.Tom Hamilton, Elder WriterOct 2, 2024, 05:30 AM ETClose u2022 Joined ESPN in 2011 u2022 Dealt with two Olympics, a set of Rugby Globe Cups and also 2 British & Irish Lions trips u2022 Recently rugby publisher, and also became senior author in 2018The wall structures of Pep Lijnders' garage in his brand-new Salzburg home are still bare.The unpacked packages on the flooring have moments of his journey from mentoring student at PSV to ending up being Ju00fcrgen Klopp's "identical partner" at Liverpool, as Klopp phones it. There are mounted photographes, t-shirts as well as match spheres coming from the numerous finals he assisted the team reach.But there is actually another keepsake he enjoys above all as it sums up what he's zealous about building youth, as well as finding all of them flourish on regulation football's greatest stage. Alongside some of the suit balls from the 2019 Champions League final is actually a photograph from the festivities after Liverpool's conquest. It is actually an image of Lijnders along with Trent Alexander-Arnold on his back. Alexander-Arnold bordered it as well as gave it to him when Lijnders quit Liverpool in addition to Klopp in May. The caption reads through: "This is my much-loved picture people, too. Thanks for positively whatever. Without you, none of it was possible. Trent." Lijnders has actually obtained web pages as well as webpages of training sessions going back twenty years. His experience began in 2002 as young people instructor at PSV, in 2006 he moved to FC Porto, then in 2014 he overcame the Liverpool rates to become a trainer under Brendan Rodgers as well as Klopp, before he made a decision to check out his own in the course of a chastening spell as NEC Nijmegen supervisor in 2018. He returned to Liverpool 6 months eventually along with fantastic results as well as, as Klopp told ESPN NL in August, Lijnders was actually the German's footballing "ideas for the final nine years." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedLijnders is actually now embarking on one more quest at FC Salzburg, wanting to transport influences like Johan Cruyff, the dad of Dutch "Overall Regulation Football," Italian lofty as well as a/c Milan legend Arrigo Sacchi, and also ex-Feyenoord supervisor Wiel Coerver while instilling his personal philosophy as a "counter-pressing beast," as Klopp puts it. But this isn't Liverpool 2.0, and also he is actually not staying under Klopp's wing.The pathway coming from assistant under a prominent supervisor to supervisor in your personal right is actually a well-trodden one. There are success accounts: Mikel Arteta left Pep Guardiola's conservation in 2019 for the Toolbox project as well as has performed incredibly effectively in a short area of your time Josu00e9 Mourinho was assistant to Bobby Robson at Barcelona before bursting out on his own to turn into one of one of the most successful supervisors of all time brand-new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca functioned under Guardiola while the fantastic Joe Fagan took what he learned from legendary duo Bill Shankly as well as Bob Paisley to steer Liverpool to silverware in the 1980s. But at that point there are the deterrent examples too: In 1998, Brian Kidd's period at Blackburn lasted 11 months after seven trophy-laden years at Manchester United with Alex Ferguson John Sculptor prospered under Robson as well as Alan Pardew at Newcastle however bombed when he took charge as sitter in 2015. Therefore, it's with that said history of changability that Lijnders is going it alone at Salzburg. He wants his team to be understood for his plan of footballing "magnitude." But he will not be actually offered too long a grace period. His crew have produced a gauged beginning-- winning 8 from 14 games, yet shedding 4-0 to Brest in the Champions League on Tuesday-- and also while it's a group renowned for youth growth, the supporters anticipate success given final period was their initial without silverware for a years." Our experts're making an effort to develop a crew that can trump any person in globe soccer," Lijnders said to ESPN NL in August. "Are our experts there yet? No, absolutely not. However our experts perform program." Coming From Cruyff to KloppPep Lijnders assisted Jurgen Klopp create among the most effective Liverpool teams in the past history of the club. ( Photograph through John Powell/Liverpool FC using Getty Images) Lijnders' having fun occupation as a combative midfielder for local amateur club SVEB on the Dutch-German perimeter was actually stopped at 17 years of ages due to an ACL injury. He visited the Central Principle for Sports Innovator Instruction (CIOS) to examine and also started operating at PSV Eindhoven, receiving the only coaching instruction on offer to trainees on the program. As he handled his studies and his job at PSV, he likewise organized SVEB's books, where he first made an effort to apply his viewpoint: a mix of "Complete Regulation