Swansea City appoint Vitor Matos as head coach
Swansea City is delighted to confirm the appointment of Vítor Matos as the club’s new head coach.
The 37-year-old arrives from Marítimo on a contract through to the summer of 2029 and will take charge of Tuesday’s fixture against Derby County.
Matos was identified as the standout choice for the role, and was selected for his ability to implement a high-intensity, possession-based style of play.
His appointment continues Swansea’s long record of providing opportunities and backing to ambitious, technically-focused young coaches, and Matos was the outstanding candidate from those the club interviewed during what was a thorough but concise recruitment process.
Swansea City CEO Tom Gorringe, said: “We spoke to a range of candidates and Vitor was the clear stand-out with a cohesive plan of how to take our squad forward and improve.
“Vitor has spent over a decade working at elite clubs, and has been a trusted figure for some of the best coaches operating in the modern game.
“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.”
Matos brings experience of elite performance environments to south Wales, having spent five years as elite development coach at Liverpool under Jürgen Klopp and Pep Lijnders, during an era that included winning a Premier League title, a Club World Cup, the FA Cup and two League Cups.
He served as the tactical bridge between the academy and first team, aiding in the development of players like Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones, Neco Williams, Sepp van den Berg and Jarell Quansah.
He began his coaching journey at FC Porto and spent time in China before his move to Anfield. Most recently, he took charge of Marítimo, where he quickly overhauled their playing style and guided them to the upper reaches of Liga Portugal 2.
Matos, who completed his ‘Pro’ Licence with the Football Association of Wales, first started working through his coaching badges when still in his teens.
The club is working with Matos on finalising a backroom staff that provides the support and expertise to give him the best chance of being successful. Club legend Leon Britton has joined the coaching team on a short-term basis, while Joe Allen will also assist with the transition.
Additionally, Darren O’Dea and Richard Stearman have left the club, we thank them for their efforts and wish them and their families well for the future.