Zeljko Buvac oversees Liverpool training with Klopp
Buvac had worked with Jurgen Klopp for 17 years before he decided to quit his role as the German’s No 2.
The 57-year-old Bosnian-Serb coach had been with Klopp during his time at Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and at Anfield.
However, according to reports the assistant was becoming increasingly unhappy at Liverpool and was also upset with coach Pepijn Lijnders and his growing influence at Liverpool despite the Dutchman being behind Buvac and third assistant Peter Krawietz.
According to an updated version of Raphael Honigstein's biography on Klopp, Buvac, who was well know for saying little, had become withdrawn and was barely speaking.
It is claimed his relationship with Klopp is still intact but he felt given the current set-up that he could no longer work at the club.
"The Liverpool [staff] had noticed that the notoriously taciturn Bosnian had switched from monosyllabic to zero-syllabic in the last few months," Honigstein wrote.
"Buvac gave the impression that he wasn't happy with the increasing influence of the fourth assistant coach Pepijn Lijnders.
“The relaxed, bright Dutchman had been very popular with the players.
New details have emerged as to why Zeljko Buvac left as Jurgen Klopp's assistant (Image: GETTY)
Zeljko Buvac left Liverpool in 2018 after being with Jurgen Klopp for 17 years (Image: GETTY)
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insists Pepijn Lijnders is a fantastic young coach (Image: GETTY)
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“The relationship between Buvac and Klopp had survived, both could simply no longer work together."
Lijnders had left Liverpool to take over at Dutch club NEC Nijmagen, but after a failed attempt to get the club promoted to the Eredivisie he returned to Anfield, where he earned a promotion to become Klopp’s new assistant after Buvac left.
The 36-year-old is enjoying the greater responsibility he now has and it appears the feeling is mutual with Klopp praising his impact on the squad.
“I could write a book about him, about what a big influence he had, about what a fantastic young—I still don’t know what his title is—assistant manager!” Klopp previously said about Lijnders.