'I like the beer but I go to a pub to be with the people'

Before his Wolves side travel to Manchester City tonight, Vitor Pereira on his nomadic career and mingling with fans

- Ben Fisher

"Old, like our club," says Vitor Pereira, pointing towards his glass of Asahi. "This is the colour."

The charismatic Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach has just taken a sip of beer and something of a breather halfway through an hour-long conversation at the Inn at Shipley, a pub on the outskirts of the city, taking in everything from his days as a lifeguard in his hometown of Espinho, a fishing village south of Porto, to almost becoming Everton manager - on three occasions. He claims he once had job offers from Arsenal, before Mikel Arteta was appointed, Crystal Palace and Wolves' arch-rivals West Brom, too.

This is his first visit to this watering hole but the perfect setting given Pereira's "first the points, then the pints" mantra that has led to him celebrating wins by mingling with supporters in the local Wetherspoons and a fans' group to launch a lager and IPA decorated with the slogan. There is only one place to start: joining supporters to drink in victory.

"You need to be with the people because you need to see the smiles. When I go to a pub it's not about the beer. Of course, I like the beer," he grins, his go-to lager Stella Artois, "but I go to be with the people, to feel that I'm doing something to make them happy, to make them proud. This is my energy. I must go to a pub, because this is the culture."

Wolves's striking uplift since Pereira replaced Gary O'Neil in December - only Liverpool and Newcastle have recorded more Premier League wins in that time - means there has been plenty of cause for celebration. "I think if I wasn't a manager, I would be something like an architect. I like to create. Every time that I go to a club, it's like I take a baby in my arms. And I start to help them grow. It's like I start a new painting. This is football, it has given me the chance to express my creativity. If I didn't do this, I would maybe be a painter... maybe I should work in art."