuguese manager can help maintain a top-flight finish.

Dyche leaves Nottingham Forest

Dyche’s tenure at Forest lasted just a few months, ending after inconsistent results left the club hovering near the relegation zone.

The sacking marked Forest’s third managerial departure of the season. With crucial Premier League fixtures ahead, the board moved decisively to appoint a coach with a proven track record.

The 57-year-old gaffer most recently managed Wolverhampton Wanderers, taking over a struggling side and leading them on a six-game winning streak—the longest in the Premier League last season—while guiding Wolves to safety and a club record for goals scored.

How Pereira transformed Osayi-Samuel

Pereira is well known for converting Bright Osayi-Samuel from a winger into a marauding right-back during his time at Fenerbahce.

Osayi-Samuel initially resisted the change, but it proved pivotal for his development and eventual recognition with the Super Eagles.

“It was Vítor Pereira, who was the coach at Wolves at the time, who wanted me to play as a wing-back,” Osayi-Samuel explained. “At first, I did not like it — I hated it — but I began to see improvements and realised I could actually become a better player. Then I got recognised for the national team, so I am grateful to him,” he said, as quoted by Birmingham Live.

With Pereira now at the helm, Forest hope to replicate that transformative influence on their Super Eagles stars Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi, who are expected to play key roles in the club’s survival push.

The Portuguese coach brings a wealth of experience at both domestic and international levels, having won league titles with Porto, a double with Olympiacos, and a league title in China with Shanghai SIPG, along with stints in Turkey and Brazil.

Forest supporters will be hoping Pereira can steer the club away from the relegation battle and back towards consistent Premier League form.