Football" (a liquid football device promoting positional interchangeability championed through Cruyff) and unrelenting counter-pressing." I possessed the feeling players came to life when I trained, which gives you assurance," he says.The apprenticeship with PSV was actually implied to be a five-year venture, but he was granted a full-time contract after 3 years, and devoted the next two years flitting between the USA and also the Netherlands along with fellow instructor Frans Hoek while creating skills like Cody Gakpo as well as Jordan Teze. He learnt from the epic Guus Hiddink when he was PSV instructor coming from 2002 to 2006 and says to ESPN: "Guus gave colour to Dutch football in the means Ju00fcrgen gave colour to German football." In 2007, aged 24, Lijnders had rate of interest coming from MTK Budapest, yet used up an agreement at FC Porto where he held on Vitor Frade's every word. Frade-- marvelled at through Mourinho, Andru00e9 Villas-Boas, Robson and also numerous others-- was actually an educational institution teacher that was actually additionally assistant supervisor at Porto and also the father of military periodisation (generally making use of instruction as a mirror for match magnitude and also rhythm, rather than a separated exercise). Lijnders remembers their planned advancements back then and also get into a vast smile, referencing a flying photo he possesses of one Co Adriaanse's arrangement where he deployed exclusively wingers on the flanks and also no full-backs. During the time it wasted his mind.In Portugal, Lijnders worked to spearhead Porto's "Job 611," a sunshade term for the nightclub's plan to re-think the institute's connection with the first string. "I taught all the crews-- U19 in the early morning, U15 in the afternoon, and also U12 and U11 at night," he states. "Sometimes I will possess 40 players, however I failed to communicate a word of Portuguese." Even with that barricade, Porto prospered. The nightclub taken by means of skills like Jou00e3o Fu00e9lix, Andru00e9 Gomes, Andru00e9 Silva, Fabio Vieira as well as Diogo Dalot. There was also midfielder Ru00faben Neves, a player who captained Lijnders' youth staffs at Porto, worked as explainer, as well as somebody that Lijnders composed that he "enjoys to littles" in his 2022 book "Intensity."" That's why I love soccer so much," Lijnders mentions. "The partnership you shape along with the players. If that bond isn't there certainly, there is actually no chance to success." He was seemed out by Rene Meulensteen in very early 2013 as an achievable addition to Ferguson's backroom team at Man United, yet that collapsed when Ferguson resigned by the end of that period. And also through mid-2014, Lijnders awaited a brand-new obstacle. While examining for his UEFA coaching badges under the advice of the Welsh FA, Lijnders had applied for a young people trainer vacancy at Liverpool job, so the nightclub delivered U23 manager Michael Beale and also academy director Alex Inglethorpe to pay attention to some of his presentations. It did the job: "Michael pointed out to me, 'Pepijn, you're not soaring back to Porto, you're possessing me to Liverpool.'" One of Pep Lijnders' crucial skills was actually nourishing and determining academy ability just before providing an opportunity to rise via the ranks. ( Picture through Cees truck Hoogdalem/Soccrates/Getty Images) Lijnders flew to Liverpool that night, was actually installed in a hotel, and also for three days they chatted. It wound up along with Liverpool giving Lijnders an agreement to take charge of the U16 and U15s: a team that consisted of Rhian Brewster, Ben Woodburn, Caoimhu00edn Kelleher, Curtis Jones, and also, notably, leader Alexander-Arnold. That summertime Lijnders was ensured to a project with the first team under Rodgers, yet when the Northern Irishman was actually sacked on Oct. 4, 2005, Mike Gordon (president of the club's owners Fenway Sports Team) asked Lijnders to keep Liverpool's training ground Melwood ticking over while they worked at Klopp. Naturally, when the German managed there were no warranties he was mosting likely to always keep Lijnders. Many of Rodgers' staff had actually left behind actually, however Gordon asked the brand-new manager to keep a number of trainers coming from the previous routine. Klopp still possessed last word, yet was open to the idea.The initially was actually John Achtenberg. "Good, given that I didn't possess a goalkeeping instructor," Klopp keeps in mind informing Gordon. He inquired his new manager: "What performs the various other man carry out?" Gordon said Lijnders was actually a "technological trainer" a professional in bridging the gap in between youth and also first team." In Germany, nobody pays for a trainer like that," Klopp says to ESPN. "They will state, 'You want a 2nd aide for what? What are you performing?' Therefore, I just liked the tip a whole lot." It was a deluxe to Klopp, yet he still didn't understand a lot concerning