.Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterOct 2, 2024, 05:30 AM ETClose u2022 Signed up with ESPN in 2011 u2022 Covered two Olympics, a set of Rugby Globe Cups as well as two British & Irish Lions excursions u2022 Recently rugby editor, as well as became senior author in 2018The wall surfaces of Pep Lijnders' garage in his new Salzburg home are still bare.The unpacked packages on the flooring contain minds of his trip coming from coaching student at PSV to becoming Ju00fcrgen Klopp's "identical partner" at Liverpool, as Klopp calls it. There are bordered images, tees as well as match balls coming from the many finals he aided the crew reach.But there is another keepsake he values most importantly as it summarizes what he's enthusiastic about establishing young people, and also seeing them flourish on regulation football's greatest phase. Close to one of the match spheres from the 2019 Champions League last is actually a photograph from the celebrations after Liverpool's triumph. It is a photograph of Lijnders with Trent Alexander-Arnold on his spine. Alexander-Arnold bordered it and also inflicted him when Lijnders quit Liverpool alongside Klopp in May. The inscription reviews: "This is my favourite photograph people, too. Thanks for absolutely whatever. Without you, none of it was achievable. Trent." Lijnders has acquired webpages as well as web pages of instruction sessions dating back two decades. His experience started in 2002 as young people coach at PSV, in 2006 he relocated to FC Porto, at that point in 2014 he overcame the Liverpool places to become a trainer under Brendan Rodgers and Klopp, just before he made a decision to try his personal in the course of a chastening incantation as NEC Nijmegen manager in 2018. He returned to Liverpool 6 months later with fantastic effectiveness and also, as Klopp informed ESPN NL in August, Lijnders was the German's footballing "creativity for the final 9 years." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedLijnders is now starting yet another experience at FC Salzburg, wishing to funnel impacts like Johan Cruyff, the daddy of Dutch "Total Football," Italian ideal as well as hvac Milan legend Arrigo Sacchi, and also ex-Feyenoord manager Wiel Coerver while instilling his personal theory as a "counter-pressing beast," as Klopp places it. But this isn't Liverpool 2.0, as well as he's not living under Klopp's wing.The path from assistant under a widely known manager to manager in your very own right is actually a well-trodden one. There are excellence tales: Mikel Arteta left behind Pep Guardiola's stewardship in 2019 for the Collection job and also has done incredibly properly in a brief area of time Josu00e9 Mourinho was actually assistant to Bobby Robson at Barcelona just before breaking out on his personal to turn into one of the most effective supervisors of perpetuity brand new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca functioned under Guardiola while the wonderful Joe Fagan took what he gained from legendary duo Costs Shankly as well as Bob Paisley to steer Liverpool to silverware in the 1980s. However at that point there are the cautionary tales as well: In 1998, Brian Kidd's tenure at Blackburn lasted 11 months after 7 trophy-laden years at Manchester United with Mam Alex Ferguson John Carver prospered under Robson and also Alan Pardew at Newcastle but bombed when he took charge as caretaker in 2015. Thus, it's with that record of unpredictability that Lijnders is actually going it alone at Salzburg. He prefers his group to be recognized for his master plan of footballing "intensity." Yet he will not be given too long a grace period. His staff have helped make a gauged start-- gaining 8 from 14 games, yet losing 4-0 to Brest in the Champions Game on Tuesday-- as well as while it is actually a team renowned for youth development, the supporters anticipate results provided final time was their initial without flatware for a years." Our company are actually making an effort to produce a crew that can easily beat anyone in planet volleyball," Lijnders told ESPN NL in August. "Are we there certainly yet? No, never. Yet we perform course." From Cruyff to KloppPep Lijnders helped Jurgen Klopp create one of the very best Liverpool groups in the background of the nightclub. ( Picture by John Powell/Liverpool FC by means of Getty Images) Lijnders' playing job as a ructious midfielder for regional amateur club SVEB on the Dutch-German perimeter was shortened at 17 years old because of an ACL trauma. He mosted likely to the Central Principle for Athletics Forerunner Instruction (CIOS) to examine and also started operating at PSV Eindhoven, obtaining the only training apprenticeship on offer to students on the training program. As he juggled his research studies as well as his task at PSV, he additionally organized SVEB's reserves, where he to begin with tried to implement his philosophy: a mix of "Overall Soccer" (a liquid soccer