.Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterOct 2, 2024, 05:30 AM ETClose u2022 Joined ESPN in 2011 u2022 Covered two Olympics, a set of Rugby Planet Cups as well as 2 British & Irish Lions scenic tours u2022 Previously rugby publisher, and came to be senior author in 2018The walls of Pep Lijnders' garage in his brand-new Salzburg home are actually still bare.The unpacked boxes on the floor contain moments of his journey coming from mentoring student at PSV to ending up being Ju00fcrgen Klopp's "identical partner" at Liverpool, as Klopp calls it. There are actually bordered photographes, shirts and also suit rounds coming from the several finals he aided the staff reach.But there is another memento he cherishes above all as it sums up what he is actually zealous regarding cultivating young people, as well as viewing all of them flourish on football's biggest stage. Alongside one of the complement balls from the 2019 Champions League last is actually a picture from the celebrations after Liverpool's triumph. It is actually an image of Lijnders with Trent Alexander-Arnold on his back. Alexander-Arnold bordered it and also gave it to him when Lijnders left Liverpool along with Klopp in May. The caption checks out: "This is my much-loved picture of us, also. Thanks for absolutely every thing. Without you, none of it was actually feasible. Trent." Lijnders has received web pages and webpages of instruction treatments dating back twenty years. His journey started in 2002 as youth trainer at PSV, in 2006 he moved to FC Porto, at that point in 2014 he resolved the Liverpool ranks to come to be a train under Brendan Rodgers and Klopp, prior to he chose to wear his own in the course of a chastening incantation as NEC Nijmegen supervisor in 2018. He came back to Liverpool six months later on with great excellence and, as Klopp informed ESPN NL in August, Lijnders was the German's footballing "creativity for the final nine years." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedLijnders is actually right now plunging into yet another experience at FC Salzburg, planning to route effects like Johan Cruyff, the father of Dutch "Complete Football," Italian ideal and also AC Milan legend Arrigo Sacchi, and also ex-Feyenoord supervisor Wiel Coerver while instilling his personal theory as a "counter-pressing monster," as Klopp places it. Yet this isn't Liverpool 2.0, as well as he is actually certainly not living under Klopp's wing.The course coming from associate under a popular boss to supervisor in your very own right is a well-trodden one. There are actually success tales: Mikel Arteta left Pep Guardiola's conservation in 2019 for the Arsenal work as well as has performed astonishingly properly in a short space of your time Josu00e9 Mourinho was assistant to Bobby Robson at Barcelona prior to breaking out on his personal to turn into one of one of the most successful supervisors of perpetuity new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca worked under Guardiola while the terrific Joe Fagan took what he profited from legendary duo Costs Shankly and Bob Paisley to guide Liverpool to silverware in the 1980s. But then there are actually the cautionary tales too: In 1998, Brian Kidd's period at Blackburn lasted 11 months after seven trophy-laden years at Manchester United with Alex Ferguson John Carver thrived under Robson and also Alan Pardew at Newcastle but fell through when he took charge as carer in 2015. Therefore, it is actually keeping that background of unpredictability that Lijnders is actually going it alone at Salzburg. He desires his team to be recognized for his plan of footballing "strength." Yet he won't be provided extremely long a grace period. His staff have actually helped make an assessed start-- gaining eight from 14 games, yet shedding 4-0 to Brest in the Champions Game on Tuesday-- as well as while it's a team renowned for young people development, the fans expect effectiveness given last period was their very first without flatware for a many years." We are actually trying to produce a staff that can beat any person in planet football," Lijnders informed ESPN NL in August. "Are our team certainly there however? No, absolutely not. However our experts're on program." From Cruyff to KloppPep Lijnders helped Jurgen Klopp create among the best Liverpool teams in the past history of the club. ( Image through John Powell/Liverpool FC through Getty Images) Lijnders' playing profession as a quarrelsome midfielder for local area amateur club SVEB on the Dutch-German border was actually stopped at 17 years of ages due to an ACL accident. He went to the Central Principle for Sports Innovator Training (CIOS) to examine and began working at PSV Eindhoven, obtaining the only mentoring instruction on offer to trainees on the training program. As he handled his researches and also his work at PSV, he additionally took charge of SVEB's reserves, where he first