Considered as Jurgen Klopp’s Replacement, Pep Lijnders Shares Why He Wasn’t Offered Liverpool Job Before Arne Slot

Eyebrows were raised when Jurgen Klopp announced his decision to curtain his 9-year tenure at Liverpool. But what truly sparked surprise was the selection of Arne Slot as his replacement, particularly considering that Klopp’s long-time assistant manager, Pepijn Lijnders, seemed a natural successor. Why was he not chosen by the Merseyside for another Dutch manager? 

“The first reason was I really felt that this was a project of ‘us’. Jurgen led it and I really felt we should end this project together,” said Lijnders, in a lengthy chat with The Athletic. While Klopp will sit back and relax for a sabbatical, Lijnders is gearing up for a new managerial role at Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg. Having enjoyed the Premier League for 10 years, a change was needed for a ‘new experience’; to have his own coaching staff and meet a new group of people.  

Even though the Dutchman’s stay at Anfield would have kept things the same, Lijnders thought that even Liverpool required a change. Even he didn’t know what his response would have been if FSG owner Mike Gordon had called him to stay. “Mike said, ‘Pep, we really considered you, but I think it’s fair for you that we don’t put you after Jurgen’. Mike is a good guy. He knew as well. I’d made my ambition clear. It was best for the future,” Lijnders added. 

Notably, before teaming up with Klopp, Lijnders managed NEC Nijmegen for 22 matches. Aside from managing the Liverpool U18s, he has also worked as a technical coach at FC Porto under ex-Reds boss Brendan Rodgers, Paulo Fonseca, and current Al Nassr boss Luis Castro, and at PSV Youth. While his CV wasn’t bad, Liverpool went to Slot. Speaking of which, let’s dive deeper to know more about him. 

Who is Arne Slot? The man who will lead Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp

Jurgen Klopp secured 8 trophies and achieved victory in 207 out of 330 Premier League matches. However, how does his successor, Arne Slot, compare? Well, the Dutch manager has clinched two trophies, both during his time at Feyenoord. He claimed the Eredivisie title in the 2022/23 season and followed it up with the KNVB Cup in 23/24. Despite these accomplishments, Slot’s success transcends mere trophy counts. 

He took charge of Feyenoord when they finished 5th in Eredivisie and has since emerged victorious in 148 out of 238 games in charge, with only 40 defeats. However, while excelling domestically, Slot faced challenges in European competitions. In terms of playing style, he combines elements from Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, preferring to control games with a default formation of 4-2-3-1. 

His Feyenoord team is particularly adept at ball possession, ranking in the 92nd percentile, and shares Klopp’s emphasis on intensity without possession. While this sounds interesting, only time will tell if Slot’s era can surpass Klopp’s.