Pep Lijnders Reveals Klopp Nearly Joined Man City as Guardiola’s Assistant
Pep Lijnders has disclosed that Jurgen Klopp would have stepped into the role of Manchester City assistant manager had he turned down the chance to work under Pep Guardiola. The revelation came after Lijnders made the surprise move from Liverpool to City last summer, ending a long association with the Merseyside club.
Pep Lijnders says Jurgen Klopp was ready to become Manchester City’s assistant manager if he had declined Pep Guardiola’s offer.
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The Dutch coach initially arrived at Liverpool in 2014 as a development coach during Brendan Rodgers’ tenure. When Klopp took charge in 2015, Lijnders became a key member of the first-team setup. He later left Anfield to take his first senior managerial role at NEC Nijmegen midway through the 2017-18 campaign, but that spell ended with his dismissal at season’s end.
Lijnders returned to Liverpool later that summer and remained as Klopp’s assistant until the German’s departure in 2024. Following his exit from Anfield, he was appointed head coach of Red Bull Salzburg ahead of the 2024-25 season, although disappointing league results led to his dismissal in December.
In the summer of 2025, Manchester City offered Lijnders the opportunity to join Guardiola’s coaching staff. Given the fierce rivalry between City and Liverpool, the decision was not straightforward, prompting him to seek guidance from Klopp.
Reflecting on the choice, Lijnders admitted the call from Guardiola quickly eased his doubts, citing the trust shown by the City manager and the clarity of his vision. However, he acknowledged the emotional difficulty of leaving behind a decade at Liverpool.
Lijnders revealed that Klopp’s response was decisive, joking that he would personally take the City assistant role if Lijnders refused. He added that returning to Anfield would be a meaningful moment, particularly for his family, though his focus would remain firmly on winning.
Klopp left Liverpool in 2024 citing fatigue and later accepted a role as Red Bull’s head of global soccer. Despite stating he may never return to management, he has recently been linked with Real Madrid following Xabi Alonso’s dismissal in January, with Alvaro Arbeloa currently in temporary charge.
Before any potential return to elite coaching, Klopp is set to appear at Anfield in March, assisting Sir Kenny Dalglish during a legends’ charity match against Borussia Dortmund.
Meanwhile, Lijnders has turned his attention to Manchester City’s upcoming Premier League clash away to Tottenham Hotspur. Although City have won their last two league matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs have an impressive history against Guardiola’s teams, with every permanent Tottenham manager since 2016 defeating him at least once.
