Pereira in frame for Portugal job

Sport360 staff 18:02 11/09/2014
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  • Candidate: Vitor Pereira is in line to replace Portugal coach Paulo Bento.

    Former Al Ahli Jeddah boss Vitor Pereira has emerged as one of the leading candidates to replace under-fire Portugal head coach Paulo Bento.

    Bento, 45, saw his side booed off the pitch on Sunday after his side fell to a shock 1-0 home defeat to minnows Albania in their opening Euro 2016 qualifier.

    This result has increased the pressure on the beleaguered ex-Sporting Lisbon midfielder, whose position had already come under great scrutiny after guiding the Seleccao to a group-stage exit at this summer's World Cup in Brazil.

    The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) are understood to be considering whether to end Bento's four-year tenure, with Pereira a leading contender to come in as replacement if they do.

    The 46-year-old won the Primeira Liga title in both seasons in charge of Porto, before departing for Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli in 2013.

    He then guided the Fortress of Trophies to third place in the Saudi Professional League and to the runners-up spot in the King Cup of Champions in his only season at the helm.

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