January 26 – In a move that stunned fans worldwide as well as Liverpool Football Club, Jurgen Klopp announced today he is to leave as manager at the end of the season, saying he is “running out of energy”.
Appointed in October 2015, Klopp transformed Liverpool’s fortunes, becoming an icon after returning the club to the summit of European football with the Champions League title in 2019 followed by a first league title in 30 years in 2019-20.
His decision came as a total surprise considering he has recently rebuilt the team after a disappointing season – last term’s fifth-placed finish was the first time under him that Liverpool had finished outside the top four since 2015-16 – and given the fact they currently lead the Premier League.
“I told the club already in November,” conceded Klopp. “I can understand that it’s a shock for a lot of people in this moment, when you hear it for the first time, but obviously I can explain it – or at least try to explain it.
“I love absolutely everything about this club, I love everything about the city, I love everything about our supporters, I love the team, I love the staff. I love everything. But that I still take this decision shows you that I am convinced it is the one I have to take.
“It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy. I have no problem now, obviously, I knew it already for longer that I will have to announce it at one point, but I am absolutely fine now. I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again.”
Liverpool have won every major honour since the 56-year-old German took charge. While they twice became runners-up in the Premier League under Rafael Benitez and Brendan Rodgers, they lifted just one trophy in eight years before Klopp’s arrival.
“After the years we had together and after all the time we spent together and after all the things we went through together, the respect grew for you, the love grew for you and the least I owe you is the truth – and that is the truth,” Klopp added.
Liverpool also confirmed assistant managers Pepijn Lijnders and Peter Krawietz, and elite development coach Vitor Matos, will leave at the end of the season.
Klopp is also the only Liverpool manager to win the league title, European Cup/Champions League, FA Cup and EFL Cup with the club.
Mike Gordon, president of Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group, called Klopp’s appointment “one of the greatest blessings of our time as owners”.
“First and foremost, on behalf of [principal owner] John Henry and [FSG chairman] Tom Werner, I would like to state our profound appreciation for Jurgen,” said Gordon. “It goes without saying that we will be hugely saddened to lose not just a manager of such calibre, but a person and leader for whom we have enormous respect, gratitude and affection. At the same time, we fully respect his wishes and the reasons why he has decided the current season will be his last at Liverpool.”
Liverpool advanced to the English League Cup final on Wednesday and are in contention for four trophies this season.
Klopp said he didn’t want his announcement to distract from his targets before he walks away.
“Let’s now really go for it,” he said. “Let’s squeeze everything out of this season and have another thing to smile about when we look back in the future.”
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