Liverpool youth coach has left to take up a role in Holland.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has told the club website he is ‘gutted’ to lose coach Pep Ljinders.
Ljinders has left his role at Liverpool to become manager of Dutch Eredivisie side NEC Nijmegen.
Ljinders worked with Liverpool’s academy and became the first team development coach, with his role aimed at helping youngsters step up to Jurgen Klopp’s side.
He had been at Anfield since 2014, pre-dating Jurgen Klopp’s arrival at the club.
Klopp expressed his happiness for Ljinders at landing the job, but said he was ‘gutted’ to lose the Dutchman.
He said: “It’s such a strange mix of emotions talking about Pep leaving us. Firstly, I am gutted to be losing such a valuable member of our coaching team and such a brilliant person from our group.
“But that is tempered by the fact I am very excited for him to have this opportunity and as much as we would have loved for him to remain with us, we cannot stand in his way for what is a fantastic opportunity.”
The legacy of Ljinders’ impact at Liverpool could be felt in the coming years.
Top talents like Ben Woodburn, Sheyi Ojo, Harry Wilson and Rhian Brewster to name a few all hope to be starring for the club’s first team in coming seasons.
Perhaps it will not be a surprise to see one or two of them heading out on loan moves to the Eredivisie in the near future.
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