Liverpool

Liverpool players 'choose preferred candidate for new manager'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 21 March 2024

Liverpool players reportedly want current assistant Pep Lijnders to take over as their new head coach when Jurgen Klopp leaves in the summer.

Liverpool players have allegedly already earmarked their preferred candidate to take over from Jurgen Klopp as the club's new head coach.

It has been almost two months since Klopp dropped the bombshell announcement that he would be leaving the club this summer, bringing an end to his glittering nine-year spell in charge.

Since replacing Brendan Rodgers in the earliest stages of the 2015-16 season, Klopp has guided Liverpool to their sixth Champions League crown and first Premier League title, as well as lifting the FA Cup, EFL Cup, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Community Shield.

However, the former Borussia Dortmund head coach informed the hierarchy in November that he plans to leave at the end of the season, shortly before announcing his decision publicly.

Klopp explained that he is simply losing the energy to continue as Liverpool's manager, and the 56-year-old intends to enjoy a year-long sabbatical before making a firm decision on his future in football.

Liverpool assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders reacts on January 2, 2022 © Reuters

A host of up-and-coming coaches have been tipped to fill Klopp's boots, notably Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso, who has long been considered the leading target to succeed the German at Anfield.

Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid could also be after Alonso's services this summer, though, and the Reds are therefore said to have identified Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim as a possible alternative.

However, according to talkSPORT's Alan Brazil and Dean Saunders, the Liverpool squad want to see Lijnders take control of the reins this summer, with the former saying: "I am told the players wouldn't mind the number two, Pep taking over."

Saunders backed up his colleague's profession, adding: "I heard that as well. At least Lijnders knows what's going on there. It's difficult, who do you give the job to? That club is that big."

In spite of the players' apparent wish for Lijnders to stick around and earn promotion to the top job, it was confirmed that the Dutchman is also leaving the Reds when the 2023-24 season draws to a close.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp pictured on March 17, 2024 © Reuters

Lijnders will have worked with Liverpool for almost 10 years by the time he departs this summer, having initially joined in the summer of 2014 as a youth coach before becoming Rodgers's assistant one year later.

The 41-year-old stayed on when Rodgers passed the torch over to Klopp, although he briefly left midway through the 2017-18 season to take charge of NEC Nijmegen, his first and only senior managerial role to date.

Lijnders subsequently returned to Merseyside for the start of the 2018-19 campaign and has remained loyal to the Reds since, manning the touchline whenever Klopp has been absent and also conducting pre-game EFL Cup press conferences.

Prior to his side's 1-0 win over Chelsea in the final of the 2023-24 edition, Lijnders told reporters that he would not put himself forward for the Liverpool manager's job and would not change his mind about leaving in the summer alongside fellow assistants Vitor Matos and Peter Krawietz.

Eredivisie giants Ajax are believed to be interested in hiring the 41-year-old as their new head coach, and Lijnders has already turned down offers from unnamed clubs in order to see out the season at Liverpool.