From Liverpool to Man City: James Pearce Reveals the Story Behind Lijnders Joining Pep Guardiola | OneFootball

Lijnders to City: A Tactical Coup That Could Reshape Rivalries

When Pep Lijnders left Liverpool with Jurgen Klopp just over a year ago, few would have predicted his next move would lead directly to the most intense of footballing rivalries. But football, like life, never follows a linear script.

James Pearce’s detailed and revealing piece for The Athletic sheds light on a decision that is sure to raise eyebrows and stir emotions across the red half of Merseyside. The man once viewed as Klopp’s right-hand mastermind is now sat beside Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, ready to plot against the very institution he helped elevate.

From Salzburg Pain to Etihad Opportunity

Lijnders’ ill-fated spell at Red Bull Salzburg clearly left a mark. “Being sacked by Red Bull Salzburg last December, just seven months into his reign…hurt,” Pearce writes. Lijnders himself knew he moved too quickly and asked too much of a young squad too soon. His conclusion, after months of reflection in the Netherlands, was one of maturity. “He concluded that he had asked too much of a young squad by trying to change things too quickly.”

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Norwich showed interest, and clubs in Portugal made overtures. But Guardiola’s call on May 27 changed everything. What began as informal whispers from ex-colleagues became a formal offer. By May 30, the deal was in principle agreed. “He called Klopp to tell him that he had decided to make the move to the Etihad. Out of respect, he also rang Arne Slot.”

Lijnders, once emotionally tied to the Mersey and fiercely loyal to Klopp, had a change of heart when the call came from Manchester. Guardiola’s reshuffle after losing Juanma Lillo and others opened the door, and he had done his homework—speaking with Adam Lallana, Mark Leyland, and Klopp himself.

Dual Loyalty or Opportunism?

What is most striking in Pearce’s account is Lijnders’ internal tug-of-war between emotional loyalty and professional ambition. “Yet the more Lijnders thought about it from a coaching perspective, the more he was convinced that this was an opportunity he simply couldn’t turn down.”

It is, tactically and personally, a seismic switch. He’s gone from plotting City’s downfall to preparing them for Club World Cup glory in Philadelphia. His family will remain in the Netherlands, a sign of the short-term nature of the contract—just one year with an option of another.

What This Means for Liverpool

Arne Slot’s reign has started with silverware and positivity, but the coaching brain drain continues. John Heitinga has gone to Ajax, and Liverpool are searching for another No 2. While Lijnders would not have been a natural fit under Slot’s setup with Sipke Hulshoff, the symbolism of him joining City feels uncomfortable.

It’s also worth noting that the move is not the end of Lijnders’ managerial ambitions. He remains only 42, and this stint could be a masterclass in preparing for the top job elsewhere. “His decision to join City should not be interpreted as him giving up on being at the helm,” Pearce notes.

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Old Ties, New Battles

From tactical architect of Liverpool’s gegenpressing to a strategic mind within the City machine, Lijnders’ career arc is unprecedented. “He would be able to say he had worked as an assistant for both of them,” referring to Klopp and Guardiola. That sort of résumé is rare and gold dust for any future employer.

This move forces Liverpool fans to confront an uncomfortable reality. The man they once saw organising drills at Melwood is now in Guardiola’s inner sanctum, a key figure in shaping the tactics that may deny Liverpool future honours.

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There’s no hiding the sting in this one.

For many Liverpool fans, Pep Lijnders’ decision feels like betrayal, no matter how rationally you try to frame it. This isn’t about a coach moving to a mid-table side abroad or taking on a national team job. This is about going to the one club that stood toe-to-toe with Klopp’s Liverpool year after year, where every point dropped or gained shifted the title pendulum.

The headlines will call it a smart career move, and fair enough. But where’s the loyalty? The emotional weight? Lijnders was “one of us” — not a player, but close enough. He spoke about culture, youth development, and philosophy. Now he’s at City, helping a side facing over 100 financial charges, one that many Reds believe has distorted the competitive balance of English football.

Yes, the phone call from Guardiola would flatter anyone. But Lijnders always said he would only be an assistant to Klopp. That statement now rings hollow.

His absence at Liverpool is now being felt more keenly. With Heitinga gone and no immediate replacement lined up, it’s not hard to wonder: did Liverpool misread his loyalty or simply never consider a reunion possible?

There’s also an added bite in the irony. The same Club World Cup that drew Lijnders to Salzburg is now the stage for his debut in sky blue. Come next season, when City line up at Anfield, it won’t just be about points. It’ll be personal.