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Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Pepijn Lijnders’ ambitious move to Red Bull Salzburg in July 2024, following his departure from Liverpool alongside Jürgen Klopp, unraveled rapidly amid tactical turbulence and dressing-room discontent.

The Dutchman, once hailed as the “brains” behind Klopp’s success, brought former Liverpool colleagues Vitor Matos (elite development coach) and fitness specialist Andreas Kornmayer to Austria, aiming to replicate their Anfield blueprint.

However, Salzburg’s sharp decline—from 10-time Bundesliga champions to fifth place, 10 points adrift of leaders Sturm Graz—coupled with a Champions League campaign featuring heavy defeats to Brest (4-0) and Sparta Prague (3-0), led to Lijnders’ sacking in December 2024 after just 29 games.

But despite the ill-fated job, Matos still has faith in himself at the top level.

What did Victor Matos say about becoming a manager?

Vitor Matos spent five years at Liverpool, joining the club in October 2019 as the elite development coach and leaving in November 20243.

During his tenure, he played a crucial role in bridging the gap between the academy and the first team.

Victor Matos of Liverpool at the end of the Carabao Cup Final match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on February 27, 2022 in London, England?

(Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Speaking in an interview with A Bola having now been a free agent since December, the former Liverpool development coach is now eyeing an ambitious step to becoming a head coach:

“I feel prepared and I want to be a head coach,” Matos said.

“Above all, I am very motivated and very ambitious for the role of a coach.”

“It was a natural process, it is something that I have built over time, through experiences and also by getting to know myself,” he explained.

“And that has led me to this moment and to be comfortable with the role of a coach.”

The Portuguese coach also revealed that although he does not have a specific club in mind, he needs to feel a connection with the institution:

“Now, it is time to make things work, right?

And for that to happen, I also think it is important to feel a connection with the club.”

“Which club, I don’t know, but feeling this connection is very important.” “If you ask me if I’d like to reach the Premier League one day, of course I would.”

“It’s obvious that it’s an ambition, but I also know that I want to take my time to be able to reach that level again,” Matos asserted.

“I want to take my time and do things calmly and sustainably, because that’s more important.”

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