Topic: Pep Lijnders

[Persephone]

He always comes across really passionately in interviews. I hope he can go on to have a successful Managerial career and you never know if our paths will cross again.

[Dougle]

I wouldn't be surprised if he goes and manages in the Portuguese league.

Think he inferred in the interview that Vitor Matos would be working with him so that might tie in with your opinion.

[ljycb]

I'm a massive fan of Lijnders, to the point where I have always maintained that him returning in 2018 to essentially replace Buvac was the most important decision made in Klopp's time here.

[Dim Glas]

I'm a massive fan of Lijnders, to the point where I have always maintained that him returning in 2018 to essentially replace Buvac was the most important decision made in Klopp's time here.

and if rumours are to be believed, it was him coming back that sent Buvac into a mega-sulk, and then leaving!

But yeah, worked out fantastically for the club. It was clear that Klopp really took to Lijnders from the start, hence being so quick to promise him a return and promotion when things didn’t go well in the Netherlands.

[Charlie Adams fried egg]

I’d love to know what conversations have gone on between Pep and the club.

It wouldnt surprise me if both parties took the view that managing elsewhere first for experience and then reviewing down the line, would be the best approach.

[Garlic Red]

It would make no sense to let Pep leave with a view to bringing him back down the line. If there was a right time to appoint him it would surely be now with everyone and everything in place he’s familiar with. The chances of him going elsewhere, getting experience, being ‘ready’ to manage us and that aligning with our timeline of appointing another manager are surely incredibly slim. If they rate him as a potential manager - and there’s surely nobody in a better place to judge than them - then they should appoint him now as it’ll be his best chance of succeeding and continuing the work of Jurgen and his team.

[phil236849]

I’m really glad Pep can leave on a high.  Taking him on for his first managerial job never sat comfortably with me and I thought he would tarnish his standing

[Indomitable_Carp]

Lovely interview. Seems a great guy who genuninely loves and gets the club and city (his comment about his kids being posh Scousers made me laugh). As with all the backroom staff, massively undersung (except by Klopp) and massively important. Will be missed, and who knows he may be back one day?!

[So… Howard Philips]

I wouldn't be surprised if he goes and manages in the Portuguese league.

Well Amorim’s English seems quite good but a Portuguese speaking assistant who knows the club inside out?

You never know.

[Keith Lard]

One thing is for sure, Ljinders definitely has a big football brain. I can see how he might rub people up the wrong way though - his choice of words are sometimes a bit off, and he over talks a lot. I can see how someone like Klopp can see past that though, smooth out his message, and get players to fully engage with the passion and big brain ideas of Pep. He  should enjoy a wonderful assistant career and follow Klopp into his next role. It’s a dynamite combination. Or even better, just convince Klopp to allow him and Krawietz to do some of the media work. Maybe even manage all the League Cup games.

[mattD]

I'm a massive fan of Lijnders, to the point where I have always maintained that him returning in 2018 to essentially replace Buvac was the most important decision made in Klopp's time here.

It’s interesting how his return coincided with us playing a more refined and patient version of gegenpressing. The chaotic heavy metal football was seemed more associated with Buvac.

Surprised he’s been out the limelight and not taken a more high profile assistant job. I see he’s currently managing in the German third division.

[Dim Glas]

It’s interesting how his return coincided with us playing a more refined and patient version of gegenpressing. The chaotic heavy metal football was seemed more associated with Buvac.

Surprised he’s been out the limelight and not taken a more high profile assistant job. I see he’s currently managing in the German third division.

Buvac? He’s been the sporting director of Dynamo Moscow for a few years.

[na fir dearg]

loved that interview, class guy, wish him all the best

[MD1990]

Let him go somewhere else & learn. If he does well say at a top 8 PL club then we can bring him back

we saw with how Gerrard has been found out.
Pep seems a great a coach he just needs some success as a manger first

[afc tukrish]

Pep seems a great a coach he just needs some success as a manger first

Possibly why he's going away...

[Dougle]

That was a very good press conference today. He's gone be missed is our Pep. I will watch with interest how he gets on wherever he and Vitor Matos end up.

