.Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterOct 2, 2024, 05:30 AM ETClose u2022 Joined ESPN in 2011 u2022 Covered two Olympics, a set of Rugby World Cups and 2 British & Irish Lions excursions u2022 Previously rugby editor, and came to be senior writer in 2018The wall structures of Pep Lijnders' garage in his new Salzburg home are still bare.The unpacked boxes on the flooring have moments of his experience from coaching student at PSV to ending up being Ju00fcrgen Klopp's "equivalent companion" at Liverpool, as Klopp phones it. There are actually bordered images, t-shirts and also match balls coming from the many finals he helped the group reach.But there is actually one other memento he cherishes above all as it sums up what he is actually passionate about establishing young people, and finding them thrive on regulation football's greatest phase. Alongside among the fit balls from the 2019 Champions League last is a picture from the events after Liverpool's victory. It is a photo of Lijnders along with Trent Alexander-Arnold on his back. Alexander-Arnold mounted it and inflicted him when Lijnders left Liverpool in addition to Klopp in May. The caption checks out: "This is my favourite image of us, as well. Thank you for completely every little thing. Without you, none of it was possible. Trent." Lijnders has acquired pages as well as webpages of training treatments going back twenty years. His experience started in 2002 as young people instructor at PSV, in 2006 he transferred to FC Porto, after that in 2014 he overcame the Liverpool places to end up being a trainer under Brendan Rodgers and also Klopp, just before he chose to try on his personal during the course of a chastening incantation as NEC Nijmegen manager in 2018. He went back to Liverpool six months later with excellent effectiveness and also, as Klopp told ESPN NL in August, Lijnders was actually the German's footballing "ideas for the last nine years." Editor's Picks2 RelatedLijnders is right now starting one more trip at FC Salzburg, intending to direct effects like Johan Cruyff, the daddy of Dutch "Overall Soccer," Italian ideal and also AC Milan legend Arrigo Sacchi, and also ex-Feyenoord manager Wiel Coerver while instilling his own theory as a "counter-pressing monster," as Klopp places it. However this isn't Liverpool 2.0, as well as he is actually not living under Klopp's wing.The road coming from assistant under a well-known employer to supervisor in your own right is actually a well-trodden one. There are excellence accounts: Mikel Arteta left behind Pep Guardiola's stewardship in 2019 for the Arsenal task as well as has carried out unbelievably well in a short area of time Josu00e9 Mourinho was actually assistant to Bobby Robson at Barcelona before breaking out on his very own to turn into one of one of the most effective managers of perpetuity brand new Chelsea supervisor Enzo Maresca functioned under Guardiola while the fantastic Joe Fagan took what he picked up from famous duo Expense Shankly as well as Bob Paisley to steer Liverpool to silverware in the 1980s. However after that there are the red flags as well: In 1998, Brian Kidd's tenure at Blackburn lasted 11 months after seven trophy-laden years at Manchester United with Alex Ferguson John Sculptor flourished under Robson and Alan Pardew at Newcastle however fell through when he commanded as caretaker in 2015. Therefore, it is actually with that past of unpredictability that Lijnders is going it alone at Salzburg. He wishes his crew to become understood for his plan of footballing "magnitude." Yet he won't be actually given extremely long a moratorium. His group have actually created a gauged begin-- gaining 8 coming from 14 games, but shedding 4-0 to Brest in the Champions Organization on Tuesday-- and while it is actually a group renowned for young people development, the supporters count on excellence offered final time was their very first without silverware for a many years." Our company're attempting to produce a crew that can beat any person in globe volleyball," Lijnders informed ESPN NL in August. "Are our experts there certainly however? No, not. Yet we're on course." Coming From Cruyff to KloppPep Lijnders helped Jurgen Klopp develop one of the most ideal Liverpool teams in the past of the nightclub. ( Photograph by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Lijnders' having fun job as a combative midfielder for neighborhood amateur club SVEB on the Dutch-German border was stopped at 17 years of ages due to an ACL personal injury. He went to the Central Institute for Athletics Forerunner Training (CIOS) to research and began operating at PSV Eindhoven, acquiring the only training apprenticeship available to students on the course. As he handled his research studies and also his project at PSV, he additionally took charge of SVEB's reserves, where he to begin with tried to execute his viewpoint: a mix of "Complete Football" (a fluid soccer system promoting positional interchange promoted through Cruyff) and relentless counter-pressing." I had the sensation gamers revived when I coached, which gives you self-confidence," he says.The apprenticeship along with PSV was actually suggested to become a five-year project, but he was rewarded a permanent deal after 3 years, and also invested the next 2 years sweeping in between the USA and the Netherlands with fellow coach Frans Hoek while developing abilities like Cody Gakpo and Jordan Teze. He profited from the famous Guus Hiddink when he was PSV coach coming from 2002 to 2006 and informs ESPN: "Guus provided colour to Dutch soccer in the means Ju00fcrgen provided colour to German football." In 2007, aged 24, Lijnders possessed enthusiasm coming from MTK Budapest, yet used up a deal at FC Porto where he held on Vitor Frade's every term. Frade-- marvelled at through Mourinho, Andru00e9 Villas-Boas, Robson and a great number of others-- was actually an university lecturer who was actually additionally assistant supervisor at Porto and the daddy of military periodisation (generally utilizing instruction as a mirror for match strength and also rhythm, rather than an isolated workout). Lijnders remembers their military developments back then as well as get into a vast smile, referencing an aerial photo he has of one Carbon monoxide Adriaanse's setup where he released exclusively wingers on the flanks and also no full-backs. At the time it blew his mind.In Portugal, Lijnders worked to spearhead Porto's "Task 611," an umbrella term for the nightclub's plan to re-think the academy's partnership along with the first team. "I qualified all the teams-- U19 in the morning, U15 in the mid-day, as well as U12 as well as U11 at night," he claims. "Sometimes I 'd have 40 gamers, however I really did not talk a term of Portuguese." Regardless of that barricade, Porto flourished. The nightclub delivered via abilities like Jou00e3o Fu00e9lix, Andru00e9 Gomes, Andru00e9 Silva, Fabio Vieira as well as Diogo Dalot. There was actually additionally midfielder Ru00faben Neves, a player that captained Lijnders' youth crews at Porto, worked as linguist, as well as someone that Lijnders created that he "really loves to bits" in his 2022 manual "Strength."" That is actually why I really love soccer a lot," Lijnders mentions. "The connection you shape with the players. If that connection isn't there, there's no chance to effectiveness." He was appeared out by Rene Meulensteen in early 2013 as an achievable enhancement to Ferguson's backroom team at Male United, yet that collapsed when Ferguson resigned at the end of that time. And by mid-2014, Lijnders was ready for a brand-new difficulty. While researching for his UEFA training symbols under the assistance of the Welsh FA, Lijnders had actually secured a young people coach openings at Liverpool project, so the nightclub sent U23 manager Michael Beale as well as academy supervisor Alex Inglethorpe to listen closely to some of his presentations. It did the job: "Michael said to me, 'Pepijn, you're not soaring back to Porto, you are actually coming with me to Liverpool.'" Among Pep Lijnders' most important skills was actually nourishing and also pinpointing institute talent prior to giving them an opportunity to increase by means of the rankings. ( Photo by Cees truck Hoogdalem/Soccrates/Getty Photos) Lijnders flew to Liverpool that evening, was installed in a hotel, and also for three times they talked. It found yourself with Liverpool giving Lijnders a contract to take charge of the U16 as well as U15s: a group that featured Rhian Brewster, Ben Woodburn, Caoimhu00edn Kelleher, Curtis Jones, and also, particularly, leader Alexander-Arnold. That summer season Lijnders was advertised to a project with the first string under Rodgers, but when the Northern Irishman was sacked on Oct. 4, 2005, Mike Gordon (president of the group's proprietors Fenway Sports Team) talked to Lijnders to maintain Liverpool's training school Melwood beating over while they pursued Klopp. Certainly, when the German took control of there were no promises he was actually mosting likely to always keep Lijnders. Numerous of Rodgers' staff had left behind currently, but Gordon asked the new manager to keep a number of instructors coming from the previous routine. Klopp still possessed last word, yet was open to the idea.The first was John Achtenberg. "Excellent, given that I failed to have a goalkeeping instructor," Klopp remembers informing Gordon. He inquired his brand-new manager: "What performs the other fella carry out?" Gordon stated Lijnders was actually a "technological coach" a specialist in bridging the gap between young people and also first string." In Germany, no one purchases an instructor like that," Klopp tells ESPN. "They would certainly state, 'You yearn for a 2nd assistant wherefore? What are you carrying out?' Therefore, I just liked the concept a whole lot." It was a high-end to Klopp, but he still really did not