Jurgen Klopp
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Former Liverpool assistant coach Vitor Matos has landed himself a first-team job according to Fabrizio Romano.
There has been some changes among the Liverpool staff setup at Anfield in recent weeks.
Arne Slot’s assistant coach John Heitinga made the decision to leave this summer after being courted by Ajax.
The former Netherlands defender, who joined Liverpool in 2024, has experience from his time as interim Ajax boss in 2023. But he has now returned to the club, hoping to restore them to their heights in the Netherlands, after their dramatic collapse in the 2024-25 Eredivisie title race, where they squandered a nine-point lead to PSV Eindhoven.
Meanwhile, former Liverpool winger Stewart Downing has returned to the club as a global talent scout.
The 40-year-old made 91 appearances for Liverpool between 2011–2013.
Downing report to chief scout Barry Hunter, expanding the club’s reach in markets like South America and Eastern Europe.
And in yet more staff reshuffling, Liverpool U21 coach has now Barry Lewtas announced his departure from Liverpool Football Club after 12 years of distinguished service in the Academy system, concluding an era that has seen the club’s youth development reach lofty heights.
Elsewhere, former Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders has agreed to become Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, and he is being joined by one of the club’s analyst, James French.
And now, another former member of the Klopp’s coaching staff has taken up a new first-team coaching job.
Fabrizio Romano has reported that Jurgen Klopp’s former assistant Vitor Matos has agreed to be the new coach of Portuguese side Maritimo.
The Portuguese worked as the Elite Development Coach at Liverpool from October 2019 to June 2024, before joining Klopp out of the exit door when he left last year.
His role at Liverpool was set up to help players make a smooth transition from the Under-21s to the senior side. However, over time, Matos became more and more involved with the senior squad.
🚨🇵🇹 Former Klopp’s assistant Vitor Matos will be new Maritimo head coach on two year deal.
Agreement in place after process lead by Maritimo director João Moura. pic.twitter.com/OirG3eNH0F
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 6, 2025
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