.Tom Hamilton, Senior WriterOct 2, 2024, 05:30 AM ETClose u2022 Signed up with ESPN in 2011 u2022 Covered 2 Olympics, a pair of Rugby Globe Cups as well as pair of British & Irish Lions trips u2022 Formerly rugby editor, and became elderly writer in 2018The walls of Pep Lijnders' garage in his brand new Salzburg home are actually still bare.The unpacked cartons on the flooring consist of minds of his trip coming from training pupil at PSV to coming to be Ju00fcrgen Klopp's "identical partner" at Liverpool, as Klopp phones it. There are framed images, tee shirts and match rounds from the several finals he assisted the staff reach.But there is one other memento he values above all as it summarizes what he is actually enthusiastic concerning building youth, as well as observing all of them develop on regulation football's biggest phase. Beside one of the fit balls coming from the 2019 Champions League ultimate is an image from the occasions after Liverpool's victory. It is a photo of Lijnders with Trent Alexander-Arnold on his back. Alexander-Arnold mounted it as well as gave it to him when Lijnders quit Liverpool alongside Klopp in May. The subtitle reads: "This is my favourite photo people, as well. Thank you for positively every little thing. Without you, none of it was possible. Trent." Lijnders has acquired web pages and webpages of training sessions going back twenty years. His experience began in 2002 as youth trainer at PSV, in 2006 he moved to FC Porto, after that in 2014 he resolved the Liverpool places to end up being a train under Brendan Rodgers and Klopp, prior to he determined to check out his personal during the course of a chastening incantation as NEC Nijmegen supervisor in 2018. He came back to Liverpool six months later with excellent results as well as, as Klopp said to ESPN NL in August, Lijnders was the German's footballing "motivation for the final 9 years." Publisher's Picks2 RelatedLijnders is actually now embarking on yet another journey at FC Salzburg, planning to transport impacts like Johan Cruyff, the daddy of Dutch "Overall Regulation Football," Italian visionary as well as a/c Milan legend Arrigo Sacchi, and ex-Feyenoord supervisor Wiel Coerver while instilling his personal approach as a "counter-pressing creature," as Klopp places it. But this isn't Liverpool 2.0, as well as he's certainly not residing under Klopp's wing.The path coming from aide under a well-known boss to manager in your very own right is a well-trodden one. There are actually excellence stories: Mikel Arteta left Pep Guardiola's stewardship in 2019 for the Toolbox project and also has carried out exceptionally well in a brief room of time Josu00e9 Mourinho was actually assistant to Bobby Robson at Barcelona prior to breaking out on his very own to turn into one of the best successful supervisors of perpetuity new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca operated under Guardiola while the terrific Joe Fagan took what he picked up from legendary duo Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley to steer Liverpool to silverware in the 1980s. Yet then there are the red flags too: In 1998, Brian Kidd's tenure at Blackburn lasted 11 months after 7 trophy-laden years at Manchester United along with Mam Alex Ferguson John Sculptor succeeded under Robson and also Alan Pardew at Newcastle however fell through when he commanded as sitter in 2015. Therefore, it's with that said background of changability that Lijnders is going it alone at Salzburg. He desires his team to be known for his blueprint of footballing "strength." But he will not be actually given very long a moratorium. His staff have produced a gauged start-- gaining eight coming from 14 games, but shedding 4-0 to Brest in the Champions Organization on Tuesday-- and while it's a team renowned for young people progression, the supporters expect excellence given last period was their 1st without flatware for a many years." We're trying to produce a crew that may defeat anyone in planet football," Lijnders informed ESPN NL in August. "Are our experts there certainly however? No, never. However our company're on program." From Cruyff to KloppPep Lijnders assisted Jurgen Klopp construct among the best Liverpool staffs in the past history of the nightclub. ( Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC using Getty Images) Lijnders' having fun occupation as a ructious midfielder for local amateur club SVEB on the Dutch-German border was interrupted at 17 years of ages due to an ACL personal injury. He visited the Central Principle for Sports Forerunner Training (CIOS) to research and started working at PSV Eindhoven, getting the only coaching apprenticeship on offer to pupils on the course. As he juggled his researches as well as his project at PSV, he additionally took charge of SVEB's gets, where he initially tried to execute his approach: a mix of "Overall Soccer" (a fluid football system encouraging positional interchange championed through Cruyff) as well as relentless counter-pressing." I had the feeling gamers revived when I coached, which provides you peace of mind," he says.The apprenticeship with PSV was meant to become a five-year task, but he was actually granted a full-time deal after three years, and devoted the upcoming two years sweeping between the United States and also the Netherlands along with fellow instructor Frans Hoek while building abilities like Cody Gakpo and also Jordan Teze. He learnt from the fabulous Guus Hiddink when he was PSV train coming from 2002 to 2006 and informs ESPN: "Guus gave colour to Dutch regulation football in the means Ju00fcrgen gave colour to German regulation football." In 2007, aged 24, Lijnders had interest from MTK Budapest, yet took up a contract at FC Porto where he hung on Vitor Frade's every word. Frade-- admired by Mourinho, Andru00e9 Villas-Boas, Robson and a great number of others-- was actually an educational institution lecturer who was likewise assistant manager at Porto and the dad of tactical periodisation (practically utilizing training as a looking glass for suit magnitude and also rhythm, as opposed to a segregated physical exercise). Lijnders remembers their military innovations at the moment and also get into a vast smile, referencing an aerial photograph he has of one Co Adriaanse's setup where he released exclusively wingers on the flanks and no full-backs. Back then it wasted his mind.In Portugal, Lijnders worked to spearhead Porto's "Venture 611," a sunshade condition for the club's program to re-think the academy's connection with the first team. "I trained all the groups-- U19 in the morning, U15 in the afternoon, and also U12 and U11 in the evening," he points out. "Sometimes I would certainly have 40 players, however I failed to speak a phrase of Portuguese." Regardless of that barrier, Porto prospered. The nightclub taken through abilities like Jou00e3o Fu00e9lix, Andru00e9 Gomes, Andru00e9 Silva, Fabio Vieira and also Diogo Dalot. There was additionally midfielder Ru00faben Neves, a gamer that captained Lijnders' youth staffs at Porto, functioned as linguist, and an individual that Lijnders composed that he "adores to littles" in his 2022 manual "Magnitude."" That's why I like regulation football a great deal," Lijnders says. "The connection you create along with the gamers. If that relationship isn't there certainly, there is actually no chance to effectiveness." He was appeared out by Rene Meulensteen in early 2013 as a feasible addition to Ferguson's backroom staff at Man United, however that collapsed when Ferguson resigned at the end of that time. And by mid-2014, Lijnders was ready for a brand-new obstacle. While analyzing for his UEFA training symbols under the assistance of the Welsh FA, Lijnders had gotten a youth instructor vacancy at Liverpool job, so the nightclub sent U23 supervisor Michael Beale as well as institute director Alex Inglethorpe to listen to among his presentations. It did the job: "Michael mentioned to me, 'Pepijn, you are actually not soaring back to Porto, you're coming with me to Liverpool.'" Some Of Pep Lijnders' essential skills was actually nurturing and pinpointing institute ability just before giving them an odds to increase with the rankings. ( Image through Cees vehicle Hoogdalem/Soccrates/Getty Images) Lijnders soared to Liverpool that evening, was actually put up in a resort, and also for three times they chatted. It wound up along with Liverpool delivering Lijnders a deal to take charge of the U16 as well as U15s: a group that consisted of Rhian Brewster, Ben Woodburn, Caoimhu00edn Kelleher, Curtis Jones, and, particularly, leader Alexander-Arnold. That summer Lijnders was advertised to a work along with the first string under Rodgers, yet when the Northern Irishman was actually sacked on Oct. 4, 2005, Mike Gordon (president of the club's managers Fenway Athletics Group) inquired Lijnders to keep Liverpool's training school Melwood beating over while they pursued Klopp. Naturally, when the German managed there were actually no assurances he was actually going to maintain Lijnders. Numerous of Rodgers' personnel had left behind presently, yet Gordon asked the brand-new supervisor to keep a couple of trains coming from the previous program. Klopp still had last word, yet was open to the idea.The first was John Achtenberg. "Really good, since I failed to have a goalkeeping instructor," Klopp keeps in mind telling Gordon. He asked his new manager: "What performs the other fella carry out?" Gordon pointed out Lijnders was a "technological coach" an expert in tiding over in between young people and first string." In Germany, no one spends for an instructor like that," Klopp informs ESPN. "They 'd mention, 'You prefer a 2nd assistant of what? What are you doing?' Thus, I liked the tip a whole lot." It was a luxury to Klopp, however he still didn't know a lot concerning this youthful