Liverpool had to think long and hard about Jurgen Klopp’s successor after the German announced in January that he would be stepping down.
The Reds bid an emotional goodbye to their incredible manager on the final day of the Premier League season. Klopp has been magnificent for them, and his shoes will not be easy to fill.
Arne Slot has been confirmed as Liverpool’s next boss, and there is a lot of excitement to see what he will do at Anfield. However, before he was appointed, the Reds ‘really considered’ someone else.
What Mike Gordon told Pep Lijnders about the Liverpool job
When Jurgen Klopp announced that he would be leaving the club, some people felt Pep Lijnders deserved an opportunity.
The Dutchman first joined Liverpool back in 2014 as a youth team coach. He has been at the club since, barring a six-month spell away when he became the manager of NEC Nijmegen in 2018.
Lijnders knows Klopp and his management style better than anyone. He has achieved incredible success with the German over the years at Liverpool.
Claims were made a few months ago that Liverpool’s players actually wanted Lijnders to become their next manager, but that did not come to fruition.
The 41-year-old has now shared what happened behind the scenes.
In February, when Liverpool were looking for Klopp’s successor, FSG president Mike Gordon called Lijnders to talk to him about the Liverpool job.
The conversation, however, wasn’t about offering him the role but telling him that he was considered, but they didn’t want him as their next manager for one very understandable reason.
Lijnders told The Athletic: “Jurgen asked me about it a few times in recent years. The season before I got the question from Jurgen and two times this season, but each time I said ‘no’.”
“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. Secondly, I’ve been at Liverpool for nearly 10 years. I was ready for a new experience: new people, my own staff, my own players. I gave everything I had to this playing group.
“I think the team would continue with the same ways if I stayed here. I feel that the team as well needs something new. But I never knew 100 per cent what my response would be if Mike Gordon called me. You say ‘no, no, no’ but then…”
Speaking about the private phone call with Gordon in February, Lijnders said: “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.”
READ MORE: What Pep Lijnders said about replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool in February
Liverpool are hoping for one thing about Pep Lijnders
Jurgen Klopp will take a break now, but Pep Lijnders has chosen a different path.
The Dutchman has already agreed to become the next manager of Austrian giants RB Salzburg, and that will surely be an exciting challenge for him.
As Liverpool get ready to welcome Arne Slot, they invited Henk De Jong to ‘provide Klopp and his staff with the lowdown’ on the incoming Dutch manager.
While he was there, De Jong revealed that he sensed Liverpool are hoping to see Lijnders return to the club one day, potentially as their manager.
He told the Mirror: “Pep Lijnders is not staying, but I sensed everyone at Liverpool is hoping Pep will come back to the club one day.
“They all spoke very highly about him and I really think he has built a big reputation for himself.”