Image Credits: Imago Images
Former Liverpool performance coach Vitor Matos could be making a return to English football soon.
The 37-year-old Portuguese coach only took charge of Maritimo in June 2025, his first senior head coaching role, signing a two-year contract with the club based on the Portuguese island of Madeira.
The Vila Nova de Gaia native previously worked as Liverpool’s elite development coach under Jurgen Klopp between 2019 and 2024, tasked with bridging the gap between the academy and first team at Anfield.
He then followed Pepijn Lijnders to Red Bull Salzburg in May 2024, though that spell proved brief as the pair were dismissed in December.
At Maritimo, who compete in Portugal’s Liga Portugal 2, Matos has guided his side to a respectable start in the second tier.
The club currently sits third in the 18-team division after 11 matches, having won six, drawn two, and lost three, putting them in contention for automatic promotion to the Primeira Liga.
His possession-based, progressive style has translated well to the Portuguese second division.
And it looks like clubs have sat up and taken notice.
The BBC report that Swansea City are eyeing Vitor Matos after missing out on their preferred candidate Kim Hellberg.
Swansea had identified Hammarby head coach Kim Hellberg as their number-one target to replace the dismissed Alan Sheehan, with the 37-year-old Swede travelling to London last week for discussions with the club hierarchy.
However, those hopes have been dashed after Championship rivals Middlesbrough swooped in to hijack the deal.
Boro, themselves searching for a new boss following Rob Edwards’ departure to Wolves, are now in advanced talks with Hellberg and look increasingly likely to secure his signature.
The report claims that the Welsh outfit have already held preliminary talks with Matos.
Speaking to the Athletic last week, Matos said of the jump to being the head coach:
“I want to create a feeling where every supporter is excited about the next game. I want them to be already thinking about the next game when they leave our stadium and be waiting for that moment.”
“One of the biggest parts of the job is managing 25 different characters and personalities but I’m ready for that,” he said. “I don’t see it as a pressure to deliver.”
“It’s an opportunity to build something special and for as long as I’m in this job, I will try to be enjoying it at the same time.”
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