.Tom Hamilton, Senior Citizen WriterOct 2, 2024, 05:30 AM ETClose u2022 Joined ESPN in 2011 u2022 Dealt with pair of Olympics, a pair of Rugby Globe Cups and also 2 British & Irish Lions excursions u2022 Previously rugby publisher, and came to be senior writer in 2018The wall surfaces of Pep Lijnders' garage in his brand new Salzburg home are actually still bare.The unpacked containers on the flooring have memories of his experience coming from mentoring pupil at PSV to ending up being Ju00fcrgen Klopp's "equal companion" at Liverpool, as Klopp phones it. There are mounted photographes, tee shirts and also suit rounds coming from the several finals he aided the crew reach.But there is another memento he cherishes most importantly as it sums up what he's passionate about cultivating young people, as well as seeing them develop on football's most significant phase. Beside among the complement rounds coming from the 2019 Champions Game ultimate is actually a photo from the events after Liverpool's accomplishment. It is actually a photo of Lijnders with Trent Alexander-Arnold on his spine. Alexander-Arnold mounted it and gave it to him when Lijnders left Liverpool alongside Klopp in May. The caption goes through: "This is my much-loved photo people, too. Thanks for definitely EVERYTHING. Without you, none of it was actually possible. Trent." Lijnders has actually acquired web pages and pages of training treatments dating back 20 years. His quest started in 2002 as youth instructor at PSV, in 2006 he transferred to FC Porto, after that in 2014 he worked through the Liverpool positions to become a coach under Brendan Rodgers as well as Klopp, just before he made a decision to check out his own throughout a chastening incantation as NEC Nijmegen manager in 2018. He went back to Liverpool six months later on with excellent success and, as Klopp told ESPN NL in August, Lijnders was actually the German's footballing "motivation for the final 9 years." Editor's Picks2 RelatedLijnders is now embarking on another trip at FC Salzburg, wanting to funnel impacts like Johan Cruyff, the father of Dutch "Complete Regulation Football," Italian ideal and also hvac Milan legend Arrigo Sacchi, and also ex-Feyenoord supervisor Wiel Coerver while instilling his own philosophy as a "counter-pressing beast," as Klopp puts it. However this isn't Liverpool 2.0, and he is actually not staying under Klopp's wing.The pathway coming from assistant under a prominent boss to manager in your personal right is a well-trodden one. There are actually results stories: Mikel Arteta left Pep Guardiola's conservation in 2019 for the Toolbox task as well as has actually done exceptionally effectively in a brief area of your time Josu00e9 Mourinho was actually assistant to Bobby Robson at Barcelona before bursting out on his own to turn into one of the most productive supervisors of all time brand-new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca worked under Guardiola while the excellent Joe Fagan took what he learned from famous duo Expense Shankly and also Bob Paisley to guide Liverpool to silverware in the 1980s. But at that point there are actually the sign of things to come too: In 1998, Brian Kidd's period at Blackburn lasted 11 months after seven trophy-laden years at Manchester United with Sir Alex Ferguson John Carver flourished under Robson and Alan Pardew at Newcastle but flopped when he commanded as sitter in 2015. So, it's keeping that history of changability that Lijnders is actually going it alone at Salzburg. He wishes his staff to become understood for his plan of footballing "intensity." However he won't be given too long a moratorium. His crew have helped make a measured begin-- gaining eight coming from 14 video games, but dropping 4-0 to Brest in the Champions Organization on Tuesday-- and while it is actually a group renowned for youth progression, the supporters count on excellence offered final season was their 1st without silverware for a years." We're attempting to generate a team that can trump anybody in planet football," Lijnders told ESPN NL in August. "Are our experts certainly there however? No, never. Yet we're on training course." From Cruyff to KloppPep Lijnders helped Jurgen Klopp develop among the greatest Liverpool crews in the past of the club. ( Picture through John Powell/Liverpool FC by means of Getty Images) Lijnders' playing job as a ructious midfielder for nearby amateur club SVEB on the Dutch-German perimeter was actually stopped at 17 years of ages because of an ACL trauma. He mosted likely to the Central Principle for Athletics Innovator Instruction (CIOS) to analyze and started operating at PSV Eindhoven, acquiring the only training apprenticeship available to pupils on the program. As he juggled his studies as well as his project at PSV, he additionally took charge of SVEB's books, where he to begin with made an effort to implement his ideology: a mix of "Complete Football" (a fluid soccer body motivating positional interchange championed through Cruyff) as well as unrelenting counter-pressing." I had the emotion gamers revitalized when I coached, which provides you assurance," he says.The apprenticeship with PSV was actually implied to become a five-year task, however he was actually granted a full-time arrangement after 3 years, as well as invested the next pair of years sweeping in between the United States and the Netherlands along with fellow instructor Frans Hoek while building talents like Cody Gakpo and Jordan Teze. He picked up from the legendary Guus Hiddink when he was actually PSV trainer coming from 2002 to 2006 and also informs ESPN: "Guus offered colour to Dutch regulation football in the way Ju00fcrgen provided colour to German regulation football." In 2007, aged 24, Lijnders possessed rate of interest from MTK Budapest, yet used up a deal at FC Porto where he hung on Vitor Frade's every word. Frade-- appreciated through Mourinho, Andru00e9 Villas-Boas, Robson and also a great number of others-- was actually an educational institution instructor who was additionally assistant manager at Porto and the dad of tactical periodisation (practically using instruction as a looking glass for suit intensity and rhythm, instead of a separated exercise). Lijnders remembers their tactical technologies back then and also get into a wide smile, referencing an aerial photograph he has of one Carbon monoxide Adriaanse's setup where he released only wingers on the flanks as well as no full-backs. At the moment it wasted his mind.In Portugal, Lijnders operated to spearhead Porto's "Project 611," an umbrella phrase for the nightclub's plan to re-think the academy's connection with the first string. "I qualified all the staffs-- U19 in the early morning, U15 in the afternoon, and also U12 and also U11 at night," he mentions. "In some cases I would certainly possess 40 gamers, however I really did not talk a term of Portuguese." Regardless of that obstacle, Porto grew. The nightclub brought via abilities like Jou00e3o Fu00e9lix, Andru00e9 Gomes, Andru00e9 Silva, Fabio Vieira and also Diogo Dalot. There was actually additionally midfielder Ru00faben Neves, a gamer that captained Lijnders' youth crews at Porto, functioned as explainer, and someone that Lijnders wrote that he "loves to bits" in his 2022 publication "Intensity."" That's why I really love regulation football a great deal," Lijnders claims. "The partnership you create along with the gamers. If that relationship isn't there, there's no other way to excellence." He was actually appeared out by Rene Meulensteen in very early 2013 as an achievable enhancement to Ferguson's backroom team at Male United, but that collapsed when Ferguson retired in the end of that season. And also by mid-2014, Lijnders was ready for a brand-new difficulty. While researching for his UEFA coaching badges under the direction of the Welsh FA, Lijnders had actually looked for a young people train vacancy at Liverpool job, so the nightclub sent U23 supervisor Michael Beale and school director Alex Inglethorpe to listen to some of his discussions. It did the job: "Michael pointed out to me, 'Pepijn, you are actually not flying back to Porto, you're featuring me to Liverpool.'" One of Pep Lijnders' essential abilities was nourishing as well as pinpointing institute talent prior to providing an opportunity to rise with the rankings. ( Photograph by Cees van Hoogdalem/Soccrates/Getty Images) Lijnders soared to Liverpool that evening, was installed in a lodging, as well as for three days they chatted. It ended up along with Liverpool using Lijnders a deal to take charge of the U16 and also U15s: a group that included Rhian Brewster, Ben Woodburn, Caoimhu00edn Kelleher, Curtis Jones, and, significantly, leader Alexander-Arnold. That summer months Lijnders was ensured to a work along with the first team under Rodgers, however when the Northern Irishman was actually sacked on Oct. 4, 2005, Mike Gordon (head of state of the club's managers Fenway Sports Team) talked to Lijnders to maintain Liverpool's training ground Melwood beating over while they pursued Klopp. Naturally, when the German managed there were no promises he was actually going to keep Lijnders. Many of Rodgers' workers had left actually, but Gordon inquired the brand-new manager to go on a couple of coaches from the previous regimen. Klopp still had last word, however levelled to the idea.The first was John Achtenberg. "Excellent, due to the fact that I really did not have a goalkeeping trainer," Klopp keeps in mind informing Gordon. He asked his brand-new manager: "What performs the other man carry out?" Gordon mentioned Lijnders was actually a "technical coach" a pro in tiding over between youth and first string." In Germany, no person spends for a coach like that," Klopp says to ESPN. "They 'd point out, 'You wish a 2nd assistant wherefore? What are you performing?' So, I liked the concept a great deal." It was a high-end to Klopp, yet he still failed to understand much concerning this youthful Dutch coach. Therefore on his opening night at the club, the new-look Liverpool management encountered for dinner in the Chance Street Hotels And Resort. Klopp had his counted on staff Zeljko Buvac as well as Peter Krawietz there certainly with him, yet he wished to be familiar with the brand-new skins. Achtenberg sat to one side of him Lijnders to the other. "It was actually more or less enjoy prima facie," Klopp states of Lijnders. "I saw his interest for whatever." Klopp likewise found the amount of Lijnders valued him. "I do not see myself as an exceptional train," he mentions. "I recognize some people by chance think that, and also you can find it in Pep's eyes. You can observe him believe, 'I a lot better listen.' That is actually how it began. By the end, we were actually equivalent companions." play1:40 Michallik: Port creating Liverpool's post-Klopp switch painlessJanusz Michallik says the biggest compliment you can easily pay Arne Slot is actually that he is actually stopped experts referring to life after Jurgen Klopp.Blossoming at AnfieldLijnders' 1st function under Klopp was as elite advancement instructor. He enjoys flipcharts and each element of his military sight was actually made a note of on these extensive pieces of paper. Klopp don't forgets those early conferences, and also just how whenever he 'd chat, he would certainly listen to Lijnders' marker jotting away, taking down every thing he said.At this phase, Klopp called Buvac the "mind" as well as Krawietz the "eye." Chatting in 2017 to LFC TELEVISION, Klopp stated: "Pep has actually come to be incredibly significant quickly given that he creates whatever down. He is additionally part of 'the human brain' given that he is our thoughts to keep in mind the things what our team performed in previous treatments ... I acquired the Dutch train who was actually opposed to belongings! Dutch regulation football is possession-based: it is actually Complete Regulation Football, Cruyff. But he was actually a counter-pressing beast. I loved his enjoyment and also the means he leaves the seat when he refers to regulation football." One of his ultimate additions in that initial duration at Liverpool can be found in nudging Klopp to provide a number of the institute gamers an opportunity in the first team, along with Alexander-Arnold among the 1st promoted in 2016 at the grow older of 18." I might create a book regarding the minute he first told me regarding Trent Alexander-Arnold," Klopp tells ESPN. "Our team opened the door Trent operated throughout it. His best foot is absurd. The Trent highlights online video is actually absurd. You don't need the objectives, it's the elapseds, you view the successfully pases as well as assume 'How is actually that achievable?' It's a totally different sporting activity." Lijnders additionally had a big effect in bridging the gap in between first team as well as academy. "I profited from him," Klopp includes. "He opened my mind for different factors in football. As all of us age, the range between you and the grow older of the gamer group grows. My 2 sons kept me in contact with that generation, but of course, the newest generation of world-class coaches are actually currently out there. There is actually always alter, progression as well as renovation. Pep opened my eyes for those type of things.Pep Lijnders possessed a short job at Dutch edge NEC Nijmegen before returning Liverpool in 2018. ( Picture through Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC using Getty Images) Under Klopp, Lijnders took over even more duty: planning instruction and also the schedule around fits. Off the sound, both routinely played padel and ended up being unbelievably close friends.Liverpool ended up fourth in 2016-17 however, midway through the complying with initiative, Lijnders was actually being actually sounded out regarding a head-coach placement of his very own spine in the Netherlands. Interested to return to his birthplace to be along with his father as he combated cancer, the 34-year-old decided to take the top task at then-second branch edge NEC Nijmegen on Jan. 2, 2018. His objective was actually to get advertising back to the Eredivisie, however it showed to become an unfortunate incantation as well as they shed in the playoffs to FC Emmen. After over five months in the duty, he left behind through common arrangement on Might 17." I have actually constantly taken full task and never ever said a bad word about NEC," Lijnders mentions. "It is actually a stunning nightclub, but in some cases the time is actually not right. Sometimes there is actually no hit, or in some cases you participate in a club where you require persistence. But I take obligation. I do not want to say too much about it, because whatever I mention might come across incorrect. I knew a lot to take right into my next project." Back at Anfield, Buvac had actually carried on in April and also Klopp was actually searching for a brand new assistant. Of course, he preferred Lijnders back.One time, Lijnders resided in