system encouraging positional interchangeability championed by Cruyff) and also relentless counter-pressing." I had the sensation gamers revived when I coached, which provides you assurance," he says.The instruction with PSV was suggested to be a five-year job, however he was actually rewarded a full time agreement after three years, as well as spent the following 2 years sweeping in between the United States and also the Netherlands along with fellow coach Frans Hoek while cultivating skills like Cody Gakpo as well as Jordan Teze. He picked up from the epic Guus Hiddink when he was PSV train from 2002 to 2006 and tells ESPN: "Guus gave colour to Dutch soccer in the way Ju00fcrgen provided colour to German soccer." In 2007, aged 24, Lijnders had interest from MTK Budapest, yet took up a contract at FC Porto where he held on Vitor Frade's every term. Frade-- admired by Mourinho, Andru00e9 Villas-Boas, Robson as well as many others-- was actually an educational institution professor that was additionally assistant manager at Porto as well as the dad of tactical periodisation (practically using training as a looking glass for match intensity and also rhythm, instead of a segregated physical exercise). Lijnders remembers their planned advancements at the time as well as burglarize a vast smile, referencing an airborne picture he possesses of one Carbon monoxide Adriaanse's setup where he deployed only wingers on the flanks and no full-backs. At that time it blew his mind.In Portugal, Lijnders functioned to spearhead Porto's "Project 611," a sunshade phrase for the nightclub's planning to re-think the institute's partnership with the first team. "I educated all the teams-- U19 in the early morning, U15 in the afternoon, as well as U12 and U11 in the evening," he claims. "Often I will have 40 players, yet I failed to communicate a word of Portuguese." In spite of that obstacle, Porto developed. The club brought via skills like Jou00e3o Fu00e9lix, Andru00e9 Gomes, Andru00e9 Silva, Fabio Vieira and also Diogo Dalot. There was likewise midfielder Ru00faben Neves, a player that captained Lijnders' youth staffs at Porto, served as translator, and someone who Lijnders wrote that he "really loves to bits" in his 2022 manual "Strength."" That is actually why I love soccer a great deal," Lijnders claims. "The partnership you forge along with the players. If that bond isn't there, there's no chance to results." He was actually seemed out by Rene Meulensteen in early 2013 as an achievable add-on to Ferguson's backroom team at Man United, but that broke down when Ferguson retired in the end of that time. As well as by mid-2014, Lijnders awaited a new challenge. While examining for his UEFA coaching badges under the direction of the Welsh FA, Lijnders had actually made an application for a youth coach opportunity at Liverpool work, so the club delivered U23 manager Michael Beale and also school supervisor Alex Inglethorpe to listen closely to among his presentations. It did the job: "Michael pointed out to me, 'Pepijn, you are actually certainly not flying back to Porto, you are actually possessing me to Liverpool.'" One of Pep Lijnders' most important capabilities was actually nourishing as well as recognizing institute skill before giving them an odds to increase by means of the ranks. ( Picture through Cees vehicle Hoogdalem/Soccrates/Getty Pictures) Lijnders flew to Liverpool that night, was put up in an accommodation, and for three times they spoke. It found yourself with Liverpool providing Lijnders a deal to organize the U16 as well as U15s: a team that consisted of Rhian Brewster, Ben Woodburn, Caoimhu00edn Kelleher, Curtis Jones, and, notably, captain Alexander-Arnold. That summertime Lijnders was actually advertised to a job with the first team under Rodgers, yet when the Northern Irishman was actually sacked on Oct. 4, 2005, Mike Gordon (president of the group's owners Fenway Athletics Group) inquired Lijnders to keep Liverpool's training school Melwood beating over while they worked at Klopp. Naturally, when the German consumed there were no assurances he was actually mosting likely to always keep Lijnders. Numerous of Rodgers' personnel had actually left behind presently, but Gordon talked to the new manager to keep a couple of trainers coming from the previous regimen. Klopp still had veto power, however was open to the idea.The initially was actually John Achtenberg. "Great, due to the fact that I failed to possess a goalkeeping train," Klopp don't forgets informing Gordon. He asked his brand new employer: "What carries out the various other individual do?" Gordon said Lijnders was actually a "technical train" a professional in bridging the gap in between youth and also first string." In Germany, no one purchases an instructor like that," Klopp says to ESPN. "They 'd claim, 'You prefer a 2nd assistant of what? What are you doing?' Thus, I liked the suggestion a whole lot." It was actually a deluxe to Klopp, however