From 'finish with Jurgen' to Man City and Guardiola
Pepijn Lijnders once called Jurgen Klopp his "proper football brother," but now he has joined one of his biggest rivals in Pep Guardiola.Manchester City have confirmed Lijnders will become a part of Guardiola's coaching staff, along with former Liverpool opposition analyst James French.The 42-year-old was Klopp's assistant when Liverpool won the Premier League and Champions League, standing down from the role when the German left the club in 2024.Speaking last year, Lijnders told the Liverpool club website: "I always said I will finish with Jurgen; the moment I will not assist anyone else, that's the moment I will go and I will manage. That was always the case."I owe this club everything. They don't owe me anything, to be honest. It's 10 years full of dedication. So when we [me and Jurgen] spoke, it was clear for me, I go and manage, and we end this project together," he added.Lijnders has had two spells as a manager - briefly leaving Liverpool in 2018 to manage NEC in the Netherlands, before a spell with Red Bull Salzburg at the beginning of last season, with both culminating in his dismissal.Without a club since December, the Dutchman has taken the step back from being a manager and once again will be an assistant.
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