Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders says he is ‘proud’ to be mentioned as a potential successor to Jurgen Klopp but is only focused on his current role with the Reds right now.
The Dutch coach returned to Merseyside after a short-lived spell back in the Netherlands in charge of NEC and has been by Klopp’s side as Liverpool won the Champions League and took a commanding lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Along with Klopp and Peter Krawietz, Lijnders recently extended his contract at Anfield until 2024 – though it has been suggested he could stay at Liverpool beyond that date.
Lijnders has played an integral role in the club’s recent success and has been mooted as a future Liverpool manager should Klopp ever leave, though he is happy acting as No.2 to the enigmatic German.
Asked about suggestions he could replace Klopp in the future, Lijnders told The Athletic: ‘It makes me proud but it’s not realistic because it’s not important at this moment in time.
‘My only ambition is to support Jurgen and our project in the best way possible.
‘[Liverpool managing owner] Mike Gordon and Jurgen have been the most important people in my career. They gave me the chance and the belief to lead the process of training and methodology with the first team.
‘This is my life. I feel passionate about this club and I feel blessed to work with passionate colleagues. I feel that what we have here in this period we will never experience again in our lives.
‘So many things have come together with the owners, the manager, people behind the manager who in hard moments never give up, and a playing group who are so together and really want to play for Liverpool and for us as a staff. In the end I really hope that we get what the boys deserve.
‘I believe each football project is like the sun rising up and going down, and for our project it’s not even noon. That’s the reason why we committed for another four years.’
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