Red Bull Salzburg has officially announced the appointment of Pepijn Lijnders as the new head coach, effective from the start of the 2024-2025 season, as detailed in a statement on their official website.

The 41-year-old Dutchman, renowned for his role as assistant coach to Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, brings a wealth of experience, having been part of the coaching staff during Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League triumph in 2018-2019 and their Premier League title win in 2019-2020.

Lijnders will transition from Liverpool alongside Klopp following the conclusion of Liverpool’s season finale against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.

Red Bull Salzburg, boasting an illustrious history with seventeen Austrian league titles and nine cup victories, has secured Lijnders on a three-year contract.

In the upcoming season, Lijnders will have the opportunity to work with a trio of players of Nigerian heritage at Red Bull Salzburg, provided they remain at the club beyond the summer transfer window.

Nigeria international Samson Tijani and Switzerland U21 international Bryan Okoh are contracted with the club until the end of the 2024-2025 season. Additionally, Austrian youth international Justin Omoregie, plying his trade for Red Bull Salzburg’s reserve team, FC Liefering, has frequently trained with the first team.

Tijani, former captain of the Golden Eaglets, boasts five appearances for Salzburg’s senior squad, while Okoh has featured twice, finding the net once.

Lijnders’ coaching pedigree extends to nurturing talents like Ovie Ejaria, a member of the 2013 Golden Eaglets, and Lagos-born winger Arnaut Danjuma in his previous roles, underscoring his potential impact on Salzburg’s Nigerian contingent.