Pep Lijnders linked with SHOCK Besiktas move and could take Liverpool staff with him

Pep Lijnders is among the candidates to become the next manager of Turkish Super Lig giants Besiktas, and has been tipped to take the ENTIRE Liverpool backroom with him. 

Lijnders, 41, has been long-time assistant to Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, first signing with the club under Brendan Rodgers back in 2014. 

Following a stint with NEC as manager in 2018, he returned to Liverpool and has been alongside Klopp’s side ever since. 

He has been in the dugout as Liverpool won the Champions League, the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Club World Cup, among other honours.

When the manager announced in January that he would be stepping down from his role at the end of the season, it was also revealed that Lijnders - along with other names in the coaching staff - would also be leaving. 

Peter Krawietz and Vitor Matos are among the other coaches leaving with Klopp and Lijnders with head of recovery and performance Andreas Schlumberger now also confirmed to be on his way out. 

Besiktas consider Lijnders

It’s now been reported in Sabah that Lijnders’ name has been presented as a candidate to the Besiktas board as a potential new manager with Fernando Santos having recently been relieved of his duties. 

Serdar Topraktepe will coach the Eagles until the end of the season but a permanent announcement is expected in time for next season. 

Lijnders intends to initiate a career as a first-team coach after his Anfield exit, and it’s been reported in Turkiye that he could strip out Liverpool’s coaching team and bring it with him to Istanbul. 

Lijnders tipped for Ajax post

There is also speculation, meanwhile, that Dutchman Lijnders could land at Ajax. The Amsterdam side are experiencing a season from hell under John van ‘t Schip and could seek to hit the reset button in the off-season. 

Reports indicate that former Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson, now at Ajax, is pushing for Lijnders. 

The assistant has taken on some press conference duties this season for the Reds and was even at one stage tipped to replace his boss in the hotseat.