Manchester City has confirmed the appointment of ex-Liverpool coach Pep Lijnders as part of its new-look coaching set-up.
The Blues have freshened things up following Pep Guardiola's first trophy-less season since 2017 at the Ethihad. Lijnders, who was Jurgen Klopp's long-time assistant, has joined City alongside James French, who also joins from Liverpool.
French will take up a role as set-piece coach, while Lijnders is set to be Guardiola's new assistant.
Both have begun their roles in time for the start of the Club World Cup.
City opted against extending the contracts of assistants Juanma Lillo and Inigo Dominguez this summer, while coach Carlos Vicens also departed to take over at Portuguese side Braga.
It left Guardiola with vacancies to fill. Lijnders, who first moved to Liverpool as part of Brendan Rodgers' backroom team, has been out of work since he was sacked by RB Salzburg in December, a position he took up after departing Liverpool with Klopp.
City referenced the former Liverpool coach's "extensive elite level coaching experience" when the move was announced, with director of football Hugo Viana hinting Lijnders will be more aligned to Guardiola's possession-based model, a change from the full-throttle play under Klopp.
Jurgen Klopp's No.2 Pep Ljinders has been a hot topic amongst Liverpool fans in recent weeks
Lijnders was part of Klopp's coaching staff for the majority of his time at Liverpool. (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC)
"We are all delighted that Pepijn and James have joined our senior coaching set-up," Viana explained, via the club's website.
“Pepijn and James have each amassed huge experience working in their individual roles over the past few years.
“Their talent, application, work ethic and all-round commitment are totally aligned with the values that underpin how Pep wants football to be played.
“And I have no doubt at all that both will prove to be very important assets for Pep and his coaching team as we prepare for the Club World Cup and then the 2025/26 season.”
Pep Guradiola
Guardiola felt a need to freshen his coaching staff after an underwhelming season. (Image: Getty Images)
French has been at Liverpool for 13 years and was employed as a working as first-team opposition analyst.
Explaining his decision to freshen up City's coaching team, Guardiola told ESPN: "I'm going to lose people that I adore and they mean something, of course, but it happened in the past with many people.
"In 15 years, a lot left, everyone cheated on me! But the new ones, younger people and new players, they always bring this energy and this energy revitalises a lot."