Pep Lijnders leaves Liverpool

Pep Lijnders has left Liverpool to become head coach of Dutch club NEC Nijmegen.

The 34-year-old was Liverpool’s first-team development coach and a key member of Klopp’s coaching staff. He had been at the club since 2014 after previously working with PSV Eindhoven and Porto.

His exit is with immediate effect and Reds’ boss Jürgen Klopp has admitted that he is “gutted” to lose him.

Klopp said: “It’s such a strange mix of emotions talking about Pep leaving us.

“Firstly, I am gutted to be losing such a valuable member of our coaching team and such a brilliant person from our group.

“But that is tempered by the fact I am very excited for him to have this opportunity and as much as we would have loved for him to remain with us, we cannot stand in his way for what is a fantastic opportunity.

“It is hard to undersell the role Pep played in helping us settle, educating us about football life in England and then contributing ideas to the progress and development of this team.

“He has such a big football brain, but it’s his willingness to learn and absorb information and always look to improve and be better as a coach that makes him stand out.

“Of course, one of his biggest legacies at LFC will be the development and integration into the first-team squad of so many young and exciting players.

“The role he played in making us aware of these players and then helping us get the best out of them will have a lasting impact here, beyond him leaving.

“On the personal side, his wonderful family have also become part of our lives and we will miss them so much.

“There will be no greater supporter of NEC Nijmegen in Liverpool than me and I know this is the very start of a long journey for Pep – one where he will undoubtedly become a success.”

Klopp also spoke very highly of his assistant back in May last year. At the time, the Liverpool manager commented: “I cannot imagine how it would be without him.”

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A note from Lijnders published on the official LFC website reads: “I could write for hours thanking the people at Liverpool who have helped me since I came here and the decision to leave has not been easy.

“In general terms I would like to thank all the amazing players and staff at Melwood and the Academy at Kirkby, who I’ve been privileged to work with. Also, at Anfield – that is such a special place with special people and I never took for granted going to work at one of the greatest stadiums in the world every other week.

“This club is so, so lucky to have someone of Jürgen’s calibre leading its football team – he is world-class, truly world-class and I hope to take many of the great lessons I learned from him, Zeljko Buvac, Peter Krawietz and John Achterberg into my own future leading a side.

“Working with the first-team squad was magical. They confirmed every day that everything starts and ends with passion for the game. With the quality this club already has in the building, only time is against this project.

“You don’t really say goodbye to Liverpool Football Club, because you will always have to represent its honesty and passion wherever you go. It’s a stamp on your back.

“I’m proud of each day that I could represent them directly and I will give my best to do so in my next chapter. Hopefully they will be proud of me as well.”