Liverpool assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders will take over as the new head coach of Austrian giants Red Bull Salzburg following Gerhard Struber’s dismissal last month.
The 41-year-old will officially take charge after the conclusion of the 2023/24 season with Liverpool. Assistant coach Vitor Matos will also join him in Austria.
“I am very proud to become the new head coach of FC Red Bull Salzburg,” Lijnders said (via Liverpool’s official website).
“This is a real privilege for me. After PSV Eindhoven, FC Porto and Liverpool FC, I am now moving to another exceptional club with a really good structure and a particular focus on youth development.
“I want to develop a mentality with the team that places a lot of emphasis on an attacking style of play and where passion and hunger for success are the basis of everything.”
Lijnders and Matos’ departure marks the end of an era at Anfield. Both were instrumental figures in the club’s recent success under manager Jurgen Klopp.
The former started as U16s coach before quickly progressing to the first-team development role under Brendan Rodgers in 2015.
He remained part of the set-up following Klopp’s arrival and later returned as assistant manager for the 2018/19 season after a stint with NEC Nijmegen in his native Netherlands.
Matos joined the Reds from FC Porto in 2019, assuming the role previously held by Lijnders and forging a crucial connection between the Academy and the senior team.
They were key members of Klopp’s backroom staff during a period of immense success, contributing to the club lifting seven major trophies, including the Premier League and Champions League.
Their departure from Liverpool is part of a larger exodus. Klopp will also step down after the Reds’ final match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.
Other key staff members will follow him out of the door.
