Red Bull Salzburg are eyeing Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders for their vacant head coach position, according to The Athletic.
The Austrian club, which recently parted ways with Gerhard Struber, sees Lijnders as the ideal candidate to lead their team.
This opportunity could mark a significant step for the 41-year-old Dutchman, who will bid farewell to Liverpool after a decade of service, coinciding with the end of Jurgen Klopp’s tenure following Sunday’s final match of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Lijnders have openly expressed his ambition to embark on a managerial career and has been assessing interest from various clubs across Europe.
Recently, Besiktas showed interest in him following the departure of coach Fernando Santos.
Lijnders had previously spent three and a half years with the club, initially serving as the U16s coach at the Academy for one season.
He then transitioned to the newly established role of first-team development coach in 2015.
Acting as a vital bridge between the youth setup in Kirkby and the senior squad at Melwood, Lijnders’ responsibilities expanded significantly following Jurgen Klopp’s appointment as manager in October 2015.
He quickly became an integral member of Klopp’s coaching staff.
Prior to his time at Liverpool, Lijnders had a notable career in coaching.
He spent five seasons at PSV Eindhoven in his homeland before undertaking a seven-year tenure at FC Porto in Portugal.
Known for his thoughtful approach to the game, Lijnders brought a wealth of experience and knowledge to his roles at each club.
Having played a pivotal role in the development of talents like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben Woodburn, Lijnders embarked on his first managerial challenge with NEC Nijmegen in January 2018.
Following his departure from the Dutch club, Liverpool swiftly reappointed him, and he returned to Merseyside to rejoin Klopp’s coaching staff ahead of the 2018-19 season.
Working alongside Klopp and fellow assistant manager Peter Krawietz, Lijnders signed a new contract in the final weeks of the 2021-22 season.
During this campaign, Liverpool secured victories in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, adding to their previous successes in the Champions League and Premier League.
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