What new Man City coach Pep Lijnders refused to say at Liverpool speaks volumes
Pep Lijnders' move to Manchester City has been met with raised eyebrows after he spent almost 10 years at Liverpool, but it seems Pep Guardiola has appointed himself a coach who has a fearless streak
Pep Guardiola has bolstered his coaching team with the addition of former Liverpool man Pep Lijnders, who's got a reputation for his adept handling of high-profile figures.
Manchester City confirmed Lijnders' appointment on Tuesday, signalling Guardiola's intent to revamp the club's backroom staff for the 2025/26 campaign.
Lijnders brings a decade of experience from his time at Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp and has previously opened up about his role as the German's right-hand man – a position that demanded managing one of football's most vibrant personalities.
Following a short-lived tenure as manager at Red Bull Salzburg, which concluded in December, Lijnders has returned to English football to work alongside another of the sport's biggest characters, Guardiola. However, it would be a mistake to consider the Dutch coach as merely a 'yes man.'
Back in July 2020, Lijnders claimed that he had a handle on Klopp's powerful and superstar-like temperament, as the duo forged an off-pitch relationship over racquet sport, padel.
"Jurgen is fanatical about it – and he's good, too," Lijnders said. "But we never say he's the best out loud – otherwise he starts to walk around like Conor McGregor."
Lijnders comments are no doubt respectful to his former boss, despite the likening his unchecked ego to that of former UFC star McGregor. Yet reading between the lines, his remarks show a man who is unafraid to say it how it is.
The former Reds coach also appears fearless when it comes to discussing some of Klopp's less attractive attributes in public. Lijnders' comments go some way to show that he's a coach that can keep major characters in check, as demonstrated by his refusal to massage his former boss' ego, as per the Mirror.
Lijnders' move to join City has sparked debate amongst some Liverpool supporters. He previously left Liverpool for a stint at NEC Nijmegen in early 2018 but returned to help transform the team into Premier League champions and secure their sixth European Cup, along with other silverware.
Despite his success, Lijnders' departure to City is surprising given his past declaration about his future in coaching. "I owe this club everything," he said to Liverpool's official website in February 2024.
"I always said I will finish with Jurgen; the moment I will not assist anyone else, that's the moment I will go and I will manage. That was always the case."
Nevertheless, the opportunity to work at one of the Premier League's top clubs and under a manager of Pep Guardiola's calibre may be too enticing to pass up, no matter one's loyalty to a previous club.
Six months after being dismissed by Salzburg, where his record stood at 13 wins from 29 matches, Lijnders joins City. His reputation as an assistant remains impressive however, with Klopp frequently lauding his former deputy.
"I have been lucky enough to meet many, many people in football during my time in the game and I don't think I have ever met anyone with the energy and enthusiasm he has for this game," Klopp said about Lijnders in 2023.
"I think I have said in the past, there is nothing he does not know about this sport. His passion for it is remarkable and his enthusiasm in training each day is infectious."
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