Swansea City appoint Vítor Matos as new head coach | OneFootball

Swansea City have appointed former Liverpool elite development coach Vítor Matos as their new head coach on a four-year contract, turning to the highly regarded Portuguese after a turbulent spell that saw Alan Sheehan dismissed earlier this month, as reported by BBC Sport.

Matos, 37, arrives from Marítimo, where he only began his first senior managerial role in June. His swift ascent up the coaching ladder reflects a decade spent working inside elite European academies, most notably at Anfield, where he became a trusted figure for Jürgen Klopp and his staff.

Swansea had initially targeted Hammarby’s Kim Hellberg before the Swede opted for Middlesbrough, prompting the Championship strugglers to accelerate talks with Matos. He was in attendance at Ashton Gate on Saturday as the Swans slumped to a 3-0 defeat by Bristol City, a result that left them 20th in the table and underscored the scale of the task ahead.

Chief executive Tom Gorringe said Matos quickly emerged as “the clear stand-out” during the club’s recruitment process. “Vítor has spent over a decade working at elite clubs and has been a trusted figure for some of the best coaches in the modern game,” he said. “He is committed to an attacking identity and to developing players technically and tactically. We are sure supporters will enjoy watching his Swansea City team in action.”

Interim staff Darren O’Dea and Richard Stearman will depart following the appointment. The club confirmed it is working with Matos to assemble a backroom team “that provides the support and expertise” required for success, with club legend Leon Britton joining on a short-term basis and Joe Allen assisting during the transition.

GFN | Finn Entwistle