Red Bull Salzburg Appoint Pep Lijnder As New Manager

Pepijn Lijnders will become head coach at Red Bull Salzburg after leaving Liverpool.

The Dutchman was named the Austrian Bundesliga club’s new manager this afternoon, confirming his next challenge after leaving the Reds at the end of 2023-24.

Vitor Matos, who previously served as LFC’s elite development coach for four and a half years, will become the assistant coach in Salzburg.

“I am very proud to become the new head coach of FC Red Bull Salzburg,” Lijnders stated.

“This is a true privilege for me. After PSV Eindhoven, FC Porto, and Liverpool FC, I am now joining another exceptional club with a great structure and a strong emphasis on youth development.

“I want to instil in the team a mentality that values an attacking style of play and is driven by passion and a desire to succeed.

“Together with my assistant coach Vitor Matos and the entire support team, we will do our best to help the club grow in an ever-changing football world.”

“My family has previously visited the city and was blown away by its beauty and the friendliness of the people. That was the final and most important step for me in selecting FC Red Bull Salzburg.”

Lijnders joined Liverpool in 2014 as the Academy’s U16s coach before being promoted to first-team development coach in 2015.

He initially worked under Brendan Rodgers in that position and remained with the senior squad after Jürgen Klopp was appointed manager later that year.

Following a spell in charge of NEC Nijmegen in his native Netherlands, Lijnders returned to Liverpool as assistant manager for the 2018-19 season.

Matos joined the Reds from FC Porto in October 2019 to fill a role previously held by Lijnders, serving as a vital link between the club’s Academy and senior team.

Both have since played important roles as members of Klopp’s coaching staff during a period when the Reds won seven major titles, including the Premier League and Champions League.

Lijnders and Matos are among several members of Klopp’s coaching staff who will leave the club following Sunday’s season-ending match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.