This is great, this…
Liverpool’s Dutch coach Pep Lijnders has actively rejected job offers from ‘several clubs’ to take over as full-time manager, instead choosing to keep his first-team development coach role under Jurgen Klopp, reports the Echo.
The article states that Go Ahead Eagles, who currently have Pedro Chirivella on loan of course, approached Lijnders, who’s developing a serious reputation for his work with Liverpool’s most talented youngsters.
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His guidance has helped the likes of Ben Woodburn, Ovie Ejaria and Trent Alexander-Arnold become members of the first-team squad.
“This is not the time to think about the next step and personal project,” said Lijnders. “I know about the interest of several clubs and appreciate this, but timing is important, as well as loyalty to Liverpool and Jurgen.”
“My whole focus goes to assisting Jurgen,” he added to Voetbal International. “To compete in this intense Premier League, to fight for prices and to give colour to the new generation of players.
“That (becoming head coach) is absolutely the ambition, but this season is probably too early.
“I am loyal and therefore it would be difficult to move away from Liverpool and this project with Jurgen after only one full year.”
Lijnders is rated extremely highly by Klopp, and it’s telling that he’s the only coach from previous regimes who kept his job when the German arrived.
Hopefully we’ll see Lijnders at the club for many years before he deservedly takes the next step. Who knows… Perhaps he’ll take the reigns at Anfield himself one day?