The hierarchy at Swansea City are acutely aware of the importance of their next managerial decision.
The team in the Championship has experienced a concerning drop in league position recently, securing only 10 points across a dozen matches before their game against Derby County on Tuesday evening.
Former Liverpool duo tasked with turning Swansea around
In most seasons, there’s a club that unexpectedly finds itself facing relegation from the Championship. Last year, many expected Luton Town to quickly bounce back to the Premier League, but they ended up being relegated instead. Birmingham City were in sixth place when they decided to replace John Eustace with Wayne Rooney in October of the previous year, only to be relegated to League One six months later.
Swansea will be determined to prevent this fate from befalling them this season, although Norwich City and Sheffield United are currently below the Welsh team and are also candidates for that unwanted outcome.
To halt their decline, Swansea have brought in Vitor Matos, who previously coached elite development at Liverpool, as their new head coach.
The 37-year-old from Portugal was with Anfield for five years under Jurgen Klopp, helping to connect the academy with the senior team and working with players like Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, and Jarell Quansah.
Matos departed Liverpool in 2024 to join Red Bull Salzburg, before taking on his first managerial position at Maritimo, a second-tier Portuguese team, in June. He is still relatively new to being a head coach.
He was in the stands on Saturday at Ashton Gate, observing his new team for the first time. He was scheduled to be managing from the touchline against Derby, assisted by two individuals with extensive knowledge of Swansea.
Joe Allen, a Swansea icon who retired from playing at the end of the previous season, is joining Matos to “aid with the transition,” according to the club. The former Wales midfielder, aged 35, also had a spell at Anfield, playing for Liverpool from 2012 to 2016.
Another addition to the coaching staff is Leon Britton, a fellow Swansea midfielder with a long history at the club. He played a key role in their promotion to the Premier League in 2011 and helped them maintain their position in the top division.
Swansea has also stated that they are supporting Matos in putting together a support team that “provides the necessary backing and skills to maximize his chances of success.”
However, the most pressing task for the new manager will be to stop the team’s current slide and help them focus on moving up the standings rather than falling further down.