he still didn't know a lot regarding this youthful Dutch trainer. So on his opening night at the nightclub, the new-look Liverpool administration got to know for dinner in the Hope Road Resort. Klopp had his trusted team Zeljko Buvac as well as Peter Krawietz there certainly with him, yet he wanted to be familiar with the brand-new faces. Achtenberg rested away of him Lijnders to the other. "It was more or less really love at first sight," Klopp states of Lijnders. "I viewed his passion for whatever." Klopp likewise found just how much Lijnders recognized him. "I don't see myself as a remarkable coach," he mentions. "I know some people for some reason assume that, as well as you could possibly observe it in Pep's eyes. You could view him assume, 'I better listen closely.' That is actually how it started. By the end, we were equal partners." play1:40 Michallik: Slot creating Liverpool's post-Klopp shift painlessJanusz Michallik claims the most significant praise you may spend Arne Slot is that he's stopped pundits discussing life after Jurgen Klopp.Blossoming at AnfieldLijnders' very first part under Klopp was actually as elite growth instructor. He really loves flipcharts and also each part of his planned vision was actually listed on these large papers. Klopp don't forgets those very early appointments, and also just how whenever he 'd speak, he would certainly hear Lijnders' marker jotting away, taking down every thing he said.At this phase, Klopp called Buvac the "human brain" as well as Krawietz the "eye." Talking in 2017 to LFC TV, Klopp pointed out: "Pep has ended up being unbelievably essential in a short time since he composes everything down. He is additionally aspect of 'the human brain' because he is our mind to keep in mind the important things what we did in previous sessions ... I received the Dutch instructor that was opposed to property! Dutch soccer is actually possession-based: it is actually Overall Regulation Football, Cruyff. However he was a counter-pressing monster. I loved his enjoyment and the method he gets out of the saddle when he discusses soccer." Some of his ultimate contributions in that initial period at Liverpool was available in nudging Klopp to provide some of the academy gamers a chance in the first string, along with Alexander-Arnold some of the initial promoted in 2016 at the age of 18." I could compose a book about the instant he to begin with told me concerning Trent Alexander-Arnold," Klopp informs ESPN. "Our company unlocked Trent operated throughout it. His best foot is preposterous. The Trent highlights video recording is actually foolish. You don't need the goals, it is actually the successfully pases, you check out the passes as well as think 'How is actually that feasible?' It is actually an entirely various sport." Lijnders likewise had a major influence in tiding over between first string and academy. "I gained from him," Klopp includes. "He opened my mind for various things in regulation football. As most of us age, the distance in between you and also the age of the player group grows. My 2 kids kept me in contact with that said generation, however naturally, the next generation of outstanding instructors are actually on the market. There's regularly modify, progression as well as remodeling. Pep opened my eyes for those kinds of things.Pep Lijnders possessed a brief job at Dutch side NEC Nijmegen prior to returning Liverpool in 2018. ( Picture through Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC by means of Getty Images) Under Klopp, Lijnders assumed more task: considering instruction and the schedule around complements. Off the sound, the 2 frequently played padel and also came to be extremely close friends.Liverpool finished fourth in 2016-17 however, midway via the adhering to initiative, Lijnders was being sounded out concerning a head-coach placement of his very own back in the Netherlands. Interested to return to his homeland to become with his father as he battled cancer, the 34-year-old chosen to take the best job at then-second department edge NEC Nijmegen on Jan. 2, 2018. His target was to secure promo back to the Eredivisie, however it verified to be a misfortunate spell and also they shed in the playoffs to FC Emmen. After over 5 months in the job, he left behind through mutual contract on Might 17." I have constantly taken total task and never stated a bad phrase regarding NEC," Lijnders mentions. "It's a stunning club, yet often the time is actually wrong. In some cases there is no hit, or often you join a club where you need determination. But I take responsibility. I don't desire to mention way too much concerning it, considering that every thing I mention could possibly stumble upon wrong. I learnt a whole lot to take right into my upcoming work." Back at Anfield, Buvac had moved on in April as well as Klopp was actually trying to find a brand-new assistant. Certainly, he really wanted Lijnders back.One time, Lijnders resided in the garden with his better half Danielle and also mama when his phone sounded. It was Klopp, and also Danielle inquired what the call had to do with. "He informed me our company're going to overcome the planet," Lijnders said to her.Just 19 times after he left behind NEC, Lijnders' consultation as Klopp's assistant supervisor was introduced on June 5." Most of us know there's a famous expression: 'You can easily find out more from beats than coming from consistent victory,'" Klopp claims. "I am actually not exactly sure it [Lijnders' time at NEC] was actually a genuine loss, but it had not been well prepared, I believe our team may point out that. Our experts didn't communicate a lot about it, it was actually not essential. I was simply delighted he went back." A gold returnPep Lijnders as well as Jurgen Klopp pose along with the FA Cup as well as the Carabao Mug prize during the Liverpool procession on May 29, 2022. ( Photograph by Jan Kruger/Getty Pictures) Over the next handful of years, Klopp as well as Lijnders will accomplish impressive effectiveness with each other at Liverpool. The glorious second was actually the 2019 Champions League ultimate sway Tottenham Hotspur, but that was actually just among an amount of trophies featuring the 2019-20 Premier Organization title, 2022 FA Mug, 2019 Group Globe Cup, and also 2022 as well as 2024 Organization Cups.Lijnders sympathized all the crucial seconds, both well-known and in the shadows as they plotted their excellence. He was actually linguist on the call when Klopp was attempting to persuade Porto winger Luis Du00edaz to participate in the group in January 2022, as well as remembers sitting in Klopp's kitchen trying to exercise just how to encourage centre-back Virgil van Dijk to sign from Southampton in January 2018. But by means of all the happiness and also troubles, the work took its own cost. And also before the 2023-24 season started, Klopp and also Lijnders started to think about the finishing aspect." It was actually taking place in the [2023] summer season, [along with] a quite complicated year responsible for our company," Lijnders says of a campaign where the club finished 5th as well as were actually knocked out of the Champions Game in the sphere of 16. "Our experts were happy our experts gained the last eight, nine games of the period, we still headed to Europe. We altered the body Trent went much more inside [to participate in as a midfielder]" In the summer season our experts currently talked about if it was the correct time to go, or even if it was the correct time to continue. We stated 'yes, our experts'll do one more year and also our company'll see in January.' However by November-time, Ju00fcrgen mentioned: 'I'm done.' And I stated, 'Yes if that's the case, it's time for me to go also.' I have actually possessed a number of, great offers over the last few years, yet I wished to finish the venture along with him. My relationship is really powerful along with him: he is actually a sibling, a father, an advisor. Away from my loved ones and also closest close friends, he recognizes me much better than anyone." On May 19, 2024, Klopp organized Liverpool for the ultimate time as they defeat Wolves 2-0. After being out on the pitch, taking in the unfiltered adulation, positioning for plenty of photographs, he found himself back in the bowels of Anfield and there was actually an unusual moment of peaceful." Our team 'd had Louise Dobson, the team manager, informing our team where to go as well as when, as well as our team were therefore touched [by the celebrations]," he claims. "In the end, it was simply Pep and also me. Our experts had splits in our eyes. We knew our company were actually blessed too since in our company, you are available in by means of the front door as well as they drive you out the back door. Our team were blessed as well as our team can head out by means of the frontal door. Our company created a manual all together and that was actually the final chapter. As well as we appreciated that as a lot [as our company might] because you recognize it is actually certainly not for good. That is actually life." After an evening partying, and also, according to Klopp, the Lijnders household controling the dancing flooring, focus turned to the future. Lijnders had actually currently been fielding passion coming from clubs keen to talk with him concerning honest jobs, as well as he understood it was actually opportunity for his family members to experience something brand-new." You possess ten years in Liverpool, in Formby, a little town, you possess every little thing there, right?" he mentions. "Thus my young boys know nothing apart from England, Liverpool and also the nightclub. They presume every stadium is like Anfield." Lijnders merely spoke with clubs who would certainly explore him personally in Formby, and each time he would certainly search for specific promises. However it was Austrian Bundesliga edge FC Salzburg that