recognize a lot about this youthful Dutch train. So on his first night at the nightclub, the new-look Liverpool monitoring met for supper in the Chance Road Hotels And Resort. Klopp had his counted on team Zeljko Buvac as well as Peter Krawietz there along with him, yet he desired to learn more about the brand new skins. Achtenberg rested away of him Lijnders to the various other. "It was essentially really love at first sight," Klopp states of Lijnders. "I found his interest for every thing." Klopp additionally saw the amount of Lijnders appreciated him. "I don't view myself as an awesome coach," he points out. "I recognize some people somehow presume that, as well as you could possibly observe it in Pep's eyes. You could find him believe, 'I better listen closely.' That is actually exactly how it started. By the end, our experts were actually equivalent companions." play1:40 Michallik: Slot producing Liverpool's post-Klopp shift painlessJanusz Michallik mentions the greatest compliment you can easily pay for Arne Port is that he's stopped pundits referring to life after Jurgen Klopp.Blossoming at AnfieldLijnders' first task under Klopp was as best growth trainer. He really loves flipcharts as well as each element of his military sight was actually written down on these vast notepads. Klopp bears in mind those early meetings, and how whenever he 'd speak, he would certainly hear Lijnders' pen scribbling away, writing everything he said.At this stage, Klopp phoned Buvac the "human brain" and Krawietz the "eye." Chatting in 2017 to LFC TV, Klopp mentioned: "Pep has become incredibly vital quickly because he creates every thing down. He is likewise part of 'the brain' because he is our thoughts to bear in mind the important things what our company carried out in previous sessions ... I got the Dutch coach who was actually resisted to possession! Dutch football is possession-based: it is actually Complete Soccer, Cruyff. But he was actually a counter-pressing creature. I loved his enjoyment and the technique he gets out of the saddle when he refers to regulation football." Among his ultimate contributions because 1st time frame at Liverpool came in pushing Klopp to give several of the academy players an opportunity in the first team, with Alexander-Arnold one of the very first promoted in 2016 at the age of 18." I might create a publication regarding the instant he initially told me concerning Trent Alexander-Arnold," Klopp tells ESPN. "We opened the door Trent operated right through it. His right feet is ridiculous. The Trent highlights video is actually preposterous. You don't need the targets, it's the successfully pases, you check out the passes and also assume 'Exactly how is actually that possible?' It is actually a totally different sporting activity." Lijnders additionally had a big influence in tiding over in between first string and institute. "I learnt from him," Klopp includes. "He opened my thoughts for various factors in football. As most of us get older, the distance in between you and the grow older of the gamer team grows. My two boys maintained me in touch with that creation, however certainly, the future generation of unparalleled trainers are actually presently around. There is actually constantly alter, growth as well as improvement. Pep opened my eyes for those kinds of things.Pep Lijnders possessed a quick assignment at Dutch side NEC Nijmegen prior to returning Liverpool in 2018. ( Picture by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC using Getty Images) Under Klopp, Lijnders took over extra responsibility: planning instruction as well as the routine around suits. Off the sound, the 2 routinely played padel and ended up being astonishingly close friends.Liverpool ended up fourth in 2016-17 yet, midway through the complying with initiative, Lijnders was being sounded out concerning a head-coach placement of his personal back in the Netherlands. Eager to go back to his home to be with his daddy as he fought cancer, the 34-year-old chosen to take the best task at then-second department side NEC Nijmegen on Jan. 2, 2018. His target was to safeguard advertising back to the Eredivisie, however it proved to become an unlucky incantation and they shed in the playoffs to FC Emmen. After over 5 months in the function, he left behind by common arrangement on May 17." I have constantly taken complete task and also never ever mentioned a bad phrase about NEC," Lijnders points out. "It's a beautiful club, but at times the time is not right. Sometimes there is no click, or even in some cases you sign up with a club where you need patience. Yet I take duty. I do not wish to claim excessive regarding it, given that every little thing I mention might come upon inappropriate. I knew a great deal to take right into my following task." Back at Anfield, Buvac had actually gone on in April and Klopp was seeking a brand new associate. Of course, he preferred Lijnders back.One time, Lijnders was in the landscape