Dutch train. So on his first night at the nightclub, the new-look Liverpool monitoring encountered for dinner in the Chance Road Hotels And Resort. Klopp had his depended on personnel Zeljko Buvac and also Peter Krawietz there along with him, yet he wanted to be familiar with the brand-new faces. Achtenberg sat to one side of him Lijnders to the various other. "It was actually basically love prima facie," Klopp says of Lijnders. "I found his enthusiasm for every little thing." Klopp additionally viewed just how much Lijnders appreciated him. "I do not observe on my own as an awesome train," he states. "I understand some people by chance think that, and you might find it in Pep's eyes. You might see him presume, 'I much better listen closely.' That's how it started. By the end, we were equal companions." play1:40 Michallik: Slot creating Liverpool's post-Klopp switch painlessJanusz Michallik points out the largest praise you can pay for Arne Slot is actually that he's quit pundits speaking about life after Jurgen Klopp.Blossoming at AnfieldLijnders' initial part under Klopp was actually as best advancement instructor. He enjoys flipcharts as well as each facet of his planned eyesight was actually written down on these substantial notepads. Klopp remembers those early conferences, and also just how whenever he will talk, he would certainly hear Lijnders' pen scribbling away, writing every thing he said.At this phase, Klopp contacted Buvac the "human brain" as well as Krawietz the "eye." Speaking in 2017 to LFC TELEVISION, Klopp claimed: "Pep has ended up being extremely crucial in a short time due to the fact that he creates everything down. He is actually also aspect of 'the human brain' considering that he is our thoughts to bear in mind things what our experts did in previous sessions ... I received the Dutch trainer that was opposed to possession! Dutch soccer is possession-based: it's Total Regulation Football, Cruyff. Yet he was actually a counter-pressing monster. I adored his pleasure as well as the way he avoids the seat when he talks about football." Some of his biggest additions because first time period at Liverpool came in nudging Klopp to give a number of the institute players a possibility in the first string, with Alexander-Arnold some of the very first promoted in 2016 at the age of 18." I could possibly write a manual concerning the instant he initially told me regarding Trent Alexander-Arnold," Klopp informs ESPN. "Our company opened the door Trent operated throughout it. His correct feet is ridiculous. The Trent highlights video clip is actually foolish. You don't need the targets, it is actually the successfully pases, you check out the successfully pases and assume 'How is that feasible?' It's a fully different sporting activity." Lijnders additionally had a large effect in bridging the gap between first team and also institute. "I learnt from him," Klopp incorporates. "He opened my thoughts for various points in football. As we all age, the distance in between you as well as the age of the gamer group grows. My pair of boys maintained me in touch with that creation, but obviously, the future generation of unparalleled coaches are actually on the market. There's regularly transform, growth and also improvement. Pep opened my eyes for those type of things.Pep Lijnders had a brief assignment at Dutch edge NEC Nijmegen just before returning Liverpool in 2018. ( Photograph through Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) Under Klopp, Lijnders assumed a lot more accountability: preparing instruction and the schedule around complements. Off the pitch, both consistently played padel and ended up being very close friends.Liverpool completed fourth in 2016-17 yet, midway via the observing campaign, Lijnders was being actually appeared out about a head-coach posture of his very own back in the Netherlands. Keen to go back to his home to be with his dad as he fought cancer, the 34-year-old determined to take the best task at then-second branch edge NEC Nijmegen on Jan. 2, 2018. His target was actually to get promotion back to the Eredivisie, but it confirmed to become an untoward spell and they shed in the playoffs to FC Emmen. After over 5 months in the role, he left behind by reciprocal agreement on May 17." I have always taken full responsibility and also never ever claimed a poor term about NEC," Lijnders points out. "It's a wonderful club, however sometimes the timing is actually wrong. Often there is actually no hit, or even sometimes you participate in a nightclub where you need persistence. Yet I take obligation. I don't wish to claim excessive about it, since everything I claim could possibly come upon incorrect. I learnt a whole lot to take into my upcoming work." Back at Anfield, Buvac had moved on in April and also Klopp was actually searching for a brand new associate. Obviously, he really wanted Lijnders back.One time, Lijnders resided in the landscape with