João Pereira dismissed as manager of Turkish club Alanyaspor
The Portuguese coach leaves the team after a string of four consecutive losses in the Süper Lig.
Portuguese manager João Pereira was dismissed from his position at the helm of the Turkish football club Alanyaspor on Tuesday. The 42-year-old coach, who had been leading the team since March 2025, saw his tenure come to an abrupt end following a challenging run of form that left the club struggling in the league standings.
The decision by the Alanyaspor board followed a series of four consecutive defeats in the Süper Lig against Fenerbahçe, Kocaelispor, Gençlerbirligi, and Trabzonspor. These results left the team in 13th place with 12 points, placing them only four points above the relegation zone. Reports from local media indicated that the team's declining performance and a growing disconnect with the club's leadership were primary factors in the decision to terminate his contract.
During his time in Turkey, Pereira oversaw 60 matches, recording 17 wins, 22 draws, and 21 losses. Despite efforts to stabilize the squad, the recent downturn in results proved insurmountable for the former international player, who had previously enjoyed a positive reputation in the country from his time as a professional athlete.
Before his move to Turkey, Pereira had a brief stint managing the first team at Sporting CP in Portugal. He was promoted from the club's B team in November 2024 to replace Rúben Amorim but was removed from his role after only eight matches, which included three wins, one draw, and four losses. His successor at the Lisbon club, Rui Borges, also recently parted ways with the team.
The departure of Pereira from Alanyaspor marks the end of an experience that began with high expectations earlier this year. Despite the club's efforts to find consistency, the mounting pressure from the league table and fan dissatisfaction ultimately led to the change in leadership.
Looking ahead, reports from Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu suggest that the club has already identified a replacement. Ugur Uçar, a 39-year-old former professional player who was most recently with Çorum, is reportedly set to take over the managerial duties on a contract spanning one and a half seasons.