attracted him. The team possessed survived a hard 2023-24 project, which observed then-manager Gerhard Struber sacked in April, and also gained the normal period however completed second in the Championship Round to Sturm Graz to end their very first trophyless period in a decade.After a check out to Salzburg to check out the nightclub in person, Lijnders' other half Danielle relied on their youngest kid, Romijn, and asked: "What do you think of Salzburg?" Romijn answered: "I miss it already." play1:34 Michallik: Arne Port has actually created Luis Du00edaz a much better playerESPN FC's Mark Donaldson and Janusz Michallik talk about how Liverpool employer Arne Slot is acquiring the best away from his squad, specifically Luis Du00edaz, observing their 3-0 draw Bournemouth.New beginningsOn Aug. thirteen, 2024, Salzburg beat FC Twente 5-4 on accumulation to get the Champions Category group stage. "Our company desire to be the team that may beat anybody in the world," Lijnders points out. "Are our team certainly there but? No, obviously certainly not ... our company have actually only begun. But I wish the supporters to presume, "fine, this is the new Salzburg."" With his counter-pressing philosophy profoundly embedded, Lijnders additionally prefers his Salzburg to drown the opposition. "You can participate in a prevalent type of soccer, where you can easily possess the ball in the challenger's half a whole lot," he adds. "Our company are actually young, our experts excel, we contain blowing. We don't really want the rival to have whenever. There is actually a lot ability listed below, so much electricity, a lot youth. "We have a much smaller team, 16 or even 17 players, and also gives us space for the institute." Along with a motto of "Fuu00dfball von morgen" [Regulation football coming from tomorrow] and a history of world-class gamers like Erling Haaland, Sadio Manu00e9, Dominik Szoboszlai, Benjamin Sesko and also Dayot Upamecano having actually come with the positions, the nightclub's focus is actually significantly on young people the earliest gamers in the team are actually goalkeepers Janis Blaswich (33) and also Alexander Schlager (28 ), while the earliest outfield gamers are actually 25. Since Lijnders joined, Salzburg have actually actually overruned his aged nightclub to authorize midfielders Stefan Bajcetic and also Bobby Clark on funding, while the brand-new manager likewise delivered trainers Vitor Matos and Andreas Kornmayer with him.The crazy people coming from Salzburg u2764 pic.twitter.com/DrsXmSKwJ8u2014 FC Reddish Bull Salzburg (@RedBullSalzburg) August 27, 2024 The old Liverpool instructors still have their WhatsApp group accessible it's called the "Gemstone Canine," motivated by Apple television series Ted Lasso. When Salzburg play, the chat is actually as active as ever, along with Klopp keeping a near eye on exactly how Lijnders is faring." Everyone along with a bit of a football eye may see his impact," Klopp points out. "I enjoy this great mix of actual strength, a clear concept and also belongings. I informed him after an activity just recently, you can easily observe this group possesses a really good train. That's just how I judge instructors my whole life-- you enjoy the video games, and afterwards you wonder that trains all of them. They participate in effectively. I think it's a win-win situation for him at Salzburg. It's therefore smart from him, as well as it's so wise coming from Salzburg." Salzburg's game season started with four wins, a draw and also a defeat, yet it has actually also seen detrimental losses to Sparta Prague (3-0) and also Brest (4-0) in the Champions League. He received some unfavorable judgment for fielding staffs against Sparta as well as Austria Wien without any Austrian players in the lineup, but Lijnders knows there will certainly be actually times when type slumps as well as pressure increases. He is going to stay with his concepts which have actually offered him effectively so far." It's black and unhappy when you don't win, and when you enter such a time period, it can be black, lonesome as well as uncomfortable," he mentions. "Yet when you are actually teaching on the area, helping players boost, I will certainly never get tired of that. In those minutes you must hang on to what makes you, as a gamer, and an instructor." Every instructor is going to go through hard periods, yet there is actually nothing inappropriate with that said. I recognize I enjoy with higher danger, yet additionally high benefit. That's that I am actually. There are 2 suits in soccer. There's the match on the scoreboard, as well as the second suit is your identification. You can lose one, but you'll never ever lose the 2nd fit." I wish you'll view Salzburg pushing and going after the opponent around the whole entire pitch, and from all directions. However above all, they are actually performing it together, for life." Added reporting: Sanne van Dongen as well as Milan truck Dongen.