[paisley1977]

I think Leverkusen should be looking at Pep if there manager was to leave this summer.

[Redley]

I think Leverkusen should be looking at Pep if there manager was to leave this summer.

Not being funny, but why? He’s a great assistant, clearly very good tactically, very innovative. But he’s so far had a failed six months at a middling Dutch side and that’s it. He needs to pretty much start where Xabi did at Sociedad B, not a big club who are likely to be champions of one of the biggest leagues in the world.

[Eeyore]

Not being funny, but why? He’s a great assistant, clearly very good tactically, very innovative. But he’s so far had a failed six months at a middling Dutch side and that’s it. He needs to pretty much start where Xabi did at Sociedad B, not a big club who are likely to be champions of one of the biggest leagues in the world.

Alonso went from getting relegated with Sociedad B to Leverkusen who had finished 3rd the season before he joined.

[Redley]

Alonso went from getting relegated with Sociedad B to Leverkusen who had finished 3rd the season before he joined.

He went from getting them promoted for the first time in like 60 years, then relegated. 98 games to at least get an idea of what he is as a manager. Pep had 22 at NEC six years ago I’m not quite sure that’s the sort of experience you’d want to replace the only title winning manager in your history with, but we’ll see I guess. I’d wager he probably starts again a little lower than that.

[Eeyore]

He went from getting them promoted for the first time in like 60 years, then relegated. 98 games to at least get an idea of what he is as a manager. Pep had 22 at NEC six years ago I’m not quite sure that’s the sort of experience you’d want to replace the only title winning manager in your history with, but we’ll see I guess. I’d wager he probably starts again a little lower than that.

How many games as a manager did Arteta have before he got the Arsenal manager's job though?

[Sangria]

How many games as a manager did Arteta have before he got the Arsenal manager's job though?

Did Arteta get the Arsenal job, or did Guardiola's much-touted acolyte get the Arsenal job?

[Eeyore]

Did Arteta get the Arsenal job, or did Guardiola's much-touted acolyte get the Arsenal job?

Hopefully, Kloppo's much-touted acolyte gets a top job as well

[Redley]

How many games as a manager did Arteta have before he got the Arsenal manager's job though?

Arsenal won the league and hired Arteta? Or were they you know, more like 12th?

[Eeyore]

Arsenal won the league and hired Arteta? Or were they you know, more like 12th?

They finished 3rd and then appointed Alonso who had only ever managed in the 2nd and 3rd tiers of Spanish Football. Leverkusen have a policy of appointing young Coaches.

Alonso, Seoane and Wolf were all around 40 years of age and highly respected coaches. Ljinders is 41 and is a highly respected coach.

As for Arsenal they finished 5th under Emery and could have appointed managers with a much better track record than Arteta. They wanted to go for a young coach with an outstanding reputation.

[Redley]

Arsenal were 12th when they hired Arteta

Leverkusen are likely to win the league

Is there another club who have won the title and then hired an assistant manager from another club to replace the title winning manager…? Genuinely.

[Yorkykopite]

Not being funny, but why? He’s a great assistant, clearly very good tactically, very innovative.

For those reasons? Plus several years of experience in one of the most pressurised clubs in Europe working with top talent who clearly respect him. Plus a brilliant understanding of how to develop young talent.

[Redley]

For those reasons? Plus several years of experience in one of the most pressurised clubs in Europe working with top talent who clearly respect him. Plus a brilliant understanding of how to develop young talent.

To replace their only title winning manager in their history? Behave. He’s a quality assistant, big clubs like that don’t hire an assistant manager from another club with such little managerial experience. I’d love to know a single example of it, away from clubs promoting from within.

[Eeyore]

Arsenal were 12th when they hired Arteta

Leverkusen are likely to win the league

Is there another club who have won the title and then hired an assistant manager from another club to replace the title winning manager…? Genuinely.

They have been really successful by giving opportunities to young inexperienced highly thought-of coaches. Winning the title would be a vindication of that policy.

So for me, the likelihood is that they will continue with that policy if Alonso leaves. 

Then again as you say they are highly likely to win the League. So they might throw their modus operandi in the bin and hire Mourinho.

