Liverpool will not only be losing Jurgen Klopp this summer but also Pep Lijnders – and a move to Ajax makes sense at the end of the season.
Liverpool fans couldn’t have possibly expected such a dramatic Friday morning.
Reds supporters were left rocked as Jurgen Klopp announced that he will be stepping down as Liverpool boss at the end of the season.
Klopp wants to go and live a ‘normal life’, seemingly looking to spend time outside of football after more than eight years in the Anfield dugout.
There was another level to the shock though as Liverpool confirmed that Klopp’s coaching staff would also be leaving the club.
Liverpool’s statement noted that assistant coach Pep Lijnders is ‘keen to pursue his own career in management’ and will be moving on in the summer.
Don’t be surprised if Pep Lijnders ends up at Ajax
Some will wonder just where Lijnders is going to end up.
The 41-year-old has a strong history in coaching with PSV Eindhoven, Porto and Liverpool, gaining incredible experience since becoming a coach at just 20.
Lijnders did have a crack at management in 2018, leaving Liverpool to become NEC Nijmegen boss, where he won 11 of his 22 games, losing seven and drawing four.
Now ready for another go, Lijnders is bound to attract plenty of interest and our minds have gone straight to Ajax.
That isn’t just because Lijnders is Dutch, but he will certainly have an understanding of the expectations at Ajax and the style of play required.
Lijnders has previously shown how Dutch football and tactics have inspired him, using a 3-4-3 with a diamond midfield in the Liverpool youth ranks just like Rinus Michels, Johan Cruyff and Louis van Gaal – all Ajax legends.
That kind of tactical approach may well appeal to the Ajax supervisory board with Michael van Praag and Danny Blind – two people who bleed Ajax and will push the club’s principles – no doubt taking key roles in the managerial hunt.
Current boss John van ’t Schip is only only in charge until the summer and Ajax will be looking for a more long-term appointment.
Lijnders may well fit the bill and he would have one major supporter inside the Amsterdam giants – Jordan Henderson.
Henderson worked closely with Lijnders at Liverpool and Henderson even admitted earlier this month that Lijnders recommended a move to Ajax for him.
Henderson has now joined Ajax and Lijnders was a driving force, telling the former Reds midfielder what a ‘beautiful club’ Ajax is and recommending the city of Amsterdam too.
Lijnders clearly thinks highly of Ajax and their board will be well aware of Lijnders’ availability and his desire for a managerial job.
This is the kind of bold move that may appeal to Ajax and we wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Lijnders feature highly on Ajax’s wish list as they chase a new manager at the end of the campaign – exactly when Lijnders is looking to move on.
This would still be a risk for Ajax, especially after the struggles of Erik ten Hag’s old assistant Alfred Schreuder, but Lijnders is surely a key candidate for Ajax this summer.
The post Opinion: Don’t be surprised if Liverpool man joins Henderson at Ajax as departure plan confirmed appeared first on HITC.
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