Is Pepijn Lijnders really an option for head coach at Ajax? 'Calma peeps'

Football International reported on Wednesday that Pepijn Lijnders is in the picture to become head coach of Ajax next season. Fabrizio Romano subsequently confirmed that the 41-year-old manager has been shortlisted. However, Klerry Hunstra, better known as Hamstelaar, writes on

General manager Alex Kroes will face the tough task of appointing a new head coach at Ajax in the coming months. VI on Wednesday listed eight potential Dutch trainers, as that seems to be the preference.

One of the names mentioned was Lijnders, who currently serves as Klopp's right-hand man at Liverpool. The German success manager will leave after this season the Reds. Lijnders then also closes the door at Anfield behind him.

Club watcher Bart Sanders reported at the end of last month that Ajax, in the person of Jan van Halst, has already had discussions with Lijnders. The interim director is said to have personally traveled across the Channel to persuade Klopp's assistant to make a switch.

According to VI Lijnders is actually a 'serious candidate'. After Romano confirmed on Wednesday that the Dutch trainer is on Ajax's shortlist Klerry Hunstra to respond under the message from the transfer market expert. “Calma peeps,” he responded to X with a laughing emoji. “The chance is not great that Lijnders will become the new trainer of Ajax.”

Klerry Hunstra made a name for himself on Twitter in the summer of 2022 as a transfer guru under the pseudonym Gerjan Hamstelaar. In January of this year, he reassured Ajax supporters when Jordan Henderson was explicitly linked with a move to Juventus, after which the experienced midfielder left for Ajax.

The 41-year-old Lijnders started his coaching career as a technique trainer at PSV, where he worked between 2003 and 2007. He then fulfilled that role at FC Porto between 2008 and 2014, after which the opportunity of a lifetime came his way. The great Liverpool knocked on the door that summer.

After a year as a technical coach of Liverpool Under 18, Lijnders was transferred to the main squad after Klopp's appointment, where he would assist the German manager. After three seasons with Liverpool's first team, Lijnders was given the opportunity to stand on his own two feet as head coach of NEC.

In Nijmegen the employment relationship lasted only six months, after which Lijnders returned to Klopp's staff, who was happy to embrace him again. During his second term as assistant coach at the Reds, Lijnders experienced great success. For example, Liverpool won the Champions League (2018/19) and Premier League (2019/20).

More news





More sports news