LIVERPOOL ASSISTANT MANAGER Pep Lijnders is to become the new head coach at Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg after his departure from Anfield at the end of the season.
The Dutchman, who had initially worked at Liverpool under Brendan Rodgers, will leave the Merseysiders along with current manager Jurgen Klopp come the conclusion of the Premier League campaign.
Liverpool added Wednesday that Vitor Matos, who spent four-and-a-half years as the club’s elite development coach, will also be joining Salzburg as assistant to Lijnders.
“I am very proud to become the new head coach of FC Red Bull Salzburg,” Lijnders told Liverpool’s club website.
“This is a real privilege for me. After PSV Eindhoven, Porto and Liverpool, I am now moving to another exceptional club with a really good structure and a particular focus on youth development.
“I want to develop a mentality with the team that places a lot of emphasis on attacking 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 our best to help the club continue to grow in an ever-changing football world.”
He’ll have learned a lot at Liverpool over the years. Hope it works out for him.
@ecrowley ecrowley: coming second will come in handy alright.
@paulie: Ah Paulie (like talking to a Wall-ie)
@paulie: Yeah. He won every cup available in under 5 years. He probably learned nothing.
@Louis Jacob: he was there 9
@Louis Jacob: you aren’t seriously counting the 2 domestic cups for squad players and the two exhibition kick abouts for fifa and uefa are you.
@paulie: you stopped counting them? When did that happen? When it did not suit you no more? Jeez , stop moving the goalposts!
@Graham: the two domestic cups haven’t been relevant in about 20 years even Wycombe wanderers put out the reserves and the exhibition kick abouts never counted 2019 a team from new Caledonia was in it made up of fishermen butchers bakers and candlestick makers.
@paulie: last year, I swear, the talk about the Carabou cup being major was deafening. All of a sudden, there was lists compiled of major trophies being thrown around like crazy. Strangely, this February, it became irrelevant again. Just saying.
@Graham: spot on graham.
Great servant to Liverpool…Best of luck to him & you never know, might see him back at Liverpool!
A season of match reports on them on the 42 like when the fella was at rangers.
@paulie: for once I agree with you. Gerard was non stop, much like that guy that did well at Ajax, but weekly, sometimes daily drivel about how useless he is.
Not often the assistant works well as boss. Look at all those who were right hand men to Fergie … failed. Ljinders may or may not succeed, he had one of the best coaches to learn from, but can he handle personalities? That seems to be the biggest challenge now.
@Graham: He puts a lot of emphasis on youth development so hopefully he doesn’t have to deal with too many egos and is given a chance. He seems very enthusiastic and I think he’ll get players onside pretty quick.
@ecrowley ecrowley: yeah, starting from the kids and bringing them through is the only sustainable way. Hopefully he can continue it there.
@Graham: Not being an expert on the Austrian league I’d imagine the culture is to develop players and sell for big money. I think it’s the ideal league to ply his trade first time. And it’s a big enough club that it’ll be easy to gauge how good a job he does.
@ecrowley ecrowley: true. Salzburg seems to be a feeder for German clubs. Lots of young talent developed.
@Graham: Exactly, perfect gig for him.
@Graham: It does seem to be the biggest challenge now. At the top teams, the players seem to control the narrative, but the likes of Klopp, Pep ,Simeone, and Anchelotti are the exception for now. Where are the next batch of managers coming from?
@David Staed: yeah, it’s the whole social media generation. Managers need to have control of this, keep players grounded. Great players gone to waste. Pogba should have been so much more.