When Jurgen Klopp made his decision to leave Liverpool, it went under the radar that the club also confirmed Pep Lijnders will be leaving with him. The Dutchman has been key in Klopp’s success over the years and has really risen up the ranks at Liverpool.
Initially, Lijnders started out working at the club’s academy after arriving from Porto. He then gradually worked his way up to the first team and ultimately assumed the position of an assistant manager under Klopp. A role where Lijnders has thrived and played a key role in implementing decisive changes – such as moving Trent Alexander-Arnold into a ‘double six’ inverted midfield role.
Lijnders has been credited with being the brains behind Klopp’s operation, and he is regarded as one of the brightest coaches coming through in world football at the moment. It’s no surprise that the likes of Ajax have coveted his services recently.
Given his brilliant footballing mind, it would therefore be in the interest of the club to dissuade Lijnders from leaving. Klopp has made it clear his mind won’t be changed. However, FSG could perhaps convince Lijnders otherwise. Especially with an enticing offer, Phil Thompson has suggested most fans of club would be on board with.
What new role Phil Thompson would be happy for Pep Lijnders to take at Liverpool
Speaking on talkSPORT, former Liverpool legend Phil Thompson has suggested there might be a way to convince the Dutchman to stay at the club.
“I don’t think he’d [Lijnders] have too many objectors [to replace Klopp], Liverpool fans, if they know enough about the club and the people behind the scenes and the back-up staff for Jurgen,” Thompson said. He then went onto explain why he thinks Lijnders could be a potential candidate to succeed Klopp.
“Pep Lijnders is a fantastic coach and if you watch him on the training ground, he is full of it, full of energy and ideas. I would have no problems with him being it. If they announced it I would say yes. There must be something else in the offing for Pep Lijnders. Whatever he does, if he goes with Klopp on his own, I will wish him that best but if he was offered the job I would like to think Pep would have considered it at least.”
There have been many rumours about potential successors to Jurgen Klopp’s throne. But surprisingly few have mentioned Lijnders as a viable candidate. The 41-year-old does seem like an almost natural successor to Klopp.
His been taking a lot of Klopp’s press conferences when Liverpool have been playing in the League Cup, and he’s gradually earned one promotion after another at Liverpool. In Thompson’s days, when the likes of Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan made similar progressions from the Anfield boot room, Lijnders would have been the obvious candidate.
Now though, there are other potential managers on Liverpool’s radar. Including a candidate in Xabi Alonso, who has similar links to Liverpool but a lot more proven quality as head coach at the top level of the game in comparison to Lijnders. In modern football, that experience trumps everything else.
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