Man City Eyeing Shock Move to Appoint Former Liverpool Assistant Manager – Report | OneFootball

Manchester City Eye Shock Pep Lijnders Move to Strengthen Coaching Team

According to Paul Joyce of The Times, Manchester City are considering a bold and unexpected move to bring in former Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders as part of a post-season revamp of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff. With Juanma Lillo, Iñigo Domínguez and Carlos Vicens all having exited City’s backroom team, Guardiola is in need of fresh ideas and trusted minds. Lijnders, 42, has emerged as a leading candidate.

Lijnders left Anfield alongside Jürgen Klopp in May 2024, ending a near-decade-long collaboration that yielded both the Champions League and the Premier League. His short-lived managerial stint at Red Bull Salzburg, where he was sacked in December, has done little to dent his reputation within elite football circles.

As Joyce reports, “Lijnders, 42, was interviewed by Norwich City for the vacancy at the Championship club before they opted to go for Bristol City’s Liam Manning.” Despite his dismissal in Austria, City clearly see value in Lijnders’ tactical acumen and deep experience at the highest level of the game.

Guardiola and Lijnders: An Unlikely Alliance?

If appointed, Lijnders would be stepping into a drastically different environment than the one he left at Anfield. At Liverpool, he was seen as a philosophical partner to Klopp, frequently leading training sessions and influencing tactical approaches. At City, he would need to adapt to Guardiola’s established vision, while also contributing to the evolution of a side that has dominated English football for several seasons.

One source quoted by The Times framed the interest clearly: “The link with City comes as the club look to revamp their coaching staff after the departures of Guardiola’s assistants.” The ambition here is not just to fill a vacancy but to reshape the technical direction behind the scenes.

Photo: IMAGO

City are also considering internal promotions, such as Kolo Touré, who rejoined the club last season. But it is the Lijnders name that grabs attention – particularly for fans of his former club.

Liverpool Connections Add Emotional Edge

Lijnders is a well-known and respected figure among Liverpool fans. His deep-rooted association with Klopp’s era means this move would sting in sentimental terms, especially as Arne Slot begins shaping his own era at Anfield.

It’s also notable that Lijnders was once seen by some within Liverpool as a potential heir to Klopp himself, although that notion waned after his managerial spell in the Eredivisie and then at Salzburg. Still, his tactical brain, player relationships, and modern coaching methods make him a desirable asset for any elite side – including, somewhat ironically, Liverpool’s fiercest rivals in recent years.

What This Could Mean for City’s Future

Manchester City’s intent to freshen their coaching staff reflects Guardiola’s long-standing belief in maintaining intellectual and tactical sharpness. Bringing in a figure like Lijnders would not only add depth of experience but could also introduce new methodologies and perspectives. With Guardiola reportedly entering the final stages of his City tenure, the club may also be exploring longer-term succession planning behind the scenes.

While Lijnders is not considered a managerial successor at City, his addition would speak volumes about their commitment to maintaining excellence through smart staffing. It would also show that City are not afraid to tap into knowledge previously nurtured by their competitors.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

From a Liverpool fan’s perspective, this news is both unsettling and intriguing. Lijnders has been a pillar of the Klopp era, someone many supporters associated with the identity and evolution of the club’s football philosophy. The thought of him contributing to Manchester City’s internal machinery is difficult to digest.

Arne Slot, to his immense credit, has just delivered Liverpool’s second Premier League title in five years and seems to be building something special. But there remains an emotional attachment to the Klopp-Lijnders duo. Seeing one half of that duo potentially aligning with Guardiola feels like a betrayal of the “us against them” culture that has fuelled Liverpool’s rivalry with City.

That said, fans should remember that coaching is a professional journey. Lijnders, out of work since December, is entitled to rebuild. City offering him a route back into top-level football is both flattering and logical from a technical standpoint. It’s not personal – it’s elite sport.

Still, the emotional wound of seeing a familiar face in City blue, contributing perhaps to our own demise in future title races, will sting. It underscores just how high the stakes remain between the two clubs. And how even off-field moves can hit like on-pitch defeats.