According to a report by The Telegraph, Norwich City are set to interview Lijnders as part of their search for a new manager, with the Dutchman said to be ‘one of a number of options’ to replace Johannes Hoff Thorup, who was sacked in April after just 10 months in charge.
Citing sources close to the club, The Telegraph report that Lijnders will hold talks with Canaries sporting director Ben Knapper at the end of the week. The news comes after it was reported that former City midfielder O’Neil has already been interviewed for the role, having had spells in the Premier League with Bournemouth and Wolves, and was dismissed by the latter in December 2024.
The Telegraph report also mentions ex-Nottingham Forest and Leicester chief Cooper as a potential candidate, although it is understood that he is unlikely to make the move to Carrow Road.
It has been reported that former promotion-winning captain Russell Martin is not under consideration for the role, as revealed by the Pink Un earlier today. Additionally, Knapper has ruled out interim boss Jack Wilshere as a contender for the position.
Lijnders was most recently in charge of Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg, where he briefly managed Amankwah Forson before sanctioning his sale to Norwich. The 42-year-old was sacked after just 29 games in charge and has been out of work since. During his time in Austria, Lijnders will have been aware of the high standards expected at the club, having previously worked under highly experienced managers such as Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
Speaking about the managerial search, Knapper hopes to make an appointment as quickly as possible, but stressed that doing so wouldn’t come at the cost of making the wrong decision. In his media round last week, Knapper said: “Of course we want to have somebody in as soon as we can. But without compromising the quality of our process or the quality of the candidate and finding the right person.”
“So it’s not something that we expect to wrap up in a week or two, but we don’t want this to unnecessarily drag. We will absolutely have a head coach in place long before pre-season starts. That’s crystal clear,” he added. As reported by the Pink Un, Knapper is keen to ensure that Norwich City get the right person for the role, and that the club do not rush into a decision.
Lijnders has extensive experience in football, having spent nearly 10 years at Anfield with four months as manager of Dutch second-tier side NEC Nijmegen between his two spells, progressing through the ranks to become Jurgen Klopp’s assistant. He departed in 2024 before he joined Salzburg, having also worked for PSV Eindhoven and Porto in various capacities.
The news that Lijnders is set to hold talks with Knapper will come as a boost to Norwich City fans, who are eager to see a new manager appointed and a successful season ahead. As the Pink Un continues to provide updates on the managerial search, one thing is clear – the Canaries are determined to find the right person for the job.
A number of high-profile managers have been linked with the role, and it remains to be seen who will ultimately be appointed as the new Norwich City manager. For now, Lijnders remains a contender, and the Pink Un will continue to provide updates on his potential appointment.
