Liverpool have amongst their staff some of the most highly-rated coaches in the world.
Jurgen Klopp is, of course, the man to lead the setup, but he is far from the only one, with the likes of Pep Lijnders alongside him providing great tactical insight and working individually with players who love his sessions.
Portuguese Vitor Matos, who 32-years-old, is another one who has a vital role to play.
Around the time of Matos' arrival at Liverpool, back in October last year, Lijnders said: "For me, he is our best signing this season… he is a talented coach, a very intelligent coach. We have already seen the impact he has made on them."
The duo knew one another well from their time in Portugal, where they worked closely alongside each other in FC Porto's academy.
When Liverpool needed someone who could fill the void left behind by Lijnders in his role as elite development coach, Lijnders himself knew just the right man.
But to get Matos to take the role took a fight from Liverpool, with Porto reluctant to let their highly-regarded man leave - understandably, given the role that he had performed there.
Jose Tavares, who has held a senior role at FC Porto's academy setup for more than a decade, worked with Matos and Lijnders at the Portuguese club.
Speaking on an exclusive Blood Red podcast, he explained: "Vitor was someone that left for another project in China and then we fought for him to return to the club.
"It was not about missing Vitor, but a great club like FC Porto needs great coaches who can take the players to another level.
Listen to the full Pep Lijnders and Vitor Matos podcast by clicking HERE
"We fought for him to come and he accepted the invitation. We had a good pathway for him and we fought for him to stay but when Jurgen Klopp calls, it’s quite difficult to say ‘no’!"
It is well-known that Lijnders was crucial to the move, with the Dutchman recommending his former Porto teammate to Liverpool.
Lijnders and Matos both worked at Porto together before the former moved to Merseyside. Matos spent around two years in China before moving back to Porto, and then made the move to join up with Lijnders once more.
Tavares added: "Pepijn was responsible for some projects here in the academy and Vitor was head coach of the youngest team, so they trained many times together and created a good relationship.
"It is mainly because of the professional side - when you are good, you always know which ones are good as well!
"Pepijn knew that Vitor was one of the best as well. I know that they really connected and when Pepijn departed, they continued with the relationship.
"Vitor’s choice was not a surprise but it was a great, great call from Pepijn and Liverpool."
