Pep Lijnders has revealed why he chose to leave Manchester City after just one season, despite being offered a role on the staff of the new manager or the chance to become head coach at a club within the City Football Group. The Dutchman, who joined City last summer as an assistant to Pep Guardiola, said his decision was driven by a desire to settle permanently with his family.
Speaking to Dutch newspaper AD, Lijnders explained: “My wife and I want a permanent place for our growing sons. Moving back to England for years is no longer an option. Without my family, I wouldn't do a second year anyway.” The 43-year-old added that the club had wanted him to stay, but he prioritised family over an extended spell in Manchester.
Lijnders also detailed how Guardiola persuaded him to join City last May. Guardiola, who is leaving the club this summer after a decade, told Lijnders he wanted to “build a new City one more time” and sought a coach who would challenge him with fresh ideas, implement a more aggressive playing style, and bring innovation to training. Lijnders described Guardiola as “very intense” and compared his match-plan preparation to a surgeon performing heart surgery.
Lijnders previously worked under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, where he spent several years before a brief stint as manager of Red Bull Salzburg. During his year at City, he helped the club win the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. His departure follows Guardiola's exit, marking the end of a short but successful chapter at the Etihad.
