Former Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders has been dismissed from his role at RB Salzburg just seven months into his tenure. Lijnders, who had joined the Austrian club along with ex-Liverpool coach Vitor Matos following Jurgen Klopp’s departure from Anfield, was sacked with Salzburg trailing the league leaders by 10 points.
Despite a convincing 3-0 victory over SK Austria Klagenfurt in their most recent fixture, the club cited “unsatisfactory performances” as the key factor in their decision to part ways with the coaching duo. Salzburg currently sits in a disappointing position in the Austrian Bundesliga standings as the league heads into its winter break, having played just 16 matches under Lijnders’ management.
During his short stint, the 41-year-old Lijnders leaned on his Liverpool connections to secure some notable signings. This included the permanent acquisition of highly-rated youngster Bobby Clark and a loan deal for midfielder Stefan Bajčetić, both of whom are familiar names from his time with Liverpool.
The timing of Lijnders’ dismissal is significant, as it coincides with Jurgen Klopp’s imminent return to football in a new capacity. Klopp is set to assume the role of Red Bull’s head of global soccer in January, making Lijnders’ departure just weeks before Klopp’s arrival a notable development in the Red Bull organization’s plans.
In a joint statement, Salzburg CEO Stephan Reiter and Sporting Director Rouven Schröder elaborated on the decision to dismiss Lijnders and Matos. They described a “planned review” of the season during the winter break, which led them to conclude that the team’s performances had not met expectations. While they expressed hope for improvement during the latter part of Lijnders’ tenure, the club ultimately decided that a change in leadership was necessary to reinvigorate the squad.
“Our performances in many matches have fallen short of expectations,” the statement read. “We concluded that the team requires a fresh impulse under new leadership, despite hoping for improvement until the very end. We thank Pep for his dedication and passion, as well as the contributions he made to our development.”
The statement also confirmed that Salzburg is actively seeking a replacement for Lijnders, with the aim of having a new head coach in place when training resumes on January 3, 2025. This decision highlights the club’s determination to address their struggles and make a strong push for success in the second half of the season.
