Salzburg appoint Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders as head coach

Pepijn Lijnders will take over as head coach of Red Bull Salzburg after leaving Liverpool, Soccernet.football reports.

The Dutchman was announced as the new boss of the Austrian Bundesliga side this afternoon, marking his next career move as he departs the Reds at the end of the 2023-24 season, as per Sky Sports

Joining him in Salzburg will be Vitor Matos, who will become their assistant coach after serving as Liverpool’s elite development coach for four-and-a-half years.

“I am very proud to become the new head coach of FC Red Bull Salzburg,” said Lijnders. “This is a real privilege for me. After PSV Eindhoven, FC Porto, and Liverpool FC, I am now moving to another exceptional club with a strong focus on youth development.

“I want to develop a mentality with the team that emphasizes an attacking style of play, where passion and hunger for success are the foundation 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.

“My family has visited the city before and was overwhelmed by its beauty and the friendliness of the people. That was the final, important step in choosing FC Red Bull Salzburg.”

Lijnders joined Liverpool in 2014 as the U16s coach at the Academy and became the first-team development coach in 2015. He initially worked under Brendan Rodgers and remained with the senior setup after Jürgen Klopp was appointed manager later that year.

After a brief stint managing NEC Nijmegen in the Netherlands, Lijnders returned to Liverpool as assistant manager ahead of the 2018-19 season.

Matos arrived from FC Porto in October 2019, taking on a role previously held by Lijnders and serving as an important link between the Academy and the senior team.

Both Lijnders and Matos have been key figures in Klopp’s coaching staff during a period in which Liverpool won seven major honours, including the Premier League and Champions League.

Lijnders and Matos are among several backroom staff members departing the club alongside Klopp after Sunday’s season finale against Wolverhampton Wanderers.