Jürgen Klopp clearly found it difficult to get his message across. He sat in front of a large picture window in his coaching office in Kirkby, where Liverpool FC’s new training ground is located. The keyword was given by an employee of the club’s own media.
“Jürgen, we are here because you have an important message for our fans. Do you want to tell them which one it is?” Klopp looked down briefly, sighed, then looked directly into the camera. “I have to,” he said. He paused again. “I will be leaving the club at the end of the season.”
A short time later, the video snippet – less than two minutes long – went viral on all channels. It sparked disbelief and horror. The question most often asked by fans of the 19-time English football champion was simply: “Why, Jürgen?”
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They were apparently so surprised by the announcement that they no longer really listened, because Klopp had of course explained his decision. “I understand that this is a shock for many at the moment, but I can explain it,” he said: “I love the club, the city, the fans, the team and my staff. But the fact that I still meet her shows you that I am convinced that I have to meet her.”
Then the decisive sentence: “I am running out of energy.” His strength is leaving him. He’s doing well at the moment, but “I know I can’t do the job again and again and again.” Everyone owes the truth. “And this is the truth.”
“Please don’t mess it up.”
It’s a bitter truth. Because the connection between the German coach and Liverpool FC was – and will be until next summer – extraordinary. When Klopp arrived in October 2015, less than four months after he ended his involvement with Borussia Dortmund, he had caused a real hype.
The fans of Liverpool FC honor Jürgen Klopp with, among other things, this picture on a house wall
What: REUTERS
Liverpool was exactly the challenge he had been waiting for: a traditional club with great economic opportunities and an enthusiastic following. “Please don’t screw it up,” he told his agent Marc Kosicke when he negotiated the first contract with Liverpool. That was in New York. Meanwhile, Klopp went for a walk in Central Park while Kosicke spoke to the managers of Fenway Sports Group, the US club owners. After five hours everything was clear.
“At some point you realize that you are no longer a young rabbit”
Coach Jürgen Klopp is leaving Liverpool FC in the summer after almost nine years. He now explained his departure at a press conference. He realized that his resources are not inexhaustible. Resignation is therefore only the logical consequence.
When Klopp arrived in Liverpool shortly afterwards, he got a taste of the size and power of his new employer. Reporters had determined his arrival time and met him at John Lennon Airport. One even made it to his hotel and tried to conduct an interview with him over the intercom at the entrance.
Klopp said with a laugh at his inaugural press conference that he had been warned about the British journalists: “Now it’s up to you to prove that these are all lies.” Another saying of his even became a household word: “I am the normal one from the Black Forest” – “I’m the normal guy from the Black Forest.” Since then he was “The Normal One”, the counterpart to the then Chelsea coach José Mourinho, called: “The Special One”.
Jürgen Klopp, the man-catcher
Klopp quickly managed to overcome the skepticism that greeted him at the beginning with his direct, unaffected manner. This strange German seemed so different to the suit and tie wearers who had managed Liverpool in previous years. Klopp, the man-catcher, won the hearts of the fans.
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The beginning was tough. He took over the “Reds” in tenth place and, despite catching up, narrowly missed qualifying for the Europa League. The Europa League final in the same season was lost against Sevilla FC. But because Klopp was able to quickly reach a good agreement with the owners, he was allowed to invest. The team got better, made it to the Champions League in its second season and went straight to the final, which was lost to Real Madrid.
Two coaches who shape the Premier League: Jürgen Klopp (l.) with Pep Guardiola
Quelle: Getty Images/Michael Regan
But Liverpool was back: In the Premier League there was now a permanent duel with Manchester City and Pep Guardiola. In 2019, the “Reds” came second, but won the premier class thanks to a 2-0 final triumph over Tottenham. The city of the Beatles sank into one huge party.
The climax of the Klopp era followed a year later. Liverpool, thanks to massive investments in stars like Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson, Fabinho and many others, now a completely different team than when Klopp took office, escaped the competition and secured the championship with seven match days to go.
The earliest in Premier League history and the first for the club in 30 years. From now on, Klopp was mentioned in the same breath as Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley, the most successful coaches in the club’s history.
“An incredibly great coach” – Terzic and Co. praise Klopp
Jürgen Klopp will step down as Liverpool FC team manager in the summer and leave the Reds after nine successful years. His coaching colleagues in the Bundesliga reacted with surprise to the decision – and praised Klopp highly.
This helped to survive the subsequent crises. When Liverpool lost six league games in a row in 2021, there were initial doubts as to whether Klopp was still the right one. The coach seemed to change and reacted thinly to criticism. He made corrections to his coaching staff – and got things right. In the end, Liverpool qualified for the Champions League again, and in 2022 Klopp reached the final for the third time in five years, but lost it, again against Real Madrid.
Klopp, who had already led BVB to two championships, has firmly established Liverpool among the international elite. The “Reds” are currently clearly leading the Premier League table.
“At some point you realize that you are no longer a young rabbit”
Coach Jürgen Klopp is leaving Liverpool FC in the summer after almost nine years. He now explained his departure at a press conference. He realized that his resources are not inexhaustible. Resignation is therefore only the logical consequence.
This is also why the announcement of his departure was so surprising for many, especially since his contract runs until 2026. But not for those who know him well and know how burned out he must feel. “It’s a respectable step,” Hans-Joachim Watzke told WELT: “It’s been almost nine years in Liverpool, that’s an incredibly long time. