Pep Lijnders is set to assume the role of head coach at Red Bull Salzburg following his departure from Liverpool.

The Dutchman’s appointment as the new boss of the Austrian Bundesliga side was announced this afternoon, marking his next venture after concluding his tenure with the Reds at the end of the 2023-24 season.

Joining Lijnders in Salzburg will be Vitor Matos, who will take on the position of assistant coach after serving as elite development coach at LFC for four-and-a-half years.

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

“This is a real privilege for me. After PSV Eindhoven, FC Porto and Liverpool FC, I am now moving to another exceptional club with a really good structure and a particular focus on youth development.

“I want to develop a mentality with the team that places a lot of emphasis on attacking style of play and where passion and hunger for success are the basis of everything.

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

“My family has visited the city before and was overwhelmed by its beauty and the friendliness of the people. That was the last and important step for me in choosing FC Red Bull Salzburg.”

Meanwhile, Salzburg sporting director Bernhard Seonbuchner said: “We have been able to get an ideal candidate for the coaching position at FC Red Bull Salzburg in Pepijn Lijnders.

“He is a real football expert and has been a huge influence on a very successful time for Liverpool with his qualities in developing players. The discussions with him were a great success, and there was a clear agreement on the way we want to play, what we are about as a club, and where we want to go together.

“We are really looking forward to our time with him, but we will do everything we can to take the current season to a successful end first.”

Pep Lijnders began his journey with Liverpool back in 2014 as the U16s coach at the Academy, progressing to the role of first-team development coach in 2015.

Initially, under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers, Lijnders transitioned seamlessly into the senior set-up following Jurgen Klopp’s appointment as manager later that same year.

After a stint as head coach at NEC Nijmegen in his native Netherlands, Lijnders returned to Liverpool as assistant manager ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.

Matos, who arrived at Liverpool from FC Porto in October 2019, filled a role previously held by Lijnders, acting as a crucial link between the club’s Academy and senior team.

Both Lijnders and Matos have played integral roles as part of Klopp’s coaching staff during a highly successful period that saw Liverpool secure seven major honours, including the Premier League and Champions League titles.

Following Sunday’s season finale against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Lijnders, Matos, and several other members of the backroom team will bid farewell to the club alongside Klopp.

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