Leon Britton Praises New Swansea City Manager Vitor Matos

Leon Britton Praises New Swansea City Manager Vitor Matos

Leon Britton Praises New Swansea City Manager Vitor Matos

Leon Britton has played under 13 different Swansea City managers, coached alongside two, and has even been instrumental in appointing one.

With such extensive experience, few understand what it takes to be a successful manager at Swansea better than Britton.

Although it is still early in Vitor Matos's tenure, Britton has observed promising developments.

"I’ve been highly impressed," said Britton, who has returned to Swansea as a first-team coach under Matos. "His messages are clear regarding what he expects from the players, and that has been evident on the pitch. Even in the short time he’s been here, it’s clear that his ideas have translated into matchdays, which is always a sign of a good manager."

Britton quickly adapted to Matos's approach after answering the call from Swansea, the club where he made over 500 appearances between 2002 and 2018. In November, when Matos was appointed to succeed Alan Sheehan, he initially faced challenges in bringing his staff from former club Maritimo due to employment regulations.

Consequently, Swansea asked Britton and fellow club legend Joe Allen to return as temporary members of Matos's coaching staff. Britton received the unexpected call while traveling to London for a weekend getaway.

By Monday morning, he was back at the training ground. "The club informed me they had appointed a new manager who might need some assistance until his staff was settled in," Britton explained. "When the club calls, I’ve always said I’ll be here to help. It wasn’t even something I had to think about. I was ready to meet the manager and get started right away."

After retiring eight years ago, Britton took a brief hiatus from football, aside from serving as a club ambassador, before becoming an advisor to Swansea’s board. He played a significant role in the recruitment process that led to Steve Cooper's appointment as head coach and was subsequently promoted to sporting director. After a season in that role, Britton decided to step down to take a break from the game, expressing his hope to return to Swansea’s staff in the future.

While the opportunity to assist Matos came unexpectedly, the 43-year-old is hopeful for a long-term role. Initially, it was planned for Britton and Allen to step aside once Matos's Maritimo staff arrived in Wales. However, following the confirmation of four new appointments before Christmas, it was announced that Britton and Allen would remain with the team.

"During the time we have worked together, we have built a good rapport—myself, Joe, the manager, and the rest of the staff," Britton noted. "When the new staff arrived, there was a conversation about my role, and the club expressed a desire for me to stay in a capacity that would benefit both the club and myself. We reached an agreement, which is why I’m still here alongside Joe, actively involved with the manager."

As a first-team coach, Britton participates in daily training and various meetings throughout the week, including discussions on team selection. While he and Allen are present in the stands for home games, they typically do not travel for away matches. Britton envisions this arrangement as a "long-term thing." He stated, "I think it’s a contract that runs until either side is unhappy or wishes to part ways. Hopefully, it will be for a long time."

Matos joined Swansea after spells in his home country and as an assistant at Red Bull Salzburg, having previously spent five years under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. Although Allen had left Liverpool by the time Matos arrived, he has noted similarities to Klopp's methods in recent months.

"Talking with Joey, it’s clear he has absorbed a lot from his time at Liverpool and under Jurgen Klopp," Britton remarked. "The primary focus has been on pressing and counter-pressing, which has been a hallmark of Klopp's teams. You can see this approach reflected in our play, with the players working hard to regain possession when they lose the ball."

While pressing has been Matos's priority, Britton anticipates a greater focus on Swansea's possession play in the coming weeks and months. Britton was part of the squad when Roberto Martinez was appointed manager 19 years ago, a period that marked a significant chapter in Swansea’s history, characterized by a high-possession style of play that continued even after Martinez's departure.

Despite the ongoing discussions about the definition of the 'Swansea Way,' particularly following relegation from the Premier League in 2018, Britton believes that a commitment to dominating games through ball control remains essential. "We emphasize pressing, but this football club has always prioritized ball possession and maintaining control of the game," he said. "Every manager has their own style, but Vitor is passionate, enthusiastic, and a genuinely good person. He seems to have settled into the club and the city very well, and so far, he appears to be a great fit."

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