Pep Lijnders Takes Charge at Red Bull Salzburg, Joined by Vitor Matos as Assistant Coach

Red Bull Salzburg has just unveiled their new head coach, with Pep Lijnders stepping into the role following his departure from Liverpool at the close of the 2023-24 season. Joining him as assistant coach will be Vitor Matos, who transitions from his previous role as elite development coach at Liverpool FC.

Expressing his excitement about the move, Lijnders emphasized the privilege of joining a club known for its strong structure and commitment to youth development. He spoke of his intention to instill an attacking style of play and a culture of passion and hunger for success within the team.

Pep Lijnders’ journey to this point has been notable, starting as a U16s coach at Liverpool’s Academy in 2014 before moving up to first-team development coach under Brendan Rodgers. He continued in this capacity after Jürgen Klopp took over as manager and later had a stint as NEC Nijmegen’s head coach before returning to Liverpool as assistant manager in 2018.

Matos, who arrived at Liverpool from FC Porto in 2019, has been instrumental in bridging the gap between the club’s Academy and senior team, contributing to Liverpool’s successes over the years.

This announcement comes as part of a broader transition at Liverpool, with several members of the coaching staff, including Klopp, set to depart after the upcoming season finale against Wolverhampton Wanderers.