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Vitor Matos is in his second head coach role at Swansea having had a brief stint as Maritimo boss Head coach Vitor Matos says he does not know whether his backroom team from former club Maritimo will be granted permission to join him at Swansea City. Matos wants fellow Portuguese Diogo Medeiros, his former Maritimo number two, coach Toze Mendes and analyst and coach Goncalo Ricca on his staff at Swansea. But 10 days after Matos was appointed successor to Alan Sheehan, the Welsh club are still waiting for news on whether the trio will be cleared to work in Wales. "It's something that is not in the control of the club, " Matos said. "It's a legal process that came with Brexit, so that's the problem. " The United Kindgom left the European Union in 2020, ending the automatic right for European Union citizens to live and work in the UK. Matos, who spent five years on Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool coaching staff after joining in 2019, added: "I was here [working] a long time before so I was completely fine. The staff [were] not, so they need to go through all the process and this process takes time. " Swansea require clearance from the Home Office and the Football Association before they can appoint Medeiros, Mendes and Ricca. Matos acknowledged that while he remains hopeful that his former colleagues will eventually join him in the Swansea dugout, the club "don't know" for sure if that will happen. Latest Swansea City news, analysis and fan views Listen to the latest Swansea City chat and interviews on BBC Sounds https: //www. bbc. co. uk/sport/football/articles/c3w7x6j9wd5o "We did everything they (the relevant authorities) asked us for and that's how it is, " Matos added. "Now it needs to be the panel to make a decision and we wait for that. " Matos has so far been working alongside long-serving coach Kristian O'Leary and head of goalkeeping Martyn Margetson at Swansea, with club legends Leon Britton and Joe Allen also joining his staff on a short-term basis. When asked whether working without his familiar backroom team was making his job harder, Matos said: "I would not say harder, but different. I think different is a right word because my coaching staff knows the way I want to play, knows the way I build that way of playing, and that's different if they are not here. "Joey and Leon have been absolutely brilliant trying to understand what I want and at the same time giving me the background of the team, of the club and of the players. "I'm really happy to have them with me, they are legends of the club and I respect that a lot. So the right answer is different of course. " Swansea have lost their two games under Matos, at home to Derby County and at West Bromwich Albion last weekend. They are only outside the Championship relegation zone on goal difference having suffered five straight league defeats in total, with the pressure on to halt the slide when they host 20th-placed Oxford United on Saturday. 'No more Average Joe as Root century seals all-time great status' Premier League: Build-up to Man Utd v West Ham United Trump and Infantino - too close for comfort? Jon Bon Jovi shares his favourite records Get ready for The War Between the Land and the Sea Harry, Jennie and Marc look back on a dramatic Qatar Grand Prix Robbie Savage takes on his first football manager job 'No more Average Joe as Root century seals all-time great status' Trump and Infantino - too close for comfort? 'I'm too driven. .. I never settle for not good enough' - Verstappen in-depth on title race Who has the most and least gruelling December among Premier League teams? The World Cup draw is here - this is how it will work Leeds stun Chelsea to end four-game losing streak. Video Leeds stun Chelsea to end four-game losing streak Mukiele own goal hands Liverpool draw with Sunderland. Video Mukiele own goal hands Liverpool draw with Sunderland What's on Nancy's Celtic to-do list? A draw with a winner? The routes to northern glory at 2027 World Cup Success in 2025 - are the Lionesses ready for 2026? Where F1 title may be won and lost in three-way fight 'As if she won Champions League' - Kendall's special night for England Eleven and hell - the cost of Newcastle's dropped points Phoebe's Five - top moments from NFL week 13. Video Phoebe's Five - top moments from NFL week 13 BBC to show Sabalenka v Kyrgios in 'Battle of Sexes' 'A fearless hero for hapless England' - Robin Smith obituary What's behind snooker's 147 boom? '150th Open champion Smith needs more than a cool number plate' When F1 title has gone to a final-race three-way fight 'Raise hell' - the fastest bowler you might not have heard of Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.

