Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool assistant gets new job as first-team coach before season ends
Jurgen Klopp's assistant Pepijn Lijnders has left Liverpool to become the new manager of RB Salzburg.
Lijnders will sign for the Austrian club on a three-year deal this summer, having spent close to a decade at Liverpool.
The 41-year-old was already ready to leave the Reds after Jurgen Klopp He made the decision to resign earlier this year.
“I am very proud to become the new coach of FC Red Bull Salzburg,” said Lijnders, who will be joined by Liverpool development coach Vitor Matos as his number 2.
“This is a real privilege for me. After PSV Eindhoven, FC Porto and Liverpool FC, I now move to another exceptional club with a very good structure and a particular focus on youth development.
“I want to develop a mentality in the team that places a lot of emphasis on the offensive style of play and where passion and hunger for success are the basis of everything.
“Together with my assistant coach Vitor Matos and the entire support team, we will do everything possible to help the club continue to grow in a constantly changing world of football.
“My family had visited the city before and was impressed by its beauty and the friendliness of its people. That was the last and important step for me in choosing FC Red Bull Salzburg.”
This will be Lijnders' second role as manager, after a brief spell as coach of Dutch club NEC Nijmegen, which he held for seven months.
He returned to Anfield after being sacked for failing to gain promotion to the Eredivisie.
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Lijnders first joined Liverpool in 2014 as coach of the under-16 team before quickly impressing his bosses and being promoted to first-team development coach in 2015.
The Dutchman initially worked under Brendan Rodgers before staying with the senior squad after Klopp's arrival.
Following his time at NEC Nijmegen, Lijnders returned to Liverpool as assistant manager ahead of the 2018/19 campaign, a role he has held since.
Lijnders is just one of several Liverpool staff who will depart this summer, along with Matos, as Feyenoord Boss Arne Slot seems ready to take charge from Klopp.
The Dutchman will arrive with his own backroom and his renowned sports director. michael edward has returned to his previous role.
