How former Liverpool coach Vitor Matos is becoming one of Europe's most exciting young managers

When Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool in 2024, it had not only looked like the end of his time as a football manager, but the beginning of Pep Lijnders’ career as a number one.

Having spent a big portion of the previous decade as Klopp’s assistant, the time had felt right for Lijnders to finally forge his own path.

Tactically astute with a big personality to match, there was a feeling that the Dutchman could be one of Europe’s next great managers.

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Off he went to Salzburg, where he quietly deployed another of Klopp’s trusted Liverpool allies – Vitor Matos – as his assistant. Sadly, things did not go to plan, and after being sacked only months into his reign, Lijnders surprisingly returned to life as a No. 2 at Manchester City.

The Salzburg debacle had also cost Matos his job. However, it did open the door for the 37-year-old to begin his own path as a first-team manager. After doing well with Maritimo in Portugal, the former Liverpool coach joined Swansea City in November, and things are now going very well indeed.

Matos’ Swansea could be on a play-off push

As the ‘elite development coach’ at Liverpool, Matos was never as hands-on as somebody like Lijnders. Nevertheless, he was clearly a key part of Klopp’s backroom team.

Since joining Swansea, he has proven himself to be an excellent communicator, and a top tactician too. A clip of Matos’ changing room teamtalk shows the Portuguese to be something of a ‘mini-Klopp’, and his team are certainly benefiting.

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When he took over the Swans they were mired in a relegation scrap in the Championship. But after winning nine of his 18 matches in charge, Matos has them looking up the table.

Sitting in 14th place, there is clearly plenty of work to do before that happens, but only six points now separate them from fellow Welshmen Wrexham in sixth.

Another win on Saturday, this time a 1-0 victory against Bristol City, has Swans fans dreaming of the Premier League once again, and Matos’ part in that has been decisive.

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Matos is one of Europe’s top young coaches

Look around Europe, and there are not many managers of Matos’ age operating as highly as he currently is.

At just 37, the former Liverpool man is extremely young to be taking charge of any team, let alone one playing in a league as competitive as the Championship.

Obviously, Matos still has some way to go before he is on the radar of any of the continent’s top teams, but the work he is doing in South Wales will not be going unnoticed.

It is still early days, of course, but if he can keep Swansea on this kind of trajectory, it would not be a surprise to see his name in the mix for Premier League jobs.

There had been a feeling in the summer of 2024 that Lijnders may one day return to Liverpool to follow in Klopp’s footsteps. Though that may now be highly unlikely to happen, perhaps Matos can be the prodigal son who returns.

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