New Wolves boss Vitor Pereira says he has been chasing his dream of working in the Premier League for 14 years after several near misses with the Everton job.
The Portuguese coach arrived at Molineux on an 18-month deal on Thursday.
Pereira has come close to joining the Toffees three times but achieved his goal to manage in the Premier League this week when he replaced Gary O’Neil at Wolves, his 10th club in the past 11 years.
“Three times with the same club,” he said, after leaving Saudi side Al-Shabab.
“Everton 14 years ago before I went to Brazil, then I had another three or four meetings [in 2013]. Two or three years ago, I had two or three meetings – it means it was a lot of meetings with Everton!
“The last 14 years of my career, my focus was to come to England. To compete with the best coaches, this is the seat I want to be in. I want to be in this league to compete, challenge myself and I’m ready.
“I remember the first step outside the country [Portugal] was to Saudi Arabia [Al-Ahli] 14 years ago. When I left Porto, my target was a club in England.”
Pereira takes over with Wolves second bottom and five points behind 17th-placed Leicester, who they face at King Power Stadium on Sunday [14:00 GMT].
He said he never gave up hope he would manage in the Premier League.
“No, I’m a confident guy, I believe in my work and my staff,” he said. “From a young age one day I decided in my mind I’d be a coach. Afterwards, I put in my mind I would be a champion in Portugal and I was [with Porto].
“Then I wanted to be a champion in another country and the team [Olympiakos] was a champion. One day my target was England. It means when you think a lot, even if you must work, and work, and work and you must go to Brazil, to Turkey and Arabia in the end you will be there.”