his partner Danielle and mama when his phone sounded. It was Klopp, and also Danielle asked what the call was about. "He informed me we are actually going to control the globe," Lijnders informed her.Just 19 days after he left behind NEC, Lijnders' consultation as Klopp's assistant supervisor was actually introduced on June 5." Most of us know there is actually a popular phrase: 'You can discover more coming from beats than from continual victory,'" Klopp says. "I'm uncertain it [Lijnders' time at NEC] was a true defeat, yet it had not been properly ready, I presume we may state that. Our experts failed to communicate a lot concerning it, it was actually certainly not required. I was actually merely happy he went back." A gold returnPep Lijnders as well as Jurgen Klopp pose along with the FA Mug as well as the Carabao Mug trophy in the course of the Liverpool march on Might 29, 2022. ( Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Pictures) Over the upcoming handful of years, Klopp as well as Lijnders would attain amazing effectiveness with each other at Liverpool. The crowning second was actually the 2019 Champions Organization ultimate win over Tottenham Hotspur, but that was actually merely one of an amount of prizes including the 2019-20 Premier League title, 2022 FA Mug, 2019 Group World Cup, and 2022 and 2024 Organization Cups.Lijnders was there for all the essential seconds, both in the public eye and also in the darkness as they outlined their success. He was actually explainer on decision when Klopp was trying to convince Porto winger Luis Du00edaz to participate in the group in January 2022, as well as keeps in mind sitting in Klopp's cooking area trying to exercise how to convince centre-back Virgil vehicle Dijk to sign from Southampton in January 2018. However through all the joy and also problems, the job took its toll. And just before the 2023-24 season began, Klopp as well as Lijnders started to plan for the finishing point." It was actually occurring in the [2023] summer season, [along with] a really complicated year responsible for us," Lijnders claims of an initiative where the club finished 5th and were actually knocked senseless of the Champions League in the around of 16. "Our experts mored than happy our team gained the final 8, nine activities of the period, our experts still headed to Europe. Our company altered the system Trent went a lot more inside [to participate in as a midfielder]" In the summer our experts already discussed if it was actually the right time to go, or if it was actually the right time to continue. Our team said 'yes, we'll perform another year and our team'll view in January.' But by November-time, Ju00fcrgen stated: 'I am actually performed.' As well as I stated, 'Yes if that's the case, it's opportunity for me to go too.' I've had several, good provides in recent times, yet I would like to end up the venture with him. My relationship is extremely strong with him: he's a sibling, a daddy, an advisor. Beyond my family and also closest pals, he recognizes me better than any person." On Might 19, 2024, Klopp took charge of Liverpool for the last time as they trump Wolves 2-0. After being actually out on the pitch, taking in the unfiltered worship, posing for many pictures, he discovered themself back in the bowels of Anfield and there was an uncommon moment of peaceful." Our team 'd had Louise Dobson, the crew manager, telling our team where to go and when, and also we were so touched [due to the occasions]," he mentions. "In the end, it was just Pep and also me. We possessed splits in our eyes. We knew our company were blessed at the same time considering that in our business, you can be found in with the main door and they push you out the back door. Our team were actually blessed as well as our team can go out with the front door. Our experts created a book with each other and also was actually the final phase. And also our company took pleasure in that as a lot [as our experts could] since you recognize it's certainly not for life. That is actually lifestyle." After an evening partying, and also, according to Klopp, the Lijnders household dominating the dance flooring, focus turned to the future. Lijnders had actually been actually picking up enthusiasm from clubs keen to consult with him regarding upcoming opportunities, as well as he knew it was time for his household to experience something new." You possess ten years in Liverpool, in Formby, a small town, you have everything there, right?" he mentions. "Thus my kids know absolutely nothing other than England, Liverpool and also the club. They assume every arena feels like Anfield." Lijnders just talked to nightclubs that would certainly explore him face to face in Formby, and each opportunity he will look for specific assurances. Yet it was Austrian Bundesliga edge FC Salzburg that attracted him. The team possessed withstood a tough 2023-24 project, which observed then-manager