The ex-Liverpool assistant has been dismissed by RB Salzburg fired Lijnders after just seven months on the job following a disappointing start to the season.
After Jurgen Klopp left Anfield, the Dutch coach took on a new challenge in Austria, but he is currently out of a job due to RB Salzburg being ten points below the teams at the top of the standings.
‘Unsatisfactory performances’ were one of the reasons for Lijnders’ departure, even though the team crushed SK Austria Klagenfurt 3-0 on Saturday. After arriving in Salzburg, the 41-year-old used his connections at Anfield to sign Bobby Clark permanently and bring Stefan Bajcetic on board through a loan.
However, following just 16 league games, Salzburg’s management has chosen to fire Lijnders and fellow former Liverpool coach Vitor Matos as the Austrian Bundesliga enters its winter break.
According to a club statement, “We recently started to examine, as anticipated, what has regrettably not been a satisfactory season thus far. In many of our games, it was evident that we had fallen well short of our own standards and objectives. Therefore, even if we are hoping for a turnaround until the very end, we are now certain that our team needs a new direction under new leadership. We appreciate all of Pep’s hard work. He gave it a great deal of work and enthusiasm, and it has given us significant impetus to advance.
“We are currently actively seeking a new coach and will notify you as soon as a choice has been selected. We certainly want to resume training on January 3, 2025, with our new coach in place.
Two weeks prior to his departure, Lijnders would have been reunited with Klopp, with whom he worked with for six seasons prior to departing Merseyside.
Klopp is about to take over as Red Bull’s worldwide football executive in January, his first job since his emotional departure from Liverpool.
After it was revealed that Klopp would be departing his position at the end of the previous season, Lijnders was thrown into the fray as a possible successor, but he promptly withdrew himself.
“No one will take Jurgen’s place,” he declared in February. To be honest, when we had the conversation a long time ago, I was clear, and it made things easier for me.
“My heart says yes to every offer I receive, but my loyalty to Mike [Gordon] and Jurgen says no.” We therefore decided that working together to complete this project is the best course of action. I’m thrilled to be able to locate the ideal club, and they’ll find a new coach with ideas. However, I am focused on Liverpool until the season’s final, which is why we have agents.
In February, he declared, “No one will take Jurgen’s place. When we had the conversation a long time ago, I was honest and straightforward, which made things simpler for me.
“I always receive offers, and while my heart says yes, my loyalty to Jurgen and Mike [Gordon] says no.” As a result, we decided that working jointly to complete this project is the best approach. They will hire a new coach with fresh ideas, and I can’t wait to discover the ideal team. My attention is on Liverpool until the season’s final, which is why we have agents.
