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."

Wolves have lost 11 of their 16 games this season and have conceded 40 goals, the highest in the league, though Pereira will not rush into doing business in the January transfer window.

He said: "The club is open to doing it but in this moment it's important to understand the players on the pitch.

"It's important I have one week to understand what I can do with the players, to study their personality and what we need. After this we'll decide."

But the 56-year-old wants to shape his side quickly and will look to guide them with his methods.

"It's a responsibility but a good one. In my opinion it's to give confidence to them, to guide them, like a tactical GPS, to point them in the same direction," added Pereira.

"It's very important to connect the tactical quality, technical quality because I like my teams to play good football but with tactical organisation and courage to play our game."

Wolves expect Matheus Cunha to be available on Sunday after he was charged by the Football Association with misconduct, with any final judgement not expected until next week.