RB Salzburg Sack Pepijn Lijnders After Disappointing Start to the Season
RB Salzburg announced on Monday the dismissal of Dutch manager Pepijn Lijnders following a disappointing first half of the season. Despite securing Champions League qualification, inconsistent performances in both domestic and European competitions have left the club struggling.
Lijnders, who took over in May after serving as Liverpool’s assistant coach, initially showed promise, leading Salzburg to three consecutive league victories at the start of the season. However, a significant dip in form followed, with only four wins in the next 13 league matches. This slump has left the Austrian giants in fifth place, 10 points behind Bundesliga leaders Sturm Graz, a far cry from their usual dominance.
In their last three league matches, Salzburg showed signs of improvement, including a convincing 3-0 victory over Austria Klagenfurt on Saturday. However, the club decided it was too little, too late, citing “unsatisfactory performances” throughout the season.
Champions League Struggles
While Salzburg successfully reached the group stages of the Champions League under Lijnders, their campaign has been a disaster. With five losses in six matches, Salzburg sit last in their group and rank 32nd overall in the competition. Their only win came early in the group stage, but it wasn’t enough to keep their hopes alive. They now face daunting fixtures against European heavyweights Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in January, games which will be played under new management.
Club Statement and Future Plans
“During the six months under Pepijn Lijnders, our qualification for the Champions League was a plus,” the club stated. “However, after the successful start to the season, there have been too many unsatisfactory performances. RB Salzburg is now 10 points off the top of the Bundesliga, which is unacceptable for our ambitions.”
Salzburg emphasized their urgency in appointing a replacement, stating they aim to begin training on January 3 under new leadership. The Austrian Bundesliga is currently on its winter break, resuming in February, giving the club a brief window to regroup and make a fresh start.
A Decline in Salzburg’s Standards
Salzburg, a perennial powerhouse in Austrian football, have won the Bundesliga title 10 times in the last 11 seasons. Under Lijnders, their standards dropped significantly, with a win percentage of just 47% in the league this season, compared to their typical dominance with win rates exceeding 75% in previous campaigns.
With the club eager to reclaim its domestic supremacy and salvage some pride in Europe, the new coach will face the challenge of reinvigorating a team that has lost its way during Lijnders’ short tenure. The upcoming January fixtures in the Champions League will serve as a critical test for Salzburg’s ambitions.