this younger Dutch instructor. So on his opening night at the club, the new-look Liverpool management encountered for supper in the Chance Street Accommodation. Klopp had his counted on personnel Zeljko Buvac and Peter Krawietz there certainly with him, yet he would like to get to know the new skins. Achtenberg sat to one side of him Lijnders to the other. "It was actually basically like at first sight," Klopp claims of Lijnders. "I observed his passion for everything." Klopp additionally saw how much Lijnders appreciated him. "I don't observe on my own as a phenomenal train," he claims. "I recognize some folks for one reason or another presume that, and you might see it in Pep's eyes. You could observe him think, 'I better pay attention.' That is actually exactly how it started. Due to the end, we were equivalent partners." play1:40 Michallik: Slot producing Liverpool's post-Klopp transition painlessJanusz Michallik states the most significant favor you can easily spend Arne Port is that he's ceased experts talking about lifestyle after Jurgen Klopp.Blossoming at AnfieldLijnders' first duty under Klopp was as elite growth instructor. He really loves flipcharts and also each component of his planned vision was made a note of on these extensive pieces of paper. Klopp remembers those early meetings, and how whenever he will speak, he will hear Lijnders' marker doodling away, writing whatever he said.At this stage, Klopp got in touch with Buvac the "human brain" as well as Krawietz the "eye." Talking in 2017 to LFC TV, Klopp pointed out: "Pep has ended up being extremely significant in a short time given that he creates everything down. He is additionally aspect of 'the human brain' given that he is our mind to bear in mind things what our experts performed in previous treatments ... I acquired the Dutch trainer who was actually resisted to property! Dutch soccer is possession-based: it's Complete Soccer, Cruyff. However he was actually a counter-pressing monster. I enjoyed his pleasure as well as the way he gets out of the seat when he refers to regulation football." Some of his biggest contributions in that initial time period at Liverpool came in nudging Klopp to offer a number of the institute players a possibility in the first team, along with Alexander-Arnold among the 1st marketed in 2016 at the age of 18." I might write a book regarding the moment he initially told me concerning Trent Alexander-Arnold," Klopp says to ESPN. "We opened the door Trent ran right through it. His ideal foot is outrageous. The Trent highlights video is preposterous. You do not need to have the objectives, it is actually the successfully pases, you enjoy the passes and believe 'Just how is that achievable?' It's a fully different sport." Lijnders likewise possessed a major effect in tiding over in between first string and also academy. "I gained from him," Klopp adds. "He opened my mind for various factors in football. As we all age, the proximity in between you and the age of the player team gets bigger. My two boys kept me in touch keeping that creation, yet of course, the newest generation of unparalleled instructors are presently around. There is actually consistently modify, advancement and renovation. Pep opened my eyes for those kinds of things.Pep Lijnders had a short job at Dutch side NEC Nijmegen before rejoining Liverpool in 2018. ( Picture through Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC by means of Getty Images) Under Klopp, Lijnders said more accountability: preparing instruction and also the schedule around complements. Off the pitch, the two routinely participated in padel and came to be astonishingly near friends.Liverpool ended up fourth in 2016-17 however, midway by means of the following initiative, Lijnders was actually being actually appeared out regarding a head-coach setting of his very own spine in the Netherlands. Keen to return to his homeland to be along with his papa as he battled cancer, the 34-year-old chosen to take the leading work at then-second division side NEC Nijmegen on Jan. 2, 2018. His target was actually to secure promotion back to the Eredivisie, yet it showed to be an ill-fated incantation as well as they shed in the playoffs to FC Emmen. After over 5 months in the duty, he left behind by reciprocal agreement on May 17." I have always taken total accountability as well as certainly never stated a negative phrase about NEC," Lijnders claims. "It's an attractive nightclub, however occasionally the timing is not right. In some cases there is no hit, or even sometimes you join a club where you require determination. However I take accountability. I do not desire to point out a lot of about it, considering that everything I point out could possibly come upon inappropriate. I found out a great deal to take in to my following job." Back at Anfield, Buvac had actually proceeded in April and Klopp was seeking a brand-new assistant. Naturally, he wished Lijnders back.One day, Lijnders