Pep Leanders came to Liverpool in 2014, and coached the Under-16 team when Brendan Rodgers was coach. He was later transferred to the first team.
The following year, Jürgen Klopp took over as technical director. The young Dutchman was one of those who remained at Melwood after Rodgers lost his job, and in his new book ‘Intensity’, to be published on Thursday this week, he tells Lijnders about the first time he understood that Klopp had been counting on him.
– I remembered the first time I felt that Jürgen really respected me. That’s when he came to my office with a letter about six years ago, probably two months after he arrived. He asked me to read it, because he didn’t understand it, and I told him it was from a coach who wanted to work with him, help with coaching and help him, Lijnders wrote in the book.
rip the message
– “So what he wants is your business?” asked the manager. I answered, “Yes.” He took the letter, tore it up, threw it in the trash in front of me, turned around and left without saying a word.
– Of course understand the message. He didn’t have to, but that was the moment I knew we would be working together for a long time and I could help him with whatever I needed to be as successful as possible at Liverpool Football Club.
the book Offered for sale in the club’s online storeIt costs £20. It’s coming out on Thursday, August 4th – and we’ll definitely get more info about the content.
– If we disagree? naturally. Does he want me to leave his office for a while? naturally. But I believe and feel that I can count on him. He is much more than just a colleague of mine.
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