Jurgen Klopp’s right-hand man Pep Lijnders appointed RB Salzburg manager

Departing Liverpool assistant coach Pep Lijnders has been appointed Austrian club, Red Bull Salzburg's new manager, the club announced on Wednesday (May 15).Lijnders, who initially worked under Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool, went on to become Klopp's right-hand man as the duo brought great success to one of the biggest clubs in world football.

Vitor Matis will join Lijnders as the assistant at Salzburg, having spentfour-and-a-half years as Liverpool's elite development coach.

“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, Porto and Liverpool, I am now moving to another exceptional club with a really good structure and a particular focus on youth development," he added.

Having joined the Merseyside club in 2014, Lijnders was one of the pivotal figures in helping the club win its sixth Champions League title in 2019 and the Premier League trophy in the subsequent year.

“I want to develop a mentality with the team that places a lot of emphasis on attacking style of play and where passion and hunger for success are the basis of everything," said Lijnders.

'End of the project'

After Klopp announced he was leaving Liverpool as the head coach at the end of the 23-24 season, Lijnders also iterated his desire to leave the club as it was the end of a cycle. The Dutch manager made it clear that he would be taking a managerial job after the Liverpoolassignment.

"Nah. I was really cleartobe honest. When we had the talk a long time ago, for me it was clear. It made it easier for me when he [Klopp] said 'this will be it'. We knew in the summer already 'OK, we are going towards the end of this project'"

"I have given already answers in interviews. So we spoke, I gotthe lastyearoffers and my heart says yes, but my loyalty, respect and friendship to Mike [Gordon] and Jurgen said 'no'. Soonthe moment we spoke we agreed to finish this project together, then I will go and manage," Lijnders added.

Klopp and Lijnders will be bidding adieu to the Liverpool fans at Anfield on Sunday (May 19) when the club squares up against Wolverhampton Wanderers for the last match of the season. Liverpool have sought another Dutch manager, Arne Slot, as the potential candidate to replace Klopp at the job.

(With inputs from agencies)