the backyard along with his other half Danielle and also mom when his phone called. It was actually Klopp, and Danielle asked what the call was about. "He told me our experts are actually heading to conquer the planet," Lijnders informed her.Just 19 times after he left behind NEC, Lijnders' consultation as Klopp's assistant supervisor was actually announced on June 5." Most of us know there is actually a popular phrase: 'You may discover more from defeats than from consistent triumph,'" Klopp claims. "I'm not exactly sure it [Lijnders' opportunity at NEC] was a true loss, however it wasn't well prepared, I think our team can easily point out that. Our team failed to communicate a whole lot concerning it, it was actually not essential. I was actually only thankful he came back." A golden returnPep Lijnders and Jurgen Klopp posture along with the FA Cup and also the Carabao Mug trophy throughout the Liverpool ceremony on Might 29, 2022. ( Photo through Jan Kruger/Getty Photos) Over the upcoming couple of years, Klopp and Lijnders will attain outstanding results with each other at Liverpool. The crowning moment was the 2019 Champions Game last draw Tottenham Hotspur, but that was merely among a number of trophies including the 2019-20 Premier Game headline, 2022 FA Cup, 2019 Club Planet Cup, and also 2022 and 2024 Organization Cups.Lijnders sympathized all the essential moments, both well-known as well as in the darkness as they plotted their effectiveness. He was actually linguist on the call when Klopp was actually making an effort to encourage Porto winger Luis Du00edaz to sign up with the club in January 2022, and always remembers partaking Klopp's home kitchen attempting to work out exactly how to urge centre-back Virgil van Dijk to authorize coming from Southampton in January 2018. Yet through all the delight as well as drawbacks, the project took its toll. And prior to the 2023-24 season began, Klopp and Lijnders began to think about the finishing point." It was taking place in the [2023] summer, [along with] a really challenging year behind our team," Lijnders points out of an initiative where the club ended up fifth as well as were actually knocked out of the Champions Organization in the sphere of 16. "Our company were happy our team gained the final eight, nine activities of the time, we still visited Europe. Our experts transformed the device Trent went much more inside [to participate in as a midfielder]" In the summer months our experts presently explained if it was actually the right time to go, or even if it was actually the correct time to carry on. Our experts said 'yes, our company'll perform another year and also our team'll view in January.' However through November-time, Ju00fcrgen mentioned: 'I'm carried out.' As well as I said, 'Yes if that's the case, it's opportunity for me to go as well.' I have actually possessed many, good offers recently, yet I wanted to finish the job with him. My relationship is incredibly tough with him: he is actually a bro, a father, a mentor. Beyond my loved ones and also closest buddies, he understands me far better than anyone." On Might 19, 2024, Klopp took charge of Liverpool for the last time as they trump Wolves 2-0. After being actually out on the sound, soaking in the unfiltered worship, presenting for plenty of photos, he located themself back in the abdomens of Anfield and also there was actually an uncommon minute of quiet." Our team would certainly possessed Louise Dobson, the crew manager, informing us where to go and also when, and also our experts were therefore touched [by the festivities]," he mentions. "Eventually, it was simply Pep and me. Our experts had tears in our eyes. We understood our experts were honored at the same time due to the fact that in our organization, you can be found in by means of the front door and also they press you out the back entrance. Our company were actually blessed and also our experts might walk out with the frontal door. We created a book all together which was the last section. And our team delighted in that as a lot [as our team could] due to the fact that you know it is actually not for life. That is actually lifestyle." After an evening partying, and, depending on to Klopp, the Lijnders family controling the dancing flooring, focus relied on the future. Lijnders had currently been actually fielding interest coming from nightclubs keen to consult with him regarding upcoming jobs, and also he recognized it was opportunity for his household to experience something brand-new." You possess ten years in Liverpool, in Formby, a tiny community, you possess whatever there certainly, right?" he points out. "Therefore my young boys understand nothing at all besides England, Liverpool and also the nightclub. They assume every stadium feels like Anfield." Lijnders merely contacted nightclubs who would see him personally in Formby, and each time he would certainly seek specific warranties. However it was actually Austrian Bundesliga edge FC Salzburg that seduced him. The