Liverpool has added Diogo Paiva to their coaching staff as the new technical skills coach, marking another step in the club’s summer revamp. First reported by Lewis Bower on X, Paiva joins from Porto and will work with both the first team and academy.
At 38 years old, Paiva brings a wealth of experience to the role. He previously collaborated with fellow Portuguese coach Vitor Matos, who played an integral role as Elite Development Coach under Jurgen Klopp. Matos recently left Liverpool for Red Bull Salzburg, where he joined Pep Lijnders and Andreas Kornmayer.
Paiva and Matos first crossed paths at Shandong Luneng in China, and later at Porto, before Matos moved to Liverpool in 2019.
Born in Porto, Paiva began his coaching journey with AC Milan’s youth teams in Portugal. He then spent a year at Monaco, working as a technical director in their academy setup. A brief spell as assistant coach for Portuguese lower-league side SC Espinho followed, but Paiva soon returned to talent development in 2016 when he moved to China to join Shandong Taishan as head of individual player development.
After two years in China, Paiva returned to Porto to take up a similar role. He spent six years developing young talent there and, in 2022, was promoted to U19 assistant coach. He remained in this position until this summer when he made the switch to Liverpool.
Paiva’s arrival follows a path similar to that of Pep Lijnders, who also spent six years at Porto before joining Liverpool. Lijnders progressed from Porto’s U19s to their B team, eventually becoming a technical coach for the first team.
Upon leaving Porto, Paiva shared a heartfelt message on LinkedIn, expressing his gratitude for his time at the club:
“It was a privilege to work with such amazing people, including players who helped me grow as a coach. Leading the Individual Development Project at this club was an honour. I’m confident Porto will continue to grow and develop talented players. I’ll always cherish the memories, especially winning the UEFA Youth League and helping many players reach the first team. I will always be grateful for the opportunity and trust Porto placed in me.”
As with every new appointment, Liverpool will have done thorough research before bringing Paiva on board. The club is confident that his expertise will be a valuable asset to the team.
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