made an effort to implement his viewpoint: a mix of "Total Football" (a liquid soccer unit motivating positional interchange championed through Cruyff) and also unrelenting counter-pressing." I had the sensation players revived when I coached, which offers you assurance," he says.The instruction with PSV was actually meant to be a five-year venture, however he was rewarded a full-time contract after 3 years, as well as spent the next pair of years sweeping in between the United States as well as the Netherlands with fellow trainer Frans Hoek while cultivating skills like Cody Gakpo as well as Jordan Teze. He profited from the fabulous Guus Hiddink when he was PSV coach from 2002 to 2006 and also says to ESPN: "Guus offered colour to Dutch football in the technique Ju00fcrgen provided colour to German soccer." In 2007, aged 24, Lijnders possessed interest from MTK Budapest, however took up a contract at FC Porto where he hung on Vitor Frade's every term. Frade-- appreciated by Mourinho, Andru00e9 Villas-Boas, Robson and plenty of others-- was an university lecturer that was also assistant manager at Porto and the daddy of military periodisation (generally making use of instruction as a looking glass for match intensity and also rhythm, as opposed to a segregated exercise). Lijnders remembers their military technologies back then as well as get into a large smile, referencing an aerial picture he has of one Co Adriaanse's arrangement where he released solely wingers on the flanks as well as no full-backs. At the moment it blew his mind.In Portugal, Lijnders worked to spearhead Porto's "Venture 611," a sunshade condition for the club's plan to re-think the institute's relationship along with the first team. "I educated all the crews-- U19 in the early morning, U15 in the mid-day, and also U12 as well as U11 at night," he points out. "Sometimes I 'd have 40 gamers, yet I didn't communicate a word of Portuguese." In spite of that barrier, Porto prospered. The club carried through talents like Jou00e3o Fu00e9lix, Andru00e9 Gomes, Andru00e9 Silva, Fabio Vieira as well as Diogo Dalot. There was actually additionally midfielder Ru00faben Neves, a gamer that captained Lijnders' young people teams at Porto, acted as linguist, and someone who Lijnders created that he "adores to little bits" in his 2022 book "Magnitude."" That's why I love football a great deal," Lijnders points out. "The partnership you shape with the gamers. If that bond isn't there, there's no way to success." He was actually appeared out by Rene Meulensteen in very early 2013 as a feasible add-on to Ferguson's backroom personnel at Male United, yet that broke down when Ferguson resigned by the end of that period. As well as through mid-2014, Lijnders awaited a new obstacle. While researching for his UEFA mentoring symbols under the guidance of the Welsh FA, Lijnders had actually applied for a young people instructor openings at Liverpool work, so the nightclub sent U23 supervisor Michael Beale and also academy supervisor Alex Inglethorpe to listen to some of his presentations. It did the job: "Michael mentioned to me, 'Pepijn, you're certainly not flying back to Porto, you are actually including me to Liverpool.'" Some Of Pep Lijnders' most important skills was nourishing and also recognizing academy talent before giving them a chance to climb through the ranks. ( Image through Cees truck Hoogdalem/Soccrates/Getty Photos) Lijnders flew to Liverpool that night, was actually put up in a resort, and also for 3 times they spoke. It found yourself with Liverpool supplying Lijnders a contract to organize the U16 and U15s: a team that included Rhian Brewster, Ben Woodburn, Caoimhu00edn Kelleher, Curtis Jones, and, notably, captain Alexander-Arnold. That summer season Lijnders was ensured to a task along 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 managers Fenway Sports Group) asked Lijnders to keep Liverpool's training ground Melwood beating over while they worked at Klopp. Naturally, when the German consumed there were actually no warranties he was mosting likely to always keep Lijnders. Several of Rodgers' workers had actually left presently, yet Gordon asked the new manager to go on a number of instructors from the previous regimen. Klopp still possessed last word, yet levelled to the idea.The first was actually John Achtenberg. "Excellent, because I failed to possess a goalkeeping train," Klopp always remembers saying to Gordon. He asked his new boss: "What carries out the other man do?" Gordon stated Lijnders was a "technological train" a pro in tiding over in between young people and also first team." In Germany, nobody pays for a coach like that," Klopp says to ESPN. "They would certainly mention, 'You prefer a 2nd associate of what? What are you carrying out?' Thus, I just liked the idea a great deal." It was actually a deluxe to Klopp, however he still didn't understand a lot regarding this young Dutch