Pep Lijnders has admitted Jurgen Klopp is irreplaceable at Liverpool as the club conduct their search for a new manager.
Klopp will leave Liverpool at the end of the season after a decorated spell at Anfield, one which has seen the German guide the Reds to seven trophies.
Liverpool take on Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final this weekend and remain in contention for four trophies, as Klopp seeks to end his time on Merseyside on a high.
Reports this week claimed new Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is to use Liverpool as a template for his rebuild at Old Trafford, with Lijnders admitting those rumours are a compliment to Klopp and his reign.
The Dutchman admits Klopp will be irreplaceable to Liverpool and has discussed Liverpool’s challenge of finding a smooth transition this summer.
“Is that a compliment from United? That says everything, no? If we get them from then. And the summer. No-one can replace Jurgen Klopp but the past showed already a few difficult transitions,” Lijnders said at his pre-match press conference.
“What was the most difficult transition inside this club? Bill Shankly saying ‘That’s me [done]’. Who stepped up? Bob Paisley. He was different from Shanks.
“It showed that we as a club we have to search for someone who wants to grow who, has the mindset to develop but it is not for us but the owners, they can make the decision. We made the right decision to announce this early, to give the club time to get this transition smooth.
“The past has shown it is possible. Barcelona…Pep Guardiola announced he was done and then Tito Vilanova took over and got them the most points ratio over. That was probably the hardest transition in the past 15 years. I was at Porto when Andre Villas-Boas won so much at Porto, then Vítor Pereira took over and was completely different to Andre and was champion the year off. They don’t have to replace Jurgen, but find a new manager.”
