The 37‑year‑old Portuguese coach arrives from Marítimo on a contract running until the summer of 2029 and will take charge of Tuesday’s Championship fixture against Derby County.
Matos was identified as the club’s preferred candidate after what Swansea described as a “thorough but concise” recruitment process. His arrival follows a period of uncertainty in the dugout, with Darren O’Dea stepping in as interim boss for one game after Alan Sheehan’s departure earlier this month
Background and experience
Matos brings significant experience from elite football environments. He spent five years at Liverpool as elite development coach under Jürgen Klopp and Pep Lijnders, helping bridge the gap between academy and first team. During that period, Liverpool won the Premier League, Club World Cup, FA Cup and two League Cups, while Matos worked closely with emerging talents including Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones and Neco Williams.
He began his coaching career at FC Porto, spent time in China, and most recently managed Marítimo, where he reshaped their playing style and guided them into the upper reaches of Liga Portugal 2. He also holds a UEFA Pro Licence completed with the Football Association of Wales.
(Image: Swansea City FC)
Swansea’s tradition of young coaches
Swansea City CEO Tom Gorringe said Matos was the standout candidate:
“We spoke to a range of candidates and Vítor was the clear stand‑out with a cohesive plan of how to take our squad forward and improve. He is committed to playing an attacking brand of football, and to developing players technically and tactically, and we are sure supporters are going to enjoy watching his Swansea City team in action.”
The appointment continues Swansea’s long‑standing tradition of backing ambitious, technically‑focused young coaches — a lineage that has included Roberto Martínez, Brendan Rodgers, and Russell Martin.
Backroom changes
The club confirmed that Leon Britton has joined the coaching team on a short‑term basis, while Joe Allen will also assist with the transition. Darren O’Dea and Richard Stearman have left the club following their interim roles, with Swansea thanking them for their efforts.
Matos will lead Swansea for the first time on Tuesday night against Derby County, with supporters eager to see how his high‑intensity, possession‑based style translates to the Championship.
