It has only been just over a month, but it already feels a long time since Jurgen Klopp took charge of Liverpool for the final time.
With the summer break ongoing, it perhaps hasn’t hit home for many that Klopp will not be on the touchline next season.
Arne Slot has now finally been unveiled at the AXA Training Centre, but we’re still yet to see the Dutchman in action as a head coach. As a result, to many it will feel as though Jurgen hasn’t really left.
Unfortunately, we know that not to be true. Klopp is off and enjoying his retirement, free from the stresses of leading Liverpool.
Nevertheless, what the German built at Anfield will reverberate for years, not least in the form of his long-time assistant manager Pep Lijnders.
Pep Lijnders unveiled as RB Salzburg head coach
Lijnders will have learnt such a lot from his time working with Klopp. As he embarks on his own journey as a head coach, he’ll hope to put that all to use.
Obviously, it will be difficult to be as successful as his mentor. But if Lijnders can do well in the top job, perhaps we’ll see him back in the dugout at Liverpool one day.
In the meantime, Lijnders is reportedly very highly rated by those outside of Liverpool. The 41-year-old had a number of clubs considering him this summer.
In the end though, Lijnders chose to join Austrian side RB Salzburg. And although it still feels early into the off-season, the Dutchman has already been unveiled at his new club.
READ MORE: Pep Lijnders hopeful of signing ‘fantastic’ Liverpool youngster on-loan
At his first press conference with the Red Bull side, Lijnders was asked why the project at Salzburg appealed to him.
“The academy is so strong, it is probably one of the four best in world football,” he said. “I looked at it and was impressed.
“The only thing I said to Jurgen Klopp last year when he asked me what I was looking for was, I want to go to a club with a strong academy; Not least because a young player will run through walls for you.”
With those young players often moved on to some of the biggest clubs in Europe, perhaps Salzburg and Liverpool will end up doing business with Lijnders at the helm.
Liverpool told they’re hiring a ‘unique’ new coach
With Lijnders and the rest of Klopp’s backroom team departing this summer, Liverpool have had to make a few fast appointments.
The man who will directly replace Lijnders as Slot’s assistant head coach is Sipke Hulshoff. It will be interesting to see the dynamic between the two.
As for the rest of the team, Liverpool have just been told that they might have made the best appointment they possibly could as goalkeeping coach.
Fabian Otte is set to join as Liverpool’s head of goalkeeping and comes highly recommended by Lincoln City goalie Lukas Jensen, who worked with Otte at Burnley.
“Fabian, what a guy,” says Jensen. “He’s very unique, he’s got his own goalkeeping style.
“I don’t think you can get a better goalkeeping coach than him in terms of emphasis and how much he wants to work with you. He’s a brilliant guy.”
Lijnders and co will be missed, but there’s a new dawn at Liverpool.