train. So on his first night at the club, the new-look Liverpool control got to know for supper in the Chance Road Hotel. Klopp had his trusted personnel Zeljko Buvac and Peter Krawietz certainly there along with him, however he desired to get to know the brand new faces. Achtenberg sat away of him Lijnders to the other. "It was more or less love prima facie," Klopp says of Lijnders. "I found his passion for every thing." Klopp also viewed the amount of Lijnders respected him. "I do not see myself as a phenomenal train," he mentions. "I understand some folks somehow believe that, as well as you could possibly see it in Pep's eyes. You might find him presume, 'I better pay attention.' That's exactly how it began. By the end, our company were actually equal partners." play1:40 Michallik: Slot producing Liverpool's post-Klopp transition painlessJanusz Michallik says the greatest favor you can pay Arne Port is actually that he's stopped experts talking about lifestyle after Jurgen Klopp.Blossoming at AnfieldLijnders' initial part under Klopp was as best progression instructor. He enjoys flipcharts and also each aspect of his tactical eyesight was actually written down on these vast notepads. Klopp always remembers those very early meetings, as well as just how whenever he would certainly speak, he will listen to Lijnders' pen doodling away, writing whatever he said.At this phase, Klopp called Buvac the "human brain" and also Krawietz the "eye." Chatting in 2017 to LFC TV, Klopp mentioned: "Pep has become amazingly important in a short time considering that he creates every thing down. He is actually also aspect of 'the mind' considering that he is our thoughts to bear in mind the important things what our company carried out in previous treatments ... I received the Dutch train who was actually resisted to possession! Dutch soccer is actually possession-based: it is actually Complete Football, Cruyff. But he was actually a counter-pressing beast. I loved his excitement as well as the means he avoids the seat when he refers to soccer." Among his greatest contributions because initial time period at Liverpool came in pushing Klopp to provide several of the institute players a possibility in the first team, along with Alexander-Arnold one of the initial marketed in 2016 at the grow older of 18." I can compose a manual about the minute he initially informed me regarding Trent Alexander-Arnold," Klopp informs ESPN. "Our company unlocked Trent managed throughout it. His correct foot is preposterous. The Trent highlights video is actually outrageous. You don't need the targets, it is actually the passes, you view the passes and also believe 'How is actually that achievable?' It is actually an entirely various sporting activity." Lijnders also possessed a large influence in bridging the gap between first team as well as institute. "I picked up from him," Klopp includes. "He opened my mind for various traits in soccer. As most of us age, the distance in between you and the age of the gamer group grows. My two boys maintained me in touch with that said production, however certainly, the future generation of first-rate instructors are actually currently on the market. There is actually always transform, advancement and also enhancement. Pep opened my eyes for those type of things.Pep Lijnders possessed a quick stint at Dutch edge NEC Nijmegen just before returning Liverpool in 2018. ( Image by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC by means of Getty Images) Under Klopp, Lijnders took over a lot more responsibility: preparing instruction and the timetable around matches. Off the pitch, the 2 on a regular basis played padel as well as became very close friends.Liverpool finished fourth in 2016-17 but, midway via the following initiative, Lijnders was being actually sounded out about a head-coach posture of his very own back in the Netherlands. Interested to go back to his home to be along with his dad as he battled cancer cells, the 34-year-old determined to take the best job at then-second branch side NEC Nijmegen on Jan. 2, 2018. His target was actually to protect advertising back to the Eredivisie, yet it showed to become an ill-fated spell and they lost in the playoffs to FC Emmen. After over five months in the role, he left behind through reciprocal deal on May 17." I have always taken complete obligation and certainly never mentioned a poor phrase regarding NEC," Lijnders says. "It's a beautiful nightclub, however often the time is not right. At times there is no click, or occasionally you sign up with a nightclub where you need perseverance. But I take obligation. I don't intend to point out way too much regarding it, due to the fact that every little thing I state could discover inappropriate. I learnt a great deal to take into my upcoming project." Back at Anfield, Buvac had actually proceeded in April and also Klopp was trying to find a brand new aide. Naturally, he preferred