Jurgen Klopp to leave Liverpool at end of season

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he is running out of energy. — AFP/VNA Photo

Paul Kennedy

HÀ NỘI Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will leave the club at the end of the season.

He made the shock announcement on Friday via Liverpool’s official TV channel.

The German coach, who has managed the Reds for nine years, cited ‘exhaustion’ as the reason he came to the decision.

He told Liverpoolfc.tv: “I will leave the club at the end of the season. 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.

“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’s Liverpool currently sit top of the Premier League, five points ahead of Manchester City. They have already secured a place in the final of the Carabao Cup and are favourites to win the Europa League and joint favourites to win the FA Cup.

During his near-decade reign, Klopp has won the hearts of Liverpool supporters and successfully guided the team to one Premier League title, one Champions League, and one FA Cup and League Cup.

The 56-year-old revealed he told Liverpool’s directors of his intentions in November.

The president of Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group expressed their gratitude towards Klopp for his achievements at the club and said plans were already underway to ensure the Reds succeed when the German has departed.

“First and foremost, on behalf of John Henry and Tom Werner, I would like to state our profound appreciation for Jurgen,” said Mike 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.

“Our priority now is two-fold. First, to ensure that the progress that has been made on the pitch this season is maintained in the final months of the campaign. Second, to continue the due diligence behind the scenes which will allow our football operations department to adapt to a future without Jurgen.”

Klopp’s assistants Pep Lijnders and Peter Krawietz will also leave in the summer – with Lijnders looking to move into management. VNS