Liverpool have reappointed Pep Lijnders as part of the backroom staff, following the Dutchmn’s short stint as manager of NEC Nijmegen.
The 35-year-old left Melwood in January to try his hand at being a manager, but after failing to win promotion to the Eredivisie, Lijnders left and has been given his job back by Jurgen Klopp.
SEE MORE:
(Video) Pep Lijnders speaks superbly about the ‘Masterclass’ training sessions of Jurgen Klopp
Pep Lijnders is back at #LFC, returning to take up a role in the first-team coaching staff.
— Glenn Price (@GlennPrice94) June 5, 2018
Lijnders is very, very highly rated amongst Klopp, Liverpool’s players and the hierarchy, so this is good news.
Now, we just need Zeljko Buvac to take up his role as Klopp’s no.2 again, although Neil Jones in Goal says that’s unlikely.
The boss’s opinion on Lijnders is obvious, though.
“He has such a big football brain,” Klopp said. “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.”
Naturally, fans have celebrated the news on Twitter:
Pep Lijnders is back at #LFC. Good news, very good news.
— sixtimesclub (@sixtimesclub_) June 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/LiverPulisic/status/1004036220400422912
Excellent news that Pep Lijnders has rejoined @LFC as a senior member of Klopp’s coaching staff. Onwards and upwards. #UpTheReds
— Scott McAuley (@toshenhoff) June 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/FalseFirmino/status/1004047290795823104