Jurgen Klopp once considered becoming an assistant to Pep Guardiola

Pep Lijnders disclosed that Jurgen Klopp jokingly expressed readiness to serve as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, amid his hesitation to move from Liverpool to Etihad.

Recently, Pep Lijnders shared an interesting behind-the-scenes story involving Jurgen Klopp and Manchester City, where the former Liverpool manager half-jokingly said he would accept an assistant role under Pep Guardiola if Lijnders declined an offer from Etihad.

Lijnders joined Liverpool in 2014 as a development coach under Brendan Rodgers, later becoming Klopp’s trusted assistant after the German took charge at Anfield in 2015. During this period, Lijnders played a significant role in Liverpool’s remarkable success. He briefly left to manage NEC Nijmegen but returned to Anfield to continue working alongside Klopp until the latter’s departure in 2024.

After leaving the “Reds,” Lijnders took on a role at Red Bull Salzburg but was dismissed in December 2024 due to unsatisfactory results. In the summer of 2025, he received an offer from Manchester City to become an assistant to Pep Guardiola, a rare chance to work with one of modern football’s greatest managers.

This decision caused Lijnders some hesitation because of the fierce rivalry between Man City and Liverpool. He sought Klopp’s advice and got an unexpected response. “Jurgen said very straightforwardly: If you don’t take it, I will be the assistant at Man City!” Lijnders recounted, showing Klopp’s humor and openness, as well as the respect he holds for Pep Guardiola.

Lijnders admitted that leaving Liverpool after nearly a decade was not easy. However, the belief and vision conveyed by Pep Guardiola convinced him to make the move. “I am proud to work at a major club like Man City, which has dominated English football for many years,” he shared.

Meanwhile, although Klopp announced his departure from Liverpool due to exhaustion and had no plans to return to coaching, European media continuously link him with rumors involving Real Madrid. For now, the German coach will return to Anfield for a Liverpool legends charity match in March.

At Etihad, Pep Lijnders is working alongside Pep Guardiola preparing for a challenging away game against Tottenham, a team that has consistently troubled Man City during the Pep Guardiola era.