Former Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders has joined Manchester City as Pep Guardiola’s new number two.
Lijnders left Anfield at the end of the 2023/24 season following Jurgen Klopp’s departure, ending nearly a decade of service at the club. The 42-year-old briefly took charge of RB Salzburg at the start of last season but was dismissed in December.
He now makes a surprise return to the Premier League, this time on the blue side of Manchester.
Lijnders is joined at City by James French, Liverpool’s former first-team opposition analyst, who also worked under Klopp.
City’s director of football Hugo Viana said:
“We are all delighted that Pepijn and James have joined our senior coaching set-up.
AdvertisementTheir talent, application, work ethic and all-round commitment are totally aligned with the values that underpin how Pep wants football to be played.”
The duo link up with Guardiola’s staff ahead of City’s Club World Cup campaign, which begins on June 18 against Wydad Casablanca.
