MANCHESTER, England – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp took a deep breath and looked into the camera before speaking the words that stunned the football world on Friday.
“I will leave the club at the end of the season,” the German stated during a pre-recorded interview with club media. “It is not what I want to (do), it is just what I think is 100% right.”
Klopp, who has won the Premier League and Champions League championships during his trophy-laden tenure at Anfield, admitted he was “running out of energy” after more than eight years in command.
“I’m like a proper sports car.” It could be better, but it’s a decent one. “I can still drive 160, 170, 180 miles per hour, but I am the only one who notices the tank needle is dropping,” he explained. “The outer world does not see that. That is good. So you go for as long as you have to, but then you need a rest.”
Jurgen Klopp Announces He Will Step Down As Liverpool Manager At End Of The Season
Klopp, 56, said he informed Liverpool of his decision in November and planned to wait at least a year before seeking another managerial position. He also denied joining a Premier League opponent.
“What I know definitely – I will never, ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool, 100%,” stated the former Liverpool manager. “That is not feasible. My affection for this club, as well as my admiration for its members, is immeasurable.
“Of course, I know myself; I cannot simply sit around. I will find something else to do. But I will not manage a club or a country for at least a year; it is impossible, and I do not want to.
Klopp’s legacy as a Liverpool icon is safe after bringing the club to the pinnacle of European football and completing its 30-year quest for an English league title in 2020.
His choice is surprising given that his recently rebuilt club is leading the league and has gone to the English League Cup final, where it will face Chelsea.
Jurgen Klopp Announces He Will Step Down As Liverpool Manager At End Of The Season
Liverpool is still in contention for the FA Cup and Europa League after finishing trophyless last season and failing to qualify for the Champions League.
Klopp described the campaign as “super-difficult” and expressed his resolve to rebuild.
“It was critical for me to be able to help this team get back on track.” “That’s all I was thinking about,” he added. “When I realised pretty early that happened, it’s a really good team with massive potential and a super age group, super characters and all that, then I could start thinking about myself again and that was the outcome.”
Klopp was a proven winner before joining Liverpool, leading Borussia Dortmund to consecutive German league victories in 2011 and 2012.
With Liverpool, he won seven trophies and was on track for an unprecedented quadruple in 2022 after winning the League and FA Cup. His squad missed the Premier League title on the season’s penultimate day before losing to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
He is back on the trophy hunt and has stated that he wants his announcement to stay within his aims.
“Let’s now really go for it,” he remarked. “The outside world wants to scoff at this decision, blah, blah, blah. You want to disrupt us. We are Liverpool.
“Let us strengthen it. That’d be cool. Let’s make the most of this season so we can have something to grin about in the future.
Jurgen Klopp Announces He Will Step Down As Liverpool Manager At End Of The Season
Liverpool stated that Klopp’s assistant managers, Pepijn Lijnders and Peter Krawietz, and elite development coach Vitor Matos, will leave at the end of the season.
It was also stated that sporting director Jorg Schmadtke will leave at the end of the January transfer window.
Xabi Alonso, a former Liverpool player and current Bayer Leverkusen coach, was rapidly identified as a potential Klopp replacement.
“I have immense respect and appreciation for Jurgen’s work at Liverpool over the last nine years… But my attention is on Bayer Leverkusen,” Alonso stated.
SOURCE – (AP)