[Yorkykopite]

To replace their only title winning manager in their history? Behave. He’s a quality assistant, big clubs like that don’t hire an assistant manager from another club with such little managerial experience. I’d love to know a single example of it, away from clubs promoting from within.

I thought I was behaving, but will try and do better.

Put like that, it does seem a stretch I'll admit. But there are two extraordinary things to consider. One is the unusualness of Leverkusen (or for that matter anyone) winning the Bundesliga other than Bayern. Post-Alonso, a club like Dortmund would have much bigger pulling-power than Leverkusen. The second is that Pep is assistant manager at Liverpool FC and under Jurgen Klopp. That is not any old assistant manager.

[Redley]

They have been really successful by giving opportunities to young inexperienced highly thought-of coaches. Winning the title would be a vindication of that policy.

So for me, the likelihood is that they will continue with that policy if Alonso leaves. 

Then again as you say they are highly likely to win the League. So they might throw their modus operandi in the bin and hire Mourinho.

Mourinho sure, or someone like Hoeneß.

[ianburns252]

How many games as a manager did Arteta have before he got the Arsenal manager's job though?

And how many times have people here gone to work somewhere, it not worked out, but thrived elsewhere - culture, resource, environment is all key to making the right appointment and as you well point out Arteta didn't need a big back catalogue of matches, he picked the right club for him and it paid dividends

[DangerScouse]

And how many times have people here gone to work somewhere, it not worked out, but thrived elsewhere - culture, resource, environment is all key to making the right appointment and as you well point out Arteta didn't need a big back catalogue of matches, he picked the right club for him and it paid dividends

He's spent a bloody fortune and won fuck all. A solitary fa cup ffs

[Redley]

With mainly Emerys team

[ianburns252]

He's spent a bloody fortune and won fuck all. A solitary fa cup ffs

Not saying he has done well on the level of Klopp but when you look at the turnover at Utd after losing their long term iconic manager and the poor output from that whereas he has had a good title challenge last year, a cup, and a decent challenge so far this year he hasn't failed either

Maybe my bar is set a bit on the low side

[ademuzzy]

I don’t particularly like arteta and I find him a bit of a muppet but he’s done a great job with Arsenal.

[Eeyore]

And how many times have people here gone to work somewhere, it not worked out, but thrived elsewhere - culture, resource, environment is all key to making the right appointment and as you well point out Arteta didn't need a big back catalogue of matches, he picked the right club for him and it paid dividends

Exactly.

The biggest thing is that 90%+ of managers fail.

Arteta comes in with no managerial experience at all but is now in his fifth year as Arsenal's manager.

[Eeyore]

With mainly Emerys team

Emery lasted just over a year.

Arteta has been Arsenal manager for over four years.

In the modern game that is a massive achievement.

[Garlic Red]

Is it possible FSG just want a complete reset and return to a more layered structure with their new appointment(s) being given the freedom to decide how he/they want to steer the club?

I think all of the arguments for Pep are fair, but his comments about ending the project sound very much like it’s best for everyone that this is where it ends. Imagine Pep took the job and felt like he wasn’t allowed the same decision making ‘power’ as Jurgen? Imagine the new SD appointment feels undermined they’ve appointed Jurgen’s number 2 and decided to try and carry on as you were? Would anyone ‘elite’ take the job on knowing they’re going to be working with a manager who’s essentially in his first job?

Arsenal’s decision to go for Arteta was bold and has paid off several years later. Fair play to them, but they were in a pretty desperate situation and felt the risk was necessary. We’re not in that position. It also begs the question why Arteta was clearly seen as a suitable choice for a top job without having managed, yet Pep doesn’t appear to have been considered by any top clubs despite doing a great job here? Maybe he’s not been interested in leaving, maybe he isn’t as highly thought of outside of Liverpool as he is here? Maybe he’s just seen as a great number 2? It’s difficult to gauge from our position, but FSG not considering him speaks volumes considering they’ve promoted within quite a bit at least in the suits.

[Redley]

Emery lasted just over a year.

Arteta has been Arsenal manager for over four years.

In the modern game that is a massive achievement.

Sure, but its very different to who Pep would be replacing