crew had endured a tough 2023-24 campaign, which found then-manager Gerhard Struber sacked in April, and also won the frequent season however completed second in the Championship Cycle to Sturm Graz to finish their first trophyless period in a decade.After a visit to Salzburg to visit the nightclub face to face, Lijnders' better half Danielle turned to their youngest boy, Romijn, as well as talked to: "What do you consider Salzburg?" Romijn responded to: "I skip it presently." play1:34 Michallik: Arne Port has created Luis Du00edaz a much better playerESPN FC's Mark Donaldson and also Janusz Michallik go over exactly how Liverpool supervisor Arne Slot is actually receiving the best away from his squad, specifically Luis Du00edaz, following their 3-0 draw Bournemouth.New beginningsOn Aug. 13, 2024, Salzburg trumped FC Twente 5-4 on accumulation to receive the Champions Circle team phase. "Our company desire to be actually the crew that can easily trump anyone on the planet," Lijnders points out. "Are our experts there yet? No, certainly certainly not ... we have actually just started. But I prefer the supporters to assume, "all right, this is actually the new Salzburg."" With his counter-pressing theory profoundly ingrained, Lijnders additionally prefers his Salzburg to suffocate the adversary. "You can easily participate in a leading design of football, where you can have the ball in the challenger's half a lot," he incorporates. "Our company are youthful, our company are talented, our company are full of bravado. Our team do not prefer the rival to possess whenever. There is actually a great deal ability right here, a great deal electricity, a lot young people. "We have a smaller squad, 16 or even 17 gamers, and also offers us space for the academy." Along with a trademark of "Fuu00dfball von morgen" [Soccer coming from tomorrow] as well as a record of world-class players like Erling Haaland, Sadio Manu00e9, Dominik Szoboszlai, Benjamin Sesko as well as Dayot Upamecano having happened with the positions, the club's concentration is significantly on youth the earliest players in the team are goalkeepers Janis Blaswich (thirty three) and also Alexander Schlager (28 ), while the earliest outfield players are 25. Given that Lijnders participated in, Salzburg have actually currently robbed his old club to sign midfielders Stefan Bajcetic and Bobby Clark on finance, while the brand new supervisor likewise delivered coaches Vitor Matos as well as Andreas Kornmayer with him.The wild men from Salzburg u2764 pic.twitter.com/DrsXmSKwJ8u2014 FC Reddish Upward Salzburg (@RedBullSalzburg) August 27, 2024 The old Liverpool instructors still have their WhatsApp group accessible it's called the "Gemstone Dogs," influenced through Apple television show Ted Lasso. When Salzburg play, the chat is actually as energetic as ever before, with Klopp always keeping a close eye on exactly how Lijnders is actually doing." Everybody with a little bit of a soccer eye can easily see his effect," Klopp mentions. "I like this wonderful mix of actual intensity, a crystal clear tip as well as property. I informed him after a video game recently, you can observe this group has a really good train. That's how I evaluate trains my entire life-- you view the activities, and after that you ponder who trainers them. They participate in well. I presume it is actually a win-win situation for him at Salzburg. It's so smart coming from him, and also it is actually so smart coming from Salzburg." Salzburg's league season began with 4 victories, a draw as well as a defeat, however it has actually additionally observed damaging reductions to Sparta Prague (3-0) and also Brest (4-0) in the Champions League. He obtained some criticism for fielding crews against Sparta as well as Austria Wien without any Austrian gamers in the lineup, yet Lijnders knows there will certainly be times when form drops as well as pressure rises. He will stay with his principles which have provided him properly up until now." It's black and also lonesome when you do not succeed, and also when you get into such a time period, it may be black, alone and also unpleasant," he points out. "Yet when you're educating on the industry, aiding gamers enhance, I will certainly never receive exhausted of that. In those seconds you need to hold on to what makes you, as a player, and an instructor." Every instructor will look at difficult durations, but there's nothing inappropriate with that said. I know I play with high risk, however also high perks. That's that I am actually. There are actually 2 fits in football. There is actually the match on the scoreboard, and also the 2nd match is your identity. You can easily drop one, however you'll certainly never shed the 2nd complement." I hope you'll view Salzburg pressing as well as chasing the challenger across the whole entire sound, as well as from all directions. But above all, they're performing it together, for life." Additional reporting: Sanne truck Dongen as well as Milan van Dongen.