Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders will leave will Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season (Picture: Getty)
Pep Lijnders is set to follow Jurgen Klopp out of Liverpool and is in talks return to his native Netherlands to take charge of Ajax.
Klopp sent shockwaves around the footballing world last month as he announced that he would be stepping down as Liverpool manager at the end of the season after nine trophy-laden years at the helm.
In Liverpool’s statement, it was confirmed that Klopp’s assistants Pepijn Lijnders, Peter Krawietz and Vitor Matos would all follow the German out the exit door at Anfield, leaving an enormous void to fill in the summer.
Lijnders, 41, has proved a trusted member of Klopp’s coaching staff since returning to Liverpool in 2018, often facing the media for press conferences and even taking charge on the touchline when the former Dortmund boss came down with coronavirus in 2022.
The Dutchman had previously worked under Brendan Rodgers on Merseyside and had a brief stint in charge of NEC before helping the Reds win their sixth Champions League title in 2019.
Liverpool have since added a further seven trophies to their cabinet, including a second Carabao Cup at the weekend, and Lijnders has been credited with helping nurture the winning culture inside Klopp’s dressing room.
According to talkSPORT, discussions are in place for Lijnders to come in and rescue Ajax, with the club having one of their worst ever Eredivisie seasons under Maurice Steijn and, now, John van ‘t Schip, who took over the reins on an interim basis.
Lijnders has helped the Reds win eight trophies since returning to Merseyside n 2018 (Picture: Getty)
Lijnders would be reunited with ex-Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson should he join the four-time European champions.
Henderson put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half year deal in Amsterdam in January after bringing an end to a widely condemned six-month spell with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq.
The England midfielder is still yet to pick up his first win in the Eredivisie, drawing two and losing one of his three opening matches for Ajax, with the side languishing down in fifth – 29 points adrift of leaders PSV Eindhoven.
The 41-year-old is in talks to manage in his native Netherlands with Ajax (Picture: Getty)
After announcing his impending departure, Klopp claimed the ‘absolutely exceptional’ Lijnders had all the ingredients to be a top manager in the game.
‘Pep especially is ready – ready to manage a football team and he wants to do that as well, so that’s great, together with Vitor,’ Klopp said.
‘If you change, change properly and they are ready for the future and I’m really happy about that. The most influential guy in the last years definitely in this club was Pep Lijnders.
‘The job he did is absolutely exceptional. The inspiration he is for me is absolutely exceptional.
‘The relationship we grew is absolutely exceptional. Outstanding, everything.
‘I’m really looking forward to follow his way and to support if necessary. And if I can, I will definitely do.’
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