Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has announced he will be leaving the club at the end of the season.
The shock news was announced by the club on Friday morning as the Reds prepare for a clash with Norwich City in the FA Cup on Sunday. Our colleagues at the Liverpool ECHO understand Klopp’s backroom staff which consists of Pep Lijnders, Vitor Matos and Peter Krawietz will also be leaving with the German.
Klopp arrived at Anfield in 2015 after a successful stint in charge of Borussia Dortmund. In his time on Merseyside, the Liverpool manager notably won the club’s first Premier League title in the 2019/2020 Covid-19 affected season.
Liverpool also won the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, FA Cup and League Cup during his tenure. Klopp will face Manchester City for the final time in the Premier League on March 9 and Manchester United on April 6.
Announcing his decision, Klopp said: “I have to [say] 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.
That I still take this decision it shows you that I am convinced it’s the one I have to take. It is that I am, how can I say this? I am running out of energy and I have no problem now, obviously, I think I have known it for already longer that I will have to announce it at one point.
“But I am absolutely fine now but I also know that I cannot do the job again and again and again. And after all the times we’ve had together after all the time we’ve spent together, the things we went through together, the respect grew for you, the love grew for you and the least thing I owe you is the truth. And that is the truth.”
Speculation has already begun as to who will take over at Anfield. Currently, according to Betfair, the favourite for the role is Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso.