along with his partner Danielle and mom when his phone rang. It was actually Klopp, and also Danielle asked what the call had to do with. "He told me we're heading to overcome the world," Lijnders told her.Just 19 days after he left behind NEC, Lijnders' appointment as Klopp's assistant supervisor was declared on June 5." Most of us recognize there is actually a well-known phrase: 'You can learn more from defeats than coming from consistent success,'" Klopp mentions. "I am actually not sure it [Lijnders' time at NEC] was a genuine loss, yet it wasn't well equipped, I assume our company may state that. Our experts really did not speak a whole lot concerning it, it was actually not important. I was simply glad he returned." A gold returnPep Lijnders and also Jurgen Klopp pose along with the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup prize throughout the Liverpool procession on May 29, 2022. ( Photograph through Jan Kruger/Getty Photos) Over the upcoming couple of years, Klopp and Lijnders will attain amazing results with each other at Liverpool. The crowning minute was actually the 2019 Champions Organization final draw Tottenham Hotspur, but that was merely some of an amount of prizes consisting of the 2019-20 Premier Game headline, 2022 FA Cup, 2019 Club World Cup, and 2022 as well as 2024 Game Cups.Lijnders sympathized all the vital instants, both in the public eye as well as in the shadows as they outlined their excellence. He was linguist on the call when Klopp was attempting to encourage Porto winger Luis Du00edaz to participate in the club in January 2022, and also remembers partaking Klopp's kitchen space making an effort to work out just how to urge centre-back Virgil vehicle Dijk to authorize coming from Southampton in January 2018. Yet through all the joy as well as obstacles, the project took its toll. As well as prior to the 2023-24 time began, Klopp and also Lijnders began to plan for the finishing point." It was taking place in the [2023] summer, [with] a quite difficult year responsible for us," Lijnders says of an initiative where the group completed 5th and also were actually knocked senseless of the Champions League in the round of 16. "Our team enjoyed our company gained the final 8, 9 games of the time, our experts still mosted likely to Europe. Our company modified the unit Trent went a lot more inside [to participate in as a midfielder]" In the summertime our company currently went over if it was actually the right time to go, or if it was actually the right time to proceed. Our company said 'yes, we'll do one more year and also our team'll view in January.' But through November-time, Ju00fcrgen pointed out: 'I'm carried out.' And also I pointed out, 'Yes if that's the case, it is actually opportunity for me to go as well.' I have actually possessed numerous, pleasant provides in the last few years, however I wished to complete the project along with him. My link is actually very strong along with him: he's a bro, a dad, a mentor. Beyond my family as well as closest buddies, he knows me better than any person." On Might 19, 2024, Klopp took charge of Liverpool for the final time as they beat Wolves 2-0. After being actually out on the pitch, soaking in the unfiltered worship, posing for a great number of photographs, he discovered themself back in the abdomens of Anfield as well as there was actually an unusual minute of silent." Our company 'd possessed Louise Dobson, the team manager, telling us where to go and also when, as well as our company were therefore touched [by the events]," he claims. "Eventually, it was just Pep and me. Our team possessed rips in our eyes. We knew our team were blessed too since in our organization, you come in through the main door as well as they push you out the back entrance. We were actually honored and also our experts could go out through the main door. Our experts wrote a publication together which was the final chapter. And also our experts appreciated that as a lot [as our experts might] considering that you recognize it's certainly not for life. That's life." After a night partying, as well as, depending on to Klopp, the Lijnders household dominating the dancing floor, interest turned to the future. Lijnders had already been dealing with rate of interest coming from clubs keen to speak with him about honest vacancies, as well as he understood it was actually time for his household to experience something brand-new." You possess one decade in Liverpool, in Formby, a small village, you have every thing certainly there, right?" he states. "Therefore my kids understand nothing other than England, Liverpool and the club. They assume every arena resembles Anfield." Lijnders just contacted nightclubs that will explore him in person in Formby, and also each opportunity he would certainly try to find particular assurances. However it was actually Austrian Bundesliga side FC Salzburg that attracted him. The group possessed sustained a hard 2023-24 