In a move that has sent shockwaves through the football world, Pepijn Lijnders, the former right-hand man to Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, has agreed to join Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at Manchester City. The 42-year-old Dutchman, who spent nearly a decade at Anfield, is set to return to the Premier League in a senior assistant role, marking a dramatic shift from his previous stance of only assisting Klopp. This unexpected alliance between Klopp’s trusted lieutenant and his fiercest rival promises to reshape the dynamics at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City gear up for the 2025-26 season and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Lijnders’ journey to this point has been one of ambition and resilience. Having served as Liverpool’s assistant manager across two spells totaling nine-and-a-half years, he played a pivotal role in the club’s golden era under Klopp. His tactical acumen helped Liverpool secure the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and two Carabao Cups. Klopp himself lauded Lijnders’ impact, calling him “the most influential guy in the last years at this club” and an “inspiration” whose work was “absolutely exceptional.” Their partnership, which began when Lijnders joined as an academy coach in 2014 and evolved into Klopp’s assistant in 2015, was marked by a deep synergy that transformed Liverpool into a European powerhouse. After a brief separation in 2018, they reunited for another six seasons, cementing their legacy.
Following Klopp’s departure from Liverpool in the summer of 2024, Lijnders sought to carve his own path as a head coach. He took charge of Red Bull Salzburg, a club with a storied history of dominating the Austrian Bundesliga. However, his tenure was short-lived, lasting just 28 games before his sacking in December 2024, with Salzburg trailing league leaders Sturm Graz by 10 points. Lijnders’ record of 13 wins in 29 matches fell short of expectations for a club accustomed to success, marking his second unsuccessful stint as a head coach after a brief and ill-fated spell at Dutch side NEC in 2018. Despite these setbacks, his reputation as a brilliant tactician remained intact, making his move to Manchester City a coup for Guardiola.
The decision to join City comes as a surprise, given Lijnders’ earlier declaration that he would only assist Klopp. In a 2023 interview, he stated, “I said before, I only want to assist Jürgen. After that, I go for myself.” Yet, the opportunity to work under Guardiola, widely regarded as one of football’s greatest minds, appears to have swayed him. Guardiola, facing a challenging season with Manchester City finishing third in the Premier League, has overseen a major backroom reshuffle. Assistants Juanma Lillo, Carlos Vicens, and Íñigo Domínguez have departed, with Vicens taking the helm at Braga in Portugal. Lijnders’ arrival, alongside the potential promotion of former Liverpool defender Kolo Touré from City’s academy, signals Guardiola’s intent to inject fresh ideas into his coaching setup as he aims to reverse City’s fortunes.
The move is particularly poignant given the historic rivalry between Klopp’s Liverpool and Guardiola’s Manchester City. The two managers, who first clashed in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, redefined the Premier League with their tactical brilliance. Their battles produced the four highest points totals in the competition’s history, with City edging out Liverpool by a single point in both 2018-19 and 2021-22. Lijnders’ decision to join City, a club Klopp once described as “the best team in the world,” adds a layer of intrigue to this storied rivalry. While Klopp has moved to a new role as Red Bull’s head of global soccer, plans for a reunion with Lijnders at Salzburg were scuttled by the latter’s dismissal.
City’s preparations for the Club World Cup, set to begin on June 12, 2025, in the United States, add urgency to Lijnders’ integration. The club is also active in the transfer market, with talks underway to sign Lyon’s Rayan Cherki and AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders for over £55 million. Lijnders’ expertise in training ground preparation and matchday strategy will be crucial as City aim to reclaim domestic and European dominance. His appointment has sparked mixed reactions among fans, with some Liverpool supporters expressing disbelief at seeing Klopp’s protégé align with their rivals. Others, however, see it as a testament to Lijnders’ ambition to learn from another managerial titan.
As Manchester City look to bounce back from a disappointing campaign, Lijnders’ arrival could mark a turning point. His tactical insights, honed under Klopp’s high-pressing philosophy, may complement Guardiola’s possession-based approach, creating a hybrid style that could redefine City’s play. For Lijnders, this move represents a chance to rebuild his reputation and contribute to another chapter of Premier League history, albeit in the unlikeliest of settings.[](https://www.si.com/soccer/jurgen-klopp-favourite-agrees-join-pep-guardiola-man-city)[](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6391086/2025/05/30/pep-lijnders-manchester-city/)[](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14767319/Ex-Liverpool-assistant-agrees-join-Man-City-coaching-staff-Pep-Guardiola-enlists-Jurgen-Klopps-former-right-hand-man-backroom-reshuffle.html)
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