resided in the yard along with his better half Danielle and also mother when his phone rang. It was Klopp, as well as Danielle asked what the call had to do with. "He told me our team're mosting likely to conquer the world," Lijnders told her.Just 19 days after he left behind NEC, Lijnders' session as Klopp's assistant manager was actually introduced on June 5." Most of us understand there is actually a renowned expression: 'You can learn more from beats than from consistent triumph,'" Klopp mentions. "I am actually uncertain it [Lijnders' time at NEC] was actually a real loss, yet it had not been properly ready, I assume our team can point out that. Our company failed to speak a whole lot regarding it, it was actually not important. I was just pleased he returned." A gold returnPep Lijnders as well as Jurgen Klopp position with the FA Mug as well as the Carabao Cup trophy during the Liverpool procession on May 29, 2022. ( Photograph through Jan Kruger/Getty Pictures) Over the next couple of years, Klopp and also Lijnders would certainly obtain remarkable success together at Liverpool. The glorious instant was the 2019 Champions Organization ultimate get Tottenham Hotspur, however that was actually only among a number of trophies consisting of the 2019-20 Premier League title, 2022 FA Cup, 2019 Group Planet Mug, and also 2022 as well as 2024 League Cups.Lijnders sympathized all the vital instants, both well-known and in the darkness as they sketched their excellence. He was explainer on the call when Klopp was attempting to persuade Porto winger Luis Du00edaz to participate in the group in January 2022, as well as always remembers being in Klopp's kitchen area attempting to work out exactly how to persuade centre-back Virgil truck Dijk to authorize from Southampton in January 2018. However via all the pleasure and misfortunes, the work took its own cost. And before the 2023-24 period began, Klopp as well as Lijnders began to think about the finishing point." It was actually occurring in the [2023] summer, [with] a quite complicated year responsible for our company," Lijnders mentions of a campaign where the group finished fifth as well as were knocked out of the Champions Game in the round of 16. "We mored than happy our company gained the last 8, nine games of the period, our team still visited Europe. Our team transformed the body Trent went much more inside [to participate in as a midfielder]" In the summer our team currently talked about if it was the right time to go, or even if it was actually the right time to proceed. Our team stated 'yes, our team'll perform one more year as well as we'll view in January.' But by November-time, Ju00fcrgen said: 'I'm done.' And I mentioned, 'Yes if that's the case, it's opportunity for me to go too.' I've had a number of, great offers lately, yet I intended to complete the venture along with him. My link is extremely solid along with him: he is actually a sibling, a papa, an advisor. Outside of my loved ones and closest good friends, he recognizes me much better than any person." On Might 19, 2024, Klopp organized Liverpool for the final opportunity as they trump Wolves 2-0. After being actually out on the pitch, penetrating the unfiltered worship, posturing for many photographs, he found himself back in the innards of Anfield as well as there was an unusual minute of silent." Our team will had Louise Dobson, the staff supervisor, informing our company where to go and also when, and we were so touched [by the festivities]," he points out. "In the long run, it was actually merely Pep as well as me. Our team had tears in our eyes. We knew our company were actually blessed also because in our business, you come in via the front door and they press you out the back door. Our experts were blessed and also our company can head out with the main door. Our team wrote a publication all together and that was actually the last section. As well as our company appreciated that as a lot [as our experts could] since you know it's not forever. That is actually life." After an evening partying, and also, depending on to Klopp, the Lijnders family members controling the dancing floor, attention relied on the future. Lijnders had presently been actually fielding interest coming from clubs keen to speak with him concerning forthcoming jobs, as well as he knew it was time for his loved ones to experience one thing brand new." You possess 10 years in Liverpool, in Formby, a little village, you possess whatever there, right?" he states. "So my young boys know nothing at all apart from England, Liverpool and also the nightclub. They presume every stadium feels like Anfield." Lijnders merely spoke to nightclubs who would certainly see him personally in Formby, and also each opportunity he would certainly search for certain guarantees. However it was actually Austrian Bundesliga edge FC Salzburg that seduced him. The group possessed survived a hard 2023-24 initiative, which observed then-manager