João Pereira (footballer, born 1992)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | João Jorge Gândara Mendes Pereira | ||
| Date of birth | 6 February 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | Coimbra, Portugal | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Casa Pia (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2003–2009 | Académica | ||
| 2009–2010 | Vigor Mocidade | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2012 | Mealhada | 1 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2010–2011 | Mealhada (youth) | ||
| 2012–2014 | Mealhada (assistant) | ||
| 2018 | Académica (youth) | ||
| 2018–2019 | Palmeiras FC (youth) | ||
| 2019–2021 | Mozambique (assistant) | ||
| 2022–2023 | Amora | ||
| 2023–2024 | Alverca | ||
| 2024– | Casa Pia | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
João Jorge Gândara Mendes Pereira (born 6 February 1992) is a Portuguese professional football manager and former player who played as a forward. He is the current manager of Primeira Liga side Casa Pia.
Playing career
Born in Coimbra,[1] Pereira represented local sides Académica de Coimbra and GR O Vigor da Mocidade as a youth. After spending one year as a coach of GD Mealhada's under-7 sides, he was assigned as a member of the first team squad ahead of the 2011–12 season, but only featured for six minutes.
In 2013–14, Pereira played for futsal side Atómicos Sport Clube.
Managerial career
In 2012, Pereira became an assistant of Tó Miranda at Mealhada, before moving to Porto in 2014, as an assistant of the under-15 squad. He was also an assistant at Padroense's under-17 team before being named coach of Académica under-17s in January 2018.[2]
Pereira also coached Palmeiras FC's under-17 team before becoming an assistant of compatriot Luís Gonçalves at the Mozambique national team in August 2019. He left the latter in March 2021, after Gonçalves was sacked.[3]
On 26 June 2022, aged 30, Pereira was appointed manager of Liga 3 side Amora.[4] On 14 June 2023, after missing out promotion in the second stage, he left the club after refusing a contract renewal.[5]
On 24 June 2023, Pereira was announced as manager of Alverca also in the third division.[6] He won the 2023–24 Liga 3 with the side, becoming the youngest manager to win a national title in Portugal at the age of 32, and taking the club back to a professional division after a 19-year absence.[7] On 2 June 2024, however, he departed the side.[8]
On 19 June 2024, Pereira moved straight to Primeira Liga after being named at the helm of Casa Pia.[9] His first professional match occurred on 17 August, a 3–0 away loss to Benfica; he also became the second-youngest manager to debut in the top tier, only months behind André Villas-Boas (who was also 32 at the time of his debut in 2009).[2]
Casa Pia set several historic records in the Primeira Liga: they achieved the highest number of wins in the competition, with 12 victories, and also established the club record for home wins, with 8 matches won. The team reached its highest points total in the Primeira Liga, accumulating 45 points, and scored the most goals in its history in the league, with 39 goals. Additionally, Casa Pia matched the club’s best-ever league finish by ending the season in 9th place.[10][11]
Managerial statistics
- As of 16 May 2025
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Ref | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||||
| Amora | 26 June 2022 | 14 June 2023 | 30 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 51 | 39 | +12 | 56.67 | [12] | |
| Alverca | 24 June 2023 | 2 June 2024 | 34 | 19 | 8 | 7 | 62 | 28 | +34 | 55.88 | [13] | |
| Casa Pia | 19 June 2024 | Present | 37 | 14 | 9 | 14 | 48 | 47 | +1 | 37.84 | [14] | |
| Total | 101 | 50 | 20 | 31 | 161 | 114 | +47 | 49.50 | — | |||
Honours
Manager
Alverca
References
- ^ "João Pereira, treinador do Alverca, pode bater recordes de Siska e Juca" [João Pereira, manager of Alverca, may beat Siska and Juca's records] (in Portuguese). O Jogo. 6 February 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ a b "João Pereira: «Somos competentes para levar o Casa Pia para a frente»" [João Pereira: "We are competent to bring Casa Pia forward"] (in Portuguese). Jornal Desportivo. 4 September 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "Luís Gonçalves despedido do cargo de selecionador moçambicano de futebol" [Luís Gonçalves sacked from the role of manager of the Mozambique national football team] (in Portuguese). Expresso das Ilhas. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "AMORA»» Mudanças na estrutura da SAD" [AMORA:: Changes in the structure of the SAD] (in Portuguese). Jornal de Desporto. 26 June 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "João Pereira vai deixar comando técnico do Amora e já tem destino traçado" [João Pereira will leave the technical command of Amora and already have a defined destination] (in Portuguese). Notícias ao Minuto. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "João Pereira será o novo comandante" [João Pereira will be the new commander] (in Portuguese). FC Alverca. 24 June 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "Alverca faz história: campeão da Liga 3 com João Pereira aos 32 anos" [Alverca make history: champion of the Liga 3 with João Pereira at the age of 32] (in Portuguese). TV Guadiana. 13 May 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "Alverca confirma saída de João Pereira após a conquista da Liga 3" [Alverca confirm departure of João Pereira after the Liga 3 title] (in Portuguese). Bola na Rede. 2 June 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "Casa Pia oficializa ex-Alverca João Pereira como novo treinador" [Casa Pia turn official former Alverca man João Pereira as new manager] (in Portuguese). Observador. 19 June 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "João Pereira bate recorde de pontos do Casa Pia: «Fizemos história e era algo que queríamos»". www.record.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ^ Abola.pt (12 May 2025). "Mais uma semana, mais um recorde para o Casa Pia | Abola.pt". Abola.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ^ "Amora FC: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
- ^ "FC Alverca: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
- ^ "Casa Pia AC: Matches". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
External links
- João Pereira at ForaDeJogo (archived)