James Pearce: Liverpool’s Assistant Eyes Besiktas Job | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Pep Ljinders in the Spotlight: A Potential Move to Besiktas?

Liverpool assistant manager Pep Ljinders has been making headlines recently due to his potential move to Turkish club Besiktas. As James Pearce of The Athletic reports, Besiktas are actively searching for a new head coach and have their eyes set on Ljinders, following the dismissal of Fernando Santos.

Besiktas’ New Coaching Target

After a fruitful decade at Liverpool, Pep Ljinders is preparing to close this chapter of his career as Jurgen Klopp’s era also comes to an end. This development aligns with Ljinders’ earlier confirmation of his intentions to leave Liverpool alongside Klopp at the season’s end. As Pearce highlights, Ljinders’ focus is still firmly on Liverpool until the season concludes, making it clear that any decisions regarding his future will be postponed until then.

A Decade of Dedication

Lijnders’ journey with Liverpool began in 2014 as the under-16s coach, and Brendan Rodgers swiftly elevated him to the first-team staff the following year. His brief stint away at Dutch club NEC Nijmegen in 2018 only lasted five months before he returned to Liverpool, indicating his strong connection with the club. His managerial aspirations are no secret, as he openly expressed his desire to transition from assistant to head coach, reflecting on it as a “natural progression.”

Reflecting on Future Aspirations

Lijnders once noted, “I really believe that it’s a natural progression. I always said I will finish with Jurgen — I will not assist anyone else, that’s the moment I will go and manage. We end this project together that we started.” His commitment to evolving within the coaching ranks is evident and suggests a promising managerial career ahead.

Besiktas and Beyond

While Besiktas stands out as a strong contender, Lijnders has also been linked with other opportunities, such as a potential role at Ajax, which currently has John van ’t Schip as interim coach. This indicates a significant interest in Lijnders’ coaching capabilities from multiple top-tier clubs.

The future looks bright for Lijnders as he contemplates his next steps in football management. With his rich experience at Liverpool and a clear vision for his career, whichever club manages to secure his services will undoubtedly gain a deeply committed and strategic thinker.