Former Liverpool coach enjoying ‘impressive’ start to managerial career | OneFootball

Liverpool Roots Shape Rising Coach Vitor Matos as He Impresses in Portugal

Matos’ Journey from Anfield to Ambitious Management

Liverpool’s transition from the Klopp era brought emotional farewells and structural upheaval, with several trusted coaches following the German out of the club. Among them was Vitor Matos, a figure well regarded not only within the academy but also among senior staff. While the departures of Pep Lijnders and others drew more attention at the time, it is Matos who now appears to be carving the most intriguing managerial path.

Lijnders, once tipped as Klopp’s heir in some quarters, endured a difficult spell at RB Salzburg before returning to England as a number two at Manchester City. The contrast with Matos is striking. While Lijnders’ coaching arc seems tethered to assistant roles, Matos is developing an identity of his own, one shaped by Liverpool’s structures but not defined by them.

He left Salzburg alongside Lijnders in December 2024, yet their routes diverged sharply. Matos opted to return home, assuming control of Maritimo, a club weighed down by expectation and still recovering from relegation after 38 consecutive years in Portugal’s top division. Yet within months he has injected optimism and clarity into a team that had previously appeared directionless.

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Early Success with Maritimo

Matos’ impact has been both tactical and cultural. His side have embraced an energetic, front-foot style that reflects his time under Klopp. According to The Athletic, supporters have gravitated toward the “attacking football, tactical clarity and engaging presence” that the young coach has instilled.

From his first 11 matches, Maritimo sit third in the table and only two points behind leaders Sporting B. More important than league position has been the transformation in mood. Teams relegated after long top-flight spells often spiral further, but Matos has steadied the club while elevating expectations. His teams, it is said, are set up to play with “an aggressive counter-press” and approach each fixture “as though it could be a final.”

Such stylistic choices inevitably draw comparisons with his former employer. The article observes that “having spent five years learning under Klopp, it is clear the German had a huge impact on his tactical approach.” Matos’ years as Liverpool’s elite development coach gave him a rare blend of insight, bridging academy potential with senior expectations, guiding individual growth while aligning young players with tactical standards.

Foundations Built at Liverpool and Porto

Long before Anfield, Matos had refined his craft in Porto’s academy, learning the importance of technical precision and youth development. When he arrived at Liverpool in 2019, he quickly became a familiar figure behind the scenes. Players spoke of his clarity, staff relied on his judgement and Klopp trusted his observations when assessing academy talent.

His current success at Maritimo reflects that experience. He understands how to manage young groups, how to develop players and how to create structure without suffocating individuality. Even if Maritimo fall short of promotion, the impression he has left ensures that larger clubs will track his progress.

And that is where his Liverpool connection becomes relevant again. Coaches who emerge from that environment are conditioned to high standards. If Matos continues to grow, he may one day return to elite European football not as a deputy but as a leading figure in his own right.

Elite Potential on the Horizon for Young Coach

At just 37 years old, Matos has time, grounding and a developing tactical reputation. As football increasingly seeks coaches capable of blending detail with empathy, he represents a modern prototype.

While Lijnders provides a cautionary tale of early setbacks and uncertain futures, Matos appears to be following a more assured trajectory. His work at Maritimo looks less like a stepping stone and more like the foundation of a long-term managerial career.

For those who observed his influence at Liverpool, his rise will feel unsurprising. For those just discovering his work, it is only the beginning.