Gerhard Struber sacked in April, as well as gained the normal time however ended up second in the Championship Round to Sturm Graz to finish their 1st trophyless season in a decade.After a see to Salzburg to check out the club in person, Lijnders' other half Danielle looked to their youngest child, Romijn, as well as asked: "What do you think about Salzburg?" Romijn responded to: "I miss it actually." play1:34 Michallik: Arne Port has actually made Luis Du00edaz a far better playerESPN FC's Mark Donaldson and also Janusz Michallik explain just how Liverpool manager Arne Port is actually obtaining the most effective away from his team, in particular Luis Du00edaz, observing their 3-0 win over Bournemouth.New beginningsOn Aug. 13, 2024, Salzburg trumped FC Twente 5-4 on aggregate to qualify for the Champions League team stage. "Our company wish to be actually the staff that can trump anyone on the planet," Lijnders points out. "Are our team there certainly however? No, of course certainly not ... our experts have actually merely begun. But I yearn for the fans to presume, "all right, this is actually the brand-new Salzburg."" With his counter-pressing philosophy deeply ingrained, Lijnders additionally desires his Salzburg to stifle the opposition. "You can participate in a leading type of regulation football, where you may possess the ball in the enemy's half a lot," he incorporates. "Our experts are actually youthful, we are talented, our experts have plenty of bravado. Our company do not desire the enemy to have at any time. There is actually a lot skill here, so much electricity, a great deal youth. "Our experts possess a smaller sized team, 16 or even 17 gamers, which gives our company space for the academy." Along with a trademark of "Fuu00dfball von morgen" [Soccer coming from tomorrow] as well as a past history of world-class players like Erling Haaland, Sadio Manu00e9, Dominik Szoboszlai, Benjamin Sesko and Dayot Upamecano having come via the positions, the nightclub's concentration is actually very much on young people the earliest players in the squad are actually goalkeepers Janis Blaswich (33) and Alexander Schlager (28 ), while the oldest outfield gamers are actually 25. Given that Lijnders signed up with, Salzburg have currently invaded his aged club to sign midfielders Stefan Bajcetic and also Bobby Clark on financing, while the brand new manager also took coaches Vitor Matos as well as Andreas Kornmayer along with him.The crazy individuals from Salzburg u2764 pic.twitter.com/DrsXmSKwJ8u2014 FC Reddish Upward Salzburg (@RedBullSalzburg) August 27, 2024 The old Liverpool coaches still possess their WhatsApp team available it is actually knowned as the "Ruby Dogs," encouraged through Apple TV show Ted Lasso. When Salzburg stage show, the conversation is actually as active as ever before, along with Klopp keeping a near eye on just how Lijnders is faring." Everybody with a little a regulation football eye can easily view his impact," Klopp says. "I adore this wonderful mix of true strength, a clear suggestion and possession. I told him after a game just recently, you can easily view this staff has a great instructor. That is actually just how I determine trainers my whole lifestyle-- you view the activities, and after that you question that trains all of them. They participate in effectively. I believe it is actually a win-win situation for him at Salzburg. It's therefore intelligent coming from him, and it's so intelligent from Salzburg." Salzburg's game season began with 4 wins, a draw and a loss, but it has also viewed detrimental losses to Sparta Prague (3-0) as well as Brest (4-0) in the Champions Game. He acquired some criticism for picking up staffs against Sparta and also Austria Wien without any Austrian players in the lineup, but Lijnders understands there will certainly be actually times when kind sags and tension increases. He will certainly adhere to his guidelines which have offered him well thus far." It is actually black and unhappy when you do not win, and also when you get involved in such a period, it may be black, alone and also awkward," he mentions. "Yet when you are actually training on the field, assisting gamers boost, I will never acquire exhausted of that. In those seconds you must hang on to what creates you, as a gamer, and a coach." Every trainer is going to look at tough durations, but there's nothing wrong with that. I recognize I enjoy with high threat, but also high perks. That's that I am actually. There are pair of paireds in soccer. There is actually the complement on the scoreboard, and also the second suit is your identification. You can shed one, however you'll never ever lose the second complement." I hope you'll view Salzburg mashing and also going after the opponent throughout the entire pitch, and coming from all directions. But above all, they are actually performing it all together, permanently." Extra coverage: Sanne van Dongen and Milan truck Dongen.