Gerhard Struber sacked in April, and succeeded the routine period yet ended up second in the Champion Cycle to Sturm Graz to end their very first trophyless period in a decade.After a see to Salzburg to explore the nightclub personally, Lijnders' other half Danielle counted on their youngest kid, Romijn, and also asked: "What do you think of Salzburg?" Romijn answered: "I overlook it already." play1:34 Michallik: Arne Port has actually created Luis Du00edaz a better playerESPN FC's Spot Donaldson and also Janusz Michallik go over exactly how Liverpool manager Arne Port is actually receiving the best away from his team, specifically Luis Du00edaz, observing their 3-0 sway Bournemouth.New beginningsOn Aug. thirteen, 2024, Salzburg trumped FC Twente 5-4 on accumulation to qualify for the Champions Category group stage. "Our experts intend to be actually the team that can defeat anyone in the world," Lijnders states. "Are our company there certainly yet? No, naturally certainly not ... our team have actually merely started. Yet I really want the supporters to believe, "all right, this is actually the new Salzburg."" With his counter-pressing ideology greatly inherent, Lijnders additionally desires his Salzburg to suffocate the opposition. "You can easily participate in a dominant style of football, where you can possess the reception in the challenger's half a great deal," he includes. "Our company are younger, our team excel, our experts contain blowing. Our team do not desire the opponent to possess at any time. There is actually a great deal skill listed below, so much energy, so much youth. "Our experts possess a much smaller squad, 16 or 17 players, and also offers us room for the institute." Along with a mantra of "Fuu00dfball von morgen" [Soccer from tomorrow] and also a history of unparalleled gamers like Erling Haaland, Sadio Manu00e9, Dominik Szoboszlai, Benjamin Sesko as well as Dayot Upamecano having come through the ranks, the club's concentration is very much on young people the earliest players in the team are goalkeepers Janis Blaswich (33) as well as Alexander Schlager (28 ), while the earliest outfield players are actually 25. Since Lijnders joined, Salzburg have actually currently robbed his old club to sign midfielders Stefan Bajcetic and also Bobby Clark on financing, while the brand-new manager likewise took coaches Vitor Matos as well as Andreas Kornmayer along with him.The wild men from Salzburg u2764 pic.twitter.com/DrsXmSKwJ8u2014 FC Reddish Bull Salzburg (@RedBullSalzburg) August 27, 2024 The aged Liverpool trainers still possess their WhatsApp group available it's called the "Diamond Canine," encouraged by Apple TV program Ted Lasso. When Salzburg play, the chat is actually as energetic as ever before, along with Klopp maintaining a shut eye on just how Lijnders is getting on." Everybody along with a little bit of a soccer eye can observe his impact," Klopp claims. "I adore this great mix of true magnitude, a very clear tip and belongings. I informed him after a video game lately, you can observe this crew has a great train. That is actually exactly how I evaluate coaches my entire life-- you check out the activities, and afterwards you ponder who instructors them. They participate in properly. I believe it is actually a win-win situation for him at Salzburg. It is actually so smart coming from him, as well as it's so clever coming from Salzburg." Salzburg's game time started along with four triumphes, a draw as well as a loss, yet it has actually also found damaging reductions to Sparta Prague (3-0) and also Brest (4-0) in the Champions League. He acquired some unfavorable judgment for dealing with teams against Sparta and also Austria Wien without any Austrian gamers in the lineup, but Lijnders recognizes there will certainly be actually opportunities when kind plunges and also pressure rises. He is going to stick to his guidelines which have actually served him effectively until now." It is actually black as well as lonely when you don't win, and when you enter into such a period, it could be darker, alone and uneasy," he says. "However when you're training on the industry, aiding gamers boost, I will certainly never acquire exhausted of that. In those seconds you need to hang on to what creates you, as a gamer, and a trainer." Every trainer is going to experience tough periods, however there is actually nothing at all wrong keeping that. I know I play with higher danger, yet likewise high benefit. That's who I am. There are pair of fits in football. There's the match on the scoreboard, as well as the second fit is your identity. You may shed one, but you'll never ever shed the second fit." I hope you'll observe Salzburg pressing and also going after the opponent all over the whole entire sound, as well as coming from all instructions. Yet above all, they're performing it with each other, for life." Additional reporting: Sanne van Dongen and also Milan truck Dongen.