Long serving Premier League manager has been SACKED out of nowhere!

Pepijn Lijnders has been removed from his role as head coach of Red Bull Salzburg after only six months, adding another difficult chapter to his managerial career.

Lijnders, who took over in May 2024, initially gained attention with three straight league victories, but results began to decline in the months that followed.

Salzburg secured only four wins in the next 13 matches, causing them to drop to fifth place in the Austrian Bundesliga, ten points behind leaders SK Sturm Graz.

Even though Salzburg achieved a 3-0 victory over SK Austria Klagenfurt in their most recent match, the club’s management cited “unsatisfactory performances” as the primary reason for Lijnders’ departure.

The team’s difficulties were not limited to domestic play, as they also performed poorly in the UEFA Champions League, finishing last in their group with just one win and five losses, ranking 32nd overall in the competition.

In a joint statement, CEO Stephan Reiter and Sporting Director Rouven Schröder recognized the need for a “fresh impulse” to move the team forward.

They explained that a review of the season revealed consistent underperformance, leading to the difficult decision to part ways with Lijnders. Despite hopes for improvement, the management ultimately determined that a change in leadership was necessary to revive the team.

The club is now looking for a replacement and aims to appoint a new head coach by January 3, 2025, when training resumes.

Lijnders’ dismissal coincides with Jürgen Klopp’s appointment as Red Bull’s head of global soccer in January 2025. Klopp’s arrival, which will involve overseeing Red Bull-affiliated clubs like Salzburg, adds intrigue given his long-standing relationship with Lijnders.

The two enjoyed considerable success together at Liverpool, where Lijnders was Klopp’s assistant during a period of great achievements, including winning the UEFA Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020.

This connection has led to speculation that Klopp’s new position may have influenced Salzburg’s decision to seek a change in leadership.

For Lijnders, this marks the second time his managerial stint has ended prematurely, following a brief tenure with NEC Nijmegen in 2018. Despite his impressive record as an assistant, his struggles to succeed as a head coach highlight the challenges of stepping into a leadership role.

Nevertheless, Lijnders’ past achievements with Klopp and his tactical expertise suggest that he will remain a sought-after candidate for future roles, whether as a head coach aiming to bounce back or in a supporting capacity.

As Red Bull Salzburg works to recover from a difficult first half of the season, the search for a new head coach will be closely monitored. The club is determined to regain its position of dominance in Austrian football and improve its standing in European competitions.

• This decision emphasizes the club’s high expectations for success, both domestically and internationally.