campaign, which observed then-manager Gerhard Struber sacked in April, and also won the normal period yet ended up second in the Champion Cycle to Sturm Graz to finish their 1st trophyless period in a decade.After a browse through to Salzburg to visit the nightclub personally, Lijnders' partner Danielle counted on their youngest kid, Romijn, and talked to: "What perform you think about Salzburg?" Romijn answered: "I overlook it actually." play1:34 Michallik: Arne Slot has actually made Luis Du00edaz a far better playerESPN FC's Spot Donaldson as well as Janusz Michallik review just how Liverpool supervisor Arne Slot is getting the best out of his team, especially Luis Du00edaz, following their 3-0 draw Bournemouth.New beginningsOn Aug. thirteen, 2024, Salzburg trumped FC Twente 5-4 on aggregate to get approved for the Champions League team phase. "Our experts desire to be the crew that can easily beat anyone on the planet," Lijnders mentions. "Are we there certainly however? No, certainly certainly not ... we have actually simply started. Yet I yearn for the fans to believe, "okay, this is the brand new Salzburg."" With his counter-pressing viewpoint greatly ingrained, Lijnders additionally prefers his Salzburg to stifle the adversary. "You may play a leading style of regulation football, where you may possess the reception in the challenger's half a lot," he incorporates. "Our experts are actually young, our team are talented, our company teem with blowing. We don't desire the rival to have at any time. There is actually so much skill listed here, so much power, a great deal youth. "Our company possess a smaller team, 16 or 17 gamers, and also offers our company area for the academy." With a motto of "Fuu00dfball von morgen" [Regulation football coming from tomorrow] as well as a past of unparalleled players like Erling Haaland, Sadio Manu00e9, Dominik Szoboszlai, Benjamin Sesko as well as Dayot Upamecano having happened with the ranks, the nightclub's focus is actually quite on young people the earliest players in the squad are actually goalkeepers Janis Blaswich (33) as well as Alexander Schlager (28 ), while the earliest outfield gamers are 25. Considering that Lijnders participated in, Salzburg have actually presently robbed his old nightclub to sign midfielders Stefan Bajcetic and Bobby Clark on finance, while the new supervisor likewise took coaches Vitor Matos and Andreas Kornmayer along with him.The mad people coming from Salzburg u2764 pic.twitter.com/DrsXmSKwJ8u2014 FC Reddish Upward Salzburg (@RedBullSalzburg) August 27, 2024 The aged Liverpool coaches still possess their WhatsApp team open it is actually called the "Diamond Canine," motivated by Apple TV show Ted Lasso. When Salzburg stage show, the conversation is actually as active as ever before, with Klopp keeping a shut eye on exactly how Lijnders is doing." Everyone along with a little a football eye may view his impact," Klopp mentions. "I enjoy this great mix of true strength, a clear idea and also things. I informed him after an activity lately, you can find this team possesses a good trainer. That is actually exactly how I evaluate trainers my whole lifestyle-- you enjoy the activities, and after that you ponder who instructors all of them. They participate in well. I think it's a win-win situation for him at Salzburg. It's thus brilliant coming from him, and also it is actually so wise coming from Salzburg." Salzburg's organization period began with 4 victories, a draw and also a loss, yet it has also seen harmful losses to Sparta Prague (3-0) as well as Brest (4-0) in the Champions Organization. He acquired some objection for picking up crews versus Sparta as well as Austria Wien with no Austrian players in the sequence, yet Lijnders recognizes there will be actually times when kind sags as well as pressure rises. He is going to stay with his concepts which have actually provided him effectively thus far." It is actually darker and alone when you do not gain, and when you get involved in such a time frame, it may be black, alone as well as annoying," he mentions. "But when you're qualifying on the field, helping gamers improve, I will definitely certainly never obtain exhausted of that. In those moments you have to hang on to what makes you, as a player, and also a coach." Every instructor will go through challenging durations, yet there's nothing at all inappropriate with that. I understand I enjoy with high danger, however additionally higher perks. That's that I am actually. There are actually 2 suits in soccer. There is actually the match on the scoreboard, as well as the second complement is your identification. You can shed one, yet you'll never ever lose the second fit." I hope you'll observe Salzburg mashing as well as chasing the rival around the whole entire sound, and also from all directions. Yet most of all, they are actually performing it all together, for good." Additional reporting: Sanne van Dongen as well as Milan van Dongen.