Pep Lijnders won't be next Liverpool manager and reveals reasons why as he lifts lid on Jurgen Klopp exit decision
The Anfield boss announced last month he would be stepping down with all talk surrounding who will replace him.
Pep Lijnders has firmly ruled himself out of the running to replace Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool boss.
The search for a new leader began in earnest after the German publicly announced his plans to step down on 26th January. With No2 Lijnders' close relationship and successful history with him, many fans and experts suggested he would be a natural choice to take over. Speaking previously, Klopp said: "The most influential guy in the last years definitely in this club was Pep Lijnders. The job he did is absolutely exceptional. The inspiration he is for me is absolutely exceptional."
Despite the high praise from Klopp, Lijnders made his stance clear during a press conference ahead of Liverpool's clash with Chelsea in the Carabao Cup Final. His intention is to leave Anfield alongside Klopp and seek a managerial role somewhere else. He explained: "Nobody will replace Jurgen. I was clear, to be honest, when we had the talk a long time ago for me it was clear and it made it easier for me." He continued: "We knew in the summer, 'OK we are going towards the end of this project'. It's too much about me...we play in a final in 48 hours. I understand, so I think I have given answers in interviews."
Lijnders, who has been with Liverpool since 2014, shared his feelings about leaving the club. He said: "I always got offers and my heart says yes, but my loyalty to Mike [Gordon] and Jurgen said no. So we agreed to finish this project together and it is the right way to do it. They will find a new coach with ideas and I am excited to manage to find the right club. But until the last final of the season I am focused on Liverpool and that is why we have agents, no?"
He returned to Liverpool after a short stint managing NEC in the Netherlands and has decided to leave with manager Klopp. In January, Lijnders expressed: "It's not easy leaving such a club. But in life I feel always you have to do the right thing and the right thing means that in the summer we said we continue and we go with all we have, we make it 'the Last Dance', we make it like a proper ending."
His decision to move on will give the next Liverpool manager a chance to pick their own team. Since Klopp said he would step down, Xabi Alonso has been strongly linked to be his successor because he's doing a great job at Bayer Leverkusen.
Alonso and his troops are eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga while they are also in the semi-final of the German domestic cup and the Europa League last 16 in what has been a stunning campaign to date for his side. Despite rumours linking him with Liverpool and Bayern, who are looking for a new manager after Thomas Tuchel, Alonso has often dismissed these speculations with his full focus on the coming months with his current club as they bid for trophy success in multiple competitions.