Lijnders’ move to Manchester City sent shockwaves through the footballing world, given his deep ties to Liverpool, City’s fierce rivals. Having spent nearly a decade at Anfield across two spells, Lijnders was a cornerstone of Klopp’s staff, contributing to Liverpool’s Premier League triumph in 2020, their 2019 Champions League victory, and a host of other trophies, including the FA Cup, two League Cups, the FIFA Club World Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup. His tactical acumen and innovative training methods earned high praise, with Klopp himself describing Lijnders as “the most influential guy” at Liverpool during his tenure.
Life After Liverpool
After leaving Liverpool alongside Klopp in the summer of 2024, Lijnders took on his second managerial role at RB Salzburg but was sacked in December 2024 after just six months, with the team languishing in fifth place in the Austrian Bundesliga. Despite this setback, his reputation as a top-tier assistant remained intact, and Guardiola, seeking to reinvigorate his coaching team after a disappointing season, personally reached out to Lijnders. Guardiola consulted Klopp and former Liverpool player Adam Lallana to gauge Lijnders’ fit, receiving glowing endorsements.
Explaining His Decision
Lijnders has been clear about his conditions for returning to Liverpool: "When Liverpool asked me back after NEC, I would never have taken the job if I had just been offered the chance to go back as a number two." he told the Daily Mirror.
"I was given a lot more responsibility. Jurgen made me do press conferences, match discussions, basically everything he did himself. He always said 'we do this job together', and that's really how it was."
Lijnders himself acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but saw it as an unmissable opportunity. After a phone call with Guardiola discussing footballing principles and responsibilities, Lijnders signed his contract without compensation to Salzburg, allowing him to join City immediately. He has chosen to keep his family in the Netherlands, planning regular visits to Manchester, reflecting his desire for stability after a turbulent managerial stint.
