Vitor Matos is not a name on many lips right now — but it should be. The 38-year-old Portuguese coach has done one of the most impressive managerial jobs in English football this season, and it is only a matter of time before Premier League clubs come calling.

Matos was appointed head coach of Championship side Swansea City last November, walking into a club sitting 20th in the table and staring down the threat of a relegation battle. By the end of last season, he had steered them to a top-half finish. This term, Swansea are among the early pace-setters, with supporters daring to dream of a return to the top flight.

Shaped by Klopp and Porto

Born just outside Porto, Matos has cited José Mourinho's back-to-back UEFA Cup and Champions League triumphs with Porto in 2003 and 2004 as a formative inspiration for his coaching career. He joined Porto's academy setup in 2011 and climbed steadily through the ranks, including a two-year stint with Chinese Super League club Shandong Luneng.

At Porto, Matos crossed paths with Pep Lijnders, who would later become Jurgen Klopp's assistant at Liverpool. When Liverpool sought a new elite development coach in 2019, Matos was the man they called. Klopp himself was effusive in his praise at the time, describing Matos as