Jurgen Klopp declared that he would not hesitate to become Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City while giving Pep Lijnders advice before he crossed one of English football’s fiercest divides.
Lijnders, who spent a decade immersed in Liverpool’s culture, has revealed how the force of Pep Guardiola’s personality drew him to City and how Jurgen Klopp, his long-time mentor, urged him to seize the chance.
What initially looked an unlikely move has become one of the most talked-about coaching switches in recent Premier League history.
Lijnders had been synonymous with Liverpool’s modern identity. As Klopp’s right-hand man he helped design training sessions, refine the club’s pressing philosophy and nurture a generation that delivered the Champions League and the Premier League title.
When Klopp stepped away in 2024, many assumed his trusted lieutenant would follow a similar path or seek a project abroad.
Instead, after a short spell with Red Bull Salzburg, the lure of working beside Guardiola altered the direction of his career.
The rivalry between Liverpool and City has defined English football for much of the past decade, turning every meeting into a tactical chess match.
Supporters on both sides often viewed the other as ideological opposites, yet within the coaching community there has long been mutual respect.
Lijnders’ appointment has highlighted how porous those boundaries can be when professional development is at stake.
City had been searching for a coach capable of refreshing ideas inside Guardiola’s backroom staff. Several candidates were considered, but the Catalan manager was drawn to Lijnders’ intensity and his reputation for innovative training methods.
Conversations began quietly, with both men exchanging views on player development and match preparation. Those talks, according to Lijnders, quickly developed into something more substantial than a routine job offer.
“Pep’s brilliant, of course,” said Lijnders during an interview. “He has a passion and a game-understanding from a different planet, in my opinion. The moment Pep called, the feeling was straight away really good. It was not a difficult decision.”
For City, securing a coach so closely associated with their principal rivals carried an element of symbolism. Internally, there was excitement about blending Guardiola’s positional play with Lijnders’ experience of Klopp’s high-octane approach.
The club believe the combination could keep them ahead of a chasing pack that continues to evolve.
Despite the professional attraction, Lijnders was acutely aware of the emotional weight attached to the move.
Liverpool had been more than a workplace; it was where he raised his profile and formed lasting relationships.
The prospect of returning to the Premier League in the colours of City inevitably raised questions about loyalty, particularly among supporters who remembered his touchline celebrations during so many battles with Guardiola’s side.
Yet the decisive voice belonged to Klopp himself. The former Liverpool manager, now enjoying a break from the daily pressures of the game, remained close to his assistant.
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Lijnders sought his advice before becoming Guardiola’s assistant, expecting perhaps a note of caution. Instead, he received enthusiastic encouragement that helped dissolve any lingering doubts.
“You cannot put away 10 years of Liverpool that easily, but I’m really proud to come to a club of this magnitude, so successful over the last 10 years and with a manager that defined football. When I spoke with Jurgen he was so clear, ‘If you don’t do it, I will take the assistant job!'”
Those words underlined the depth of Klopp’s respect for Guardiola and for the opportunity placed before his former colleague.
They also reflected a broader truth about elite coaching: rivalries that appear bitter from the stands often mask admiration among those who share the same professional challenges.
Klopp’s blessing allowed Lijnders to frame the switch not as a betrayal, but as a natural step in his development.
