When Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool last year, he took a number of his most trusted coaches with him.
While the German had decided that he may never take control of another football club again, some of his right-hand men were just starting careers of their own.
Pep Lijnders was supposed to be the best of these, but the Dutchman failed during a short stint at RB Salzburg and is now back as a number two at Manchester City.
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Lijnders may seem forever destined to play a secondary role, but the man he chose as his own second in command at Salzburg – former Liverpool colleague Vitor Matos – is showing that he might be set for a different path.
Matos left the Austrian club along with Lijnders in December 2024, but while Klopp’s number two headed back to the Premier League, the Portuguese took a job back in his homeland.
Taking over at second division club Maritimo, Matos had a job on his hands to get the Madeiran side back in the Primeira Liga. Four months into his role, though, and the 37-year-old is proving to be a talented head coach.
Liverpool coach Vitor Matos points during the Reds' pre-season camp in Austria.
Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Vitor Matos enjoying success with Maritimo
Matos’ role at Liverpool was officially that of elite development coach. His job was to bridge the gap between the first team and the Liverpool academy, as well as developing players individually.
Having joined the Reds in 2019, Matos became a familiar face for supporters and was clearly highly valued by the likes of Klopp and Lijnders.
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There were certainly risks involved in taking over Maritimo, a big club who had been relegated from the top division in 2023 after 38 years as part of the elite.
Having finished 12th in their first second division campaign for almost 40 years, there was pressure on the new man. So far, though, Matos does not appear to be feeling that pressure. After 11 games they sit in third place, two points behind leaders Sporting B.
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Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool lines up before the Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Etihad Stadium
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According to The Athletic, it is not only the lofty position in the table which has supporters impressed with Matos. Fans are said to have been connected by the ‘attacking football, tactical clarity and engaging presence’ the young coach has brought.
Matos is claimed to set his teams up with an aggressive counter-press to play every game as though it could be a final. Having spent five years learning under Klopp, it is clear the German had a huge impact on his tactical approach.
Whether Matos succeeds in winning promotion with Maritimo or not, it would not be a surprise to see him being linked with more illustrious jobs in the near future.
Matos could be set for an elite coaching career
Despite his young age, Matos has already spent years in the elite game. Prior to his arrival at Liverpool, the Portuguese had already honed his craft at Porto.
Exposure to such big clubs – and such talented players – should mean Matos has a good grounding when it comes to his own career as a manager.
If he can take the right lessons from Klopp in particular and put them into practice, he has a real chance of becoming a top level coach.
Many new coaches fail early on into their careers and never recover. Lijnders is a good example of this.
But with Matos, his grounding with Maritimo has given him a springboard into the future. He is certainly a young man to keep a close eye on.