Pep Lijnders was one of Jurgen Klopp’s closest colleagues but he broke the promise he made the former Reds boss
Pep Lijnders went from working with Jurgen Klopp to Pep Guardiola(Image: Getty Images)
Pep Lijnders went back on the promise he made Jurgen Klopp by becoming a key confidant of Pep Guardiola. The ex-Liverpool coach left Anfield alongside the German at the end of the 2023/24 season.
Once again making the venture into head coaching, the Dutchman signed a three-year deal at RB Salzburg in May 2024 but lasted just seven months after he was sacked shortly before the turn of the year.
Opting to stay out of football until next summer, Lijnders’ next role stunned the Liverpool fanbase as he joined Manchester City to become one of Guardiola’s assistant managers, alongside former City and Liverpool defender Kolo Toure.
In deciding to join forces with the legendary Spaniard who labelled Klopp as his greatest-ever rival, Lijnders broke the promise he made to Klopp. After leaving Liverpool for the second time, the 43-year-old insisted he would never be an assistant to anyone else and pledged his focus towards his managerial career.
He said at the time: “10 years of the club and my boys don’t know anything else, they are Scousers. I owe this club everything. They don’t owe me anything, to be honest.
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp opens up on special Anfield return in unique Kenny Dalglish momentREAD MORE: Jurgen Klopp comparison made as Arne Slot handed Liverpool sack verdict
FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FB PAGE! Latest Reds news and more on our dedicated Facebook page
“It’s 10 years full of dedication. I always said I will finish with Jurgen (Klopp); the moment I will not assist anyone else, that’s the moment I will go and I will manage. That was always the case. So when we spoke, it was clear for me: OK, then I go and manage, and we end this project together [that] we started.
“It’s not easy. My boys, my wife; my boys are two proper Scousers and their whole life they will be. Maybe posh ones! But still! I cannot say thank you enough to everybody involved.”
Pep Lijnders joined forces with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City last summer(Image: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Prior to City’s 2-1 win over Liverpool in February, Guardiola opened up about his decision to hire Lijnders, admitting he felt an instant connection with the Dutchman. The City boss said: “I had a lot of info from other people about him who had been trained or managed by him at Liverpool.
“I needed to refresh myself first with new people who have incredible knowledge about the game and the Premier League and I love a lot many things that he did with Jurgen at Liverpool.
“We talked one day, I think we felt connected immediately. I am incredibly lucky that since the first day I started as a manager [with] all my backroom staff and close people and Pep is one of them.”
Lijnders worked with Klopp for almost the entirety of the German’s Anfield reign(Image: Getty Images)
Lijnders’ contribution to the Citizens this season has already brought silverware with City defeating Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final last month. A domestic cup double is still on the cards with City hosting Liverpool on Saturday in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
It’ll be Lijnders on the touchline managing City as he aims to knock his ex-club out of the competition with Guardiola serving a two-match ban.
England’s 2026 World Cup kits
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Various Prices
England Official Store
Buy Now on England Official Store
England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code: ENGFREEDEL