Jurgen Klopp’s former Liverpool lieutenant Pep Lijnders has been sacked by Red Bull Salzburg after a series of disappointing performances and effects wreaked havoc on the Austrian club.
His assistant Vitor Matos, who followed Lijnders from Liverpool, has left.
The news comes just two weeks before Klopp is due to start as Red Bull’s global head of soccer. The German will act as an adviser for the Red Bull-owned clubs in Germany, United States, Brazil and Austria.
Salzburg CEO Stephan Reiter and sporting director Rouven Schroder expressed the problems grimly: “Some time ago we began the announced investigation into a woefully unsatisfactory autumn season.
“It was clear that we were far from our own expectations and goals in far too many games.”
OFFICIAL: FC Red Bull Salzburg and Pepijn Lijnders are together, the 41-year-old Dutchman shrugged it off today. Thank you for your commitment and good luck for the future, Pep!
“In the end, we came to the conclusion that our team needed a new impetus under new management, we still expected a change until the end.
“We want to thank Pep for his work. He invested a lot of commitment and passion and also gave us impetus for our further development.
“We are now working very intensively on the search for a coach and will announce it as soon as a decision has been made. It is clear that we want to start training with our new coach on January 3, 2025.”
Despite the setbacks, Salzburg managed a 3-0 win against Austria Klagenfurt in the decisive match before the winter break. But they are fifth in the Austrian Bundesliga table, current leader Sturm Graz has overcome 10 problems after 16 games.
We use your registration to provide content in the way you have consented to and as we perceive you. This would possibly include advertising from us and third parties, as we perceive it to be. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy
On the European front, their only Champions League victory came thanks to a 3-1 defeat against Feyenoord, previously controlled by current Liverpool manager Arne Slot.
When Lijnders moved to Salzburg, he took Stefan Bajcetic from Liverpool and secured the Spaniard a loan for one season. He signed Bobby Clark from the Reds for a payment of around £10 million.
Clark scored his first goal for his new club at the weekend, in what turned out to be Lijnders’ last game in charge.
INVESTIGATION
CONNECT WITH US
DOCUMENT OF THE DAY
View today’s front and back pages, download the newspaper, request past issues and use the old Daily Express newspaper archive.
EXPRESS.CO.UK
Would you like to receive Daily Express notifications?