Red Bull Salzburg have named their new manager in Jurgen Klopp assistant Pep Lijnders according to the team. Lijnders is well known for his work as an assistant coach in Liverpool, even writing a book about the 2021-22 season called Intensity: Our Identity.
“I am joining another beautiful club with a strong structure and and even better academy,” said Lijnders. “All of the clubs I’ve been at have been unique, remarkable clubs with a few particular things in common: A one-club mentality where the attack is very important, a true belief to win major trophies and, above all, clubs where passion for the game and ambition to succeed are base for everything.”
Lijnders served as a youth coach for PSV Eindhoven and FC Porto before joining Liverpool. He moved up the ranks, first as a youth coach and then joining the first team staff alongside legendary manager Klopp. While there he raised a Champions League trophy in 2018-19 and then Liverpool’s first league title in the Premier League one year later.
Lijnders, like Klopp, announced his departure from the English club earlier in the year. At the time, Salzburg was still helmed by Gerhard Struber. However a rough patch of results later in the campaign saw to his exit while the club is imperiled with not winning a trophy of any sort for the first time in over a decade.
“He is a football expert,” said Salzburg Sporting Director Bernhard Seonbuchner. “(He) has been a huge influence on a very successful time in Liverpool with his qualities in developing players. The discussions with him were a great success, and there was a clear agreement on the way we want to play.”
Should Salzburg not win the championship this season they’ll be forced to compete in the Europa League, the second division of continental competition in Europe. Despite this potential issue, Lijnders will be getting a team that is overflowing with talent and has historically provided some of the best players on the continent over the last decade.
Lijnders is expected to start with the club this summer in preparation for the 2024-25 campaign.