Former Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders could link up with Jurgen Klopp. That follows his departure from Man City, where he left alongside Pep Guardiola
17:12, 12 Jun 2026
Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool, celebrates with Pepijn Lijnders, Assistant Manager of Liverpool after the team's victory in the Carabao Cup Final match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on February 25, 2024 in London, England.
Pep Lijnders was Jurgen Klopp's right hand man at Liverpool(Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
It's all change for Pep Lijnders once more. Jurgen Klopp's old assistant has been busy since leaving Liverpool, and he will need to update his resume again this summer.
Lijnders left Anfield when Klopp did in the summer of 2024. He departed with plenty of goodwill and immediately secured a position as manager of Red Bull Salzburg.
That almost facilitated a very rapid reunion with Klopp, who agreed in October of that year to take up a post as Head of Global Football across the whole Red Bull network. But Lijnders was sacked before his old boss officially started in the role.
That at least saved him the ignominy of being dismissed by Klopp, although it was still a very disappointing end to Lijnders' second brief attempt to make it as a head coach. However, he landed on his feet and was soon taking up an unlikely position on Pep Guardiola's staff at Man City.
That burned one or two bridges among the Anfield faithful. But overall, he is still remembered positively for the role he had in an era of great success for Liverpool.
Like Klopp before him, Guardiola appeared to be happy with Lijnders' input. Man City also gave the Dutchman the option of staying on under Enzo Maresca next season, but he elected to draw a line under that chapter.
Pepijn Lijnders assistant head coach of Manchester City celebrates with Erling Haaland of Manchester City after the Emirates FA Cup Final match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on May 16, 2026 in London, England.
Lijnders spent a season with Manchester City under Pep Guardiola(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
He also declined the chance to have a third crack as a manager, with City believed to have been willing to place him elsewhere in the City Football Group. Instead, Lijnders looks as though he is belatedly following Klopp's example and taking a break.
And the length of that break may depend on Klopp's next move. According to the Daily Mail, the two could link up again in the future.
It's thought that Lijnders’ next step could be to join up with Klopp at the German national team, should the former Liverpool boss end up taking the reins there. But whether that happens at all is far from a certainty, and the timescales are unknown.
Julian Nagelsmann is the current Germany manager and has a contract that takes him through to Euro 2028. But an underperformance at the World Cup could presumably change the picture and bring Klopp into the frame.
Julian Nagelsmann, Head Coach of Team Germany looks on during a Team Germany training session at W. Dennie Spry Soccer Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Julian Nagelsmann is leading Germany at the 2026 World Cup(Image: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
There's also the possibility that Nagelsmann could be prematurely tempted back into club football. The former Bayern Munich boss still has an excellent reputation in the game, and many teams would be keen to appoint him.
Of course, this is a lot of ifs, buts, and maybes. But one thing that's certain is that Klopp would be keen to reunite with Lijnders.
"The most influential guy in the last years at this club was definitely Pep Lijnders," Klopp said as the two of them announced their Liverpool departure. "The job he did is absolutely exceptional, the inspiration he is for me is absolutely exceptional."
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Klopp also provided Guardiola with a glowing reference for Lijnders before he was appointed at Man City, so there will certainly be no hard feelings about that move. Only time will tell if the pair one day share the Germany dugout, but it's certainly one to keep an eye on.