Swansea’s Vitor Matos turns fast start into a statement of identity

Matos wants Swansea’s style to outlast the early-season headlines

Vitor Matos has guided Swansea City to the top of the Championship after eight games, but the manager insists performances and identity matter more to him than the league table.

“I'm happy with the start more than the results,” Matos told Sky Sports. “It's the style and the feeling that when you go to watch us play, you have a good feeling. We are happy when you are out, especially our fans.”

The high-energy, high-pressing approach has quickly connected Matos with supporters. He believes Swansea’s established football culture helped make that connection possible, with the club aiming to restore an offensive, possession-based identity while remaining aggressive and competitive against every opponent.

“We and the owners wanted to bring back and put the team closer to the style it was always recognised for, an offensive one, with the ball, trying to be dominant and aggressive, but at the same time able to compete against every team,” Matos said.

The challenge of sustaining momentum

Matos is conscious that strong starts can fade during the demanding 46-game Championship season. For him, the key is turning tactical ideas into a lasting club culture rather than treating them as a short-term formula.

“When you start believing in that and make it a proper style and culture of being in the club, then it's possible,” he said. “Of course, it's hard. Of course, you have different oppositions who demand different things sometimes, but the core ideas, the main principles, they need to be there.”

Lessons from five years at Liverpool

Before moving into senior management, Matos spent five years at Liverpool as an elite development coach, working closely with Jurgen Klopp and the wider coaching staff. He says exposure to Premier League and Champions League standards, along with elite training environments, played a major role in his development.

“I was lucky to work with Jurgen for that long,” Matos said, also highlighting the influence of Pep Lijnders and Peter Krawietz. “The level was so high and so demanding that, of course, it shapes you. I learned a lot and I still learn a lot.”

Although Klopp is now in charge of the German national team, Matos says their relationship remains close and that he can still turn to his former colleague for advice. “I have a lot more questions for Jurgen than he has for me!” he joked.

A return to English football

Matos left Liverpool in 2024 to join Lijnders at RB Salzburg as an assistant, before returning to Portugal for his first senior managerial role with Maritimo. After five months there, he took over at Swansea last November.

The move fulfilled a long-standing ambition to return to English football. Matos says the opportunity became an easy decision once his values aligned with those of Swansea’s owners and club.

Having wanted to coach since he was 15, Matos says he remains focused on the next training session and next match rather than dwelling on the speed of his rise. For now, Swansea’s supporters are enjoying a team that reflects the identity their manager set out to build.