Lijnders back.One time, Lijnders remained in the yard along with his wife Danielle and mama when his phone called. It was Klopp, and Danielle asked what decision was about. "He informed me our company are actually going to control the globe," Lijnders said to her.Just 19 times after he left NEC, Lijnders' session as Klopp's assistant supervisor was introduced on June 5." All of us understand there is actually a well-known phrase: 'You can easily learn more coming from beats than from continual success,'" Klopp mentions. "I am actually not exactly sure it [Lijnders' opportunity at NEC] was an actual defeat, yet it wasn't well ready, I assume we can easily point out that. Our experts really did not speak a great deal regarding it, it was not required. I was only delighted he went back." A golden returnPep Lijnders as well as Jurgen Klopp position along with the FA Cup as well as the Carabao Mug prize during the Liverpool procession on Might 29, 2022. ( Photo through Jan Kruger/Getty Pictures) Over the next handful of years, Klopp and also Lijnders would certainly obtain impressive success with each other at Liverpool. The crowning second was the 2019 Champions Game final win over Tottenham Hotspur, but that was simply some of a variety of trophies including the 2019-20 Premier Game label, 2022 FA Cup, 2019 Club Planet Cup, as well as 2022 as well as 2024 Organization Cups.Lijnders sympathized all the vital moments, both well-known as well as in the shadows as they plotted their success. He was actually linguist on decision when Klopp was actually trying to convince Porto winger Luis Du00edaz to sign up with the club in January 2022, and also remembers being in Klopp's cooking area trying to exercise exactly how to convince centre-back Virgil vehicle Dijk to sign coming from Southampton in January 2018. Yet through all the happiness and problems, the work took its cost. And before the 2023-24 season began, Klopp and also Lijnders began to think about the finishing factor." It was actually occurring in the [2023] summertime, [with] an incredibly challenging year responsible for our company," Lijnders says of a project where the group finished 5th and were actually knocked senseless of the Champions League in the around of 16. "We enjoyed we won the last 8, 9 video games of the season, our experts still mosted likely to Europe. Our experts altered the body Trent went even more inside [to participate in as a midfielder]" In the summer season our experts currently reviewed if it was actually the right time to go, or even if it was actually the correct time to proceed. Our experts pointed out 'yes, our team'll carry out one more year as well as our company'll observe in January.' However through November-time, Ju00fcrgen stated: 'I'm done.' And I claimed, 'Yes if that's the case, it is actually time for me to go too.' I've possessed several, pleasant provides in recent years, yet I wanted to finish the venture along with him. My relationship is extremely sturdy along with him: he is actually a bro, a father, an advisor. Away from my family members as well as closest good friends, he knows me better than anybody." On May 19, 2024, Klopp organized Liverpool for the ultimate time as they beat Wolves 2-0. After being out on the pitch, taking in the unfiltered adulation, positioning for many photographs, he discovered himself back in the bowels of Anfield as well as there was an unusual minute of silent." Our experts 'd had Louise Dobson, the staff supervisor, telling us where to go and when, and we were therefore touched [by the parties]," he states. "Eventually, it was actually only Pep and me. Our team possessed splits in our eyes. We understood we were actually honored also since in our company, you can be found in by means of the frontal door as well as they push you out the back entrance. Our experts were blessed and our team could possibly walk out by means of the frontal door. We created a publication with each other and also was actually the last section. And also our company took pleasure in that as a lot [as we can] considering that you know it is actually not permanently. That's lifestyle." After an evening partying, and also, depending on to Klopp, the Lijnders loved ones dominating the dance flooring, focus looked to the future. Lijnders had presently been picking up enthusiasm coming from nightclubs keen to speak to him about upcoming jobs, as well as he understood it was time for his family members to experience something brand-new." You have one decade in Liverpool, in Formby, a little village, you have every little thing certainly there, right?" he points out. "Therefore my young boys understand nothing besides England, Liverpool and the nightclub. They think every arena resembles Anfield." Lijnders merely contacted nightclubs that would explore him face to face in Formby, and also each time he 'd seek specific guarantees. Yet it was actually Austrian Bundesliga side FC Salzburg that seduced him. The staff possessed withstood a difficult 2023-24 initiative, which saw then-manager Gerhard Struber sacked in April, and also succeeded the regular time yet completed second in the Champion Round to Sturm Graz to end their very first trophyless time in a decade.After a check out to Salzburg to visit the nightclub face to face, Lijnders' partner Danielle turned to their youngest son, Romijn, and talked to: "What do you think about Salzburg?" Romijn addressed: "I overlook it currently." play1:34 Michallik: Arne Slot has actually created Luis Du00edaz a far better playerESPN FC's Mark Donaldson and also Janusz Michallik cover just how Liverpool employer Arne Slot is actually acquiring the greatest away from his team, particularly Luis Du00edaz, following their 3-0 gain Bournemouth.New beginningsOn Aug. thirteen, 2024, Salzburg beat FC Twente 5-4 on aggregate to get approved for the Champions Rank group stage. "Our team want to be the staff that can easily trump any person in the world," Lijnders says. "Are we certainly there however? No, of course certainly not ... our team have actually only started. Yet I yearn for the supporters to think, "ok, this is actually the new Salzburg."" With his counter-pressing ideology heavily deep-rooted, Lijnders additionally wishes his Salzburg to suffocate the opposition. "You can easily play a leading style of football, where you may have the reception in the opponent's half a great deal," he includes. "Our company are younger, our team are talented, our team contain blowing. We do not want the rival to possess at any time. There is a great deal ability listed below, a lot energy, so much youth. "Our team have a smaller team, 16 or 17 gamers, and that provides us space for the academy." With a mantra of "Fuu00dfball von morgen" [Regulation football from tomorrow] and a background of outstanding gamers like Erling Haaland, Sadio Manu00e9, Dominik Szoboszlai, Benjamin Sesko and also Dayot Upamecano having actually come through the ranks, the club's focus is actually quite on youth the oldest players in the squad are goalkeepers Janis Blaswich (33) as well as Alexander Schlager (28 ), while the oldest outfield gamers are 25. Due to the fact that Lijnders participated in, Salzburg have actually plundered his aged club to authorize midfielders Stefan Bajcetic and also Bobby Clark on loan, while the brand-new supervisor also delivered coaches Vitor Matos and Andreas Kornmayer along with him.The crazy fellas coming from Salzburg u2764 pic.twitter.com/DrsXmSKwJ8u2014 FC Red Upward Salzburg (@RedBullSalzburg) August 27, 2024 The aged Liverpool trainers still possess their WhatsApp group available it's knowned as the "Diamond Canine," motivated through Apple television program Ted Lasso. When Salzburg stage show, the chat is actually as active as ever, along with Klopp keeping a near eye on how Lijnders is actually getting on." Everyone with a little bit of a soccer eye can easily see his impact," Klopp says. "I enjoy this pleasant mix of actual strength, a very clear tip and also things. I informed him after a video game lately, you can easily view this team possesses a good instructor. That is actually exactly how I evaluate instructors my entire lifestyle-- you view the games, and after that you wonder that coaches all of them. They participate in effectively. I think it's a great deal for him at Salzburg. It's thus wise from him, and it's therefore clever from Salzburg." Salzburg's league time began along with four wins, a draw and also a defeat, however it has also observed damaging losses to Sparta Prague (3-0) and Brest (4-0) in the Champions Game. He got some unfavorable judgment for handling groups versus Sparta and Austria Wien without any Austrian gamers in the sequence, but Lijnders knows there will be opportunities when form sags and pressure rises. He will stay with his principles which have provided him properly until now." It is actually darker and also alone when you do not gain, and when you get into such a duration, it can be black, alone and annoying," he claims. "Yet when you're qualifying on the industry, assisting gamers improve, I am going to never obtain exhausted of that. In those moments you must hold on to what creates you, as a player, as well as a coach." Every trainer will undergo difficult time frames, yet there's nothing at all wrong with that. I recognize I enjoy with higher threat, however also high incentive. That's that I am actually. There are pair of matches in soccer. There is actually the fit on the scoreboard, and also the second match is your identification. You can shed one, yet you'll never ever lose the 2nd suit." I wish you'll view Salzburg mashing as well as chasing after the challenger around the entire sound, and coming from all directions. But most of all, they are actually doing it with each other, permanently." Extra coverage: Sanne truck Dongen as well as Milan van Dongen.