Author:
David Lynch
Sean O'Driscoll ends a 10-month stint as head coach of England's U19s side in order to join Brendan Rodgers' backroom team as assistant manager.
The Wolverhampton-born coach brings 20 years' worth of coaching experience with him to Anfield, and a reputation for a commitment to expressive, intelligent football.
As he explained after confirming his move to the Reds: "At the start of my coaching career 20 years ago I embarked on trying to get players to think for themselves, rather than be coach-led.
"Some do this instinctively, some have to be nurtured into thinking this way. This is as relevant today as it was then in trying to produce fluid, entertaining and winning teams.
"I'm looking forward to working with such a talented group of players and staff and I am delighted to be here."
O'Driscoll began his career in football as a midfielder, with an 11-year stay at Bournemouth accounting for the majority of his playing days.
Helping the Cherries earn promotion to the Second Division in 1987 proved a highlight at club level, and he also picked up three senior caps for the Republic of Ireland before hanging up his boots.
But it was following retirement that he truly began to make waves, after succeeding Mel Machin in the role of manager at the club he served for so long as a player.
The appointment proved a turning point for the south-coast club, who steadily progressed under their new boss before earning promotion to the Second Division via the play-offs in 2002-03.
Six years after taking charge at Dean Court, O'Driscoll was snapped up by then-League One outfit Doncaster Rovers and enjoyed further success at the south Yorkshire club.
After winning the Football League Trophy in his debut season, he led Rovers to the Championship via the play-offs.
It was during this spell that O'Driscoll first encountered Rodgers, as they went head-to-head when the latter made his managerial debut with Watford in November 2008.
The pair subsequently struck up a relationship that has resulted in a reunion at Melwood and is founded on a shared belief in certain coaching ideals.
"As a manager I stood in rival dugouts next to Brendan on numerous occasions and have always really enjoyed our conversations about developing players," O'Driscoll added.
"We both have similar beliefs in what we expect from players and will always challenge but support them in playing with a freedom and with responsibility in pressured situations, while demanding consistent performance levels to give us the best possible chance of sustainable success."
Since leaving Doncaster in 2011, O'Driscoll has added to his CV with stints at Nottingham Forest, Bristol City and, latterly, England U19s.
And he can't wait to get started on preparations for the 2015-16 campaign after making Anfield his latest port of call.
"I have watched a number of games at Anfield over the years and the club's history and the support of the fans never fails to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up," he enthused.
"The philosophy of football here is engrained into football folklore; this has evolved and developed as players come and go and eras change but the underlying principles that make Liverpool Football Club what it is will always endure."
Author: Chris Shaw
@shawct
Pepijn Lijnders takes up the newly-created role of first team development coach at Liverpool after one season spent imparting his philosophy and particular approach to the game upon the club's U16s squad at the Academy.
Lijnders' impact since his arrival in August 2014 has prompted Brendan Rodgers to bring the highly regarded coach into the senior set-up to work closely alongside the first team.
The Dutchman will also continue to figure prominently in the development of elite young talent at Kirkby, as part of a restructured technical approach to coaching at the club.
On his new first-team duties, the 32-year-old said: "My main goal is assisting Brendan to implement a development programme, a programme that will non-stop stimulate the offensive individual capacities of each first-team player, but also give young talent the chance to develop to first-team standards."
Lijnders' promise was evident when he first took up a post at the club, with his CV already impressively stocked courtesy of five seasons at PSV Eindhoven in his homeland and a further seven at FC Porto in Portugal.
He had forged a strong bond with the staff and young players at Porto but admitted that Liverpool was one of the few clubs in Europe that could have tempted him to undertake a new challenge.
When the Reds did make a move to secure his services, though, the decision was ultimately 'a logical one' - with the dedicated coaches already in place in Kirkby, the passion of the supporters, and the city itself combining to present an undeniable opportunity.
A studious thinker and analyst of the sport, Lijnders' deep love of football is obvious from the moment that he begins to discuss the game and the areas which he feels are fundamental to improvement and success.
He explains: "I believe that winning is a logical result of development - development of the individual, development of co-operation and development of the team. I believe that self-confidence is a logical result of development.
"Everybody wants to win, every team wants to win. But how do you prepare yourself to win? That is what counts. That is what makes the difference over a long period of time.
"Consistency in performance is only possible when there is performance consistently. And performance only starts with careful planning, preparing the team and individual development."
Much of Lijnders' work with the U16s focused on a bold attacking style, instilling a mindset that tasked his charges with 'intense, aggressive' pressing across the pitch and retrieval of possession at the earliest chance.
Fulfil those objectives and 'you can make a top team or top players look bad', is the 32-year-old's belief. He is also a champion of incorporating the Scouse mentality to provide further edge in competition.
As part of the next emerging generation of young coaches, Lijnders is acutely aware of the obstacles lying ahead in years to come as elite level defences become better organised and narrow the field of play further.
He adds: "The first team wants players who are able to open up games and speed up the attack. We are working on a daily basis, individually and collectively, on those offensive, productive, creative and attractive qualities.
"With guts, courage, faith and a great heart, we look for fast individual and collective actions to get behind the defensive line.
"'You play the game 20 per cent with your head, 20 per cent with your feet and 60 per cent with your heart,' is a famous Dutch saying. It is how Einstein said it: 'Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere.'"
He will now aim to take on that challenge as part of Rodgers' new-look backroom team at Melwood, in addition to continuing his stellar work at the Academy.
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