Liverpool’s esteemed leaders have played a huge part in the club’s success over the past decade.
Virgil van Dijk has been a cornerstone of Liverpool’s success for several years now.
Alisson Becker is still commanding the Liverpool defence, meanwhile, Mohamed Salah continues to lead by example with his staggering performances.
The Reds, however, have seen some of their iconic leaders leave in recent years as Jurgen Klopp’s tenure at Anfield came to an end.
The likes of Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum and James Milner have all left the club in the past couple of seasons, with their departures no doubt impacting the Liverpool squad.
Milner’s exit in particular reportedly changed the atmosphere at Liverpool, with the midfielder’s impact on the Reds dressing room being highlighted by Pep Lijnders back in 2022.
Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Pep Lijnders claimed James Milner could have been Liverpool coach
Milner was an ever-present under Klopp, featuring in the German’s first ever starting XI at Liverpool.
The former England international would go on to play a huge part in Klopp’s side over the next several years, with Milner’s leadership being hailed as a big part of the Reds dressing room.
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
This is something Lijnders was keen to highlight back in 2022, claiming the midfielder could have been a coach for the Reds after hearing one of his speeches to the Liverpool players, ahead of their Champions League final against Real Madrid.
“The boys were in and out. What do we do? That’s not a good way to start a final anyway, but that’s for both teams, so no excuses there, nothing like that. But in that moment, Milly took the team together, all the backroom staff, everybody there, and the worst thing is I was not even there because I was discussing with the UEFA guy!” Lijnders wrote in his book ‘Intensity’.
“I walk in and see him standing there and he was like ‘if you don’t have full commitment, if you don’t have full conviction, just think about what all these staff members standing here are doing day by day for you guys to perform, that will give you the two or three percent that you will need’.
“As I said before, he could have my title tomorrow, assistant manager. The club are made around these players, around these characters. They are so much more than just football players. They are examples, they are truly legends. Not legends how you perceive it, but legends in terms of ultimate team players, and that makes them winners for life in my opinion.”
Milner’s speech wouldn’t be able to get Liverpool over the line in the Champions League final, but it was just one little example of his impact in Merseyside.
Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Gini Wijnaldum backs Milner manager claims
The Leeds academy graduate would eventually leave Merseyside in 2023 in a move to Brighton, despite Milner being offered a coaching role by Klopp.
Seemingly not ready to hang up his boots yet, Milner’s coaching career is on hold for now – with many believing he could have success once he steps into managerial game.
One of his former teammates, Gini Wijnaldum, is one player in particular who thinks Milner would be an ideal candidate to step into the dugout, telling Soccer AM in 2018:
“Milner definitely. The way he speaks with us and also on the pitch, how he helps players out, it is almost the same as being a manager.
“He can do it, I don’t know if he wants to do it. James is a good person and he is also a person when you have problems or things don’t go well, you can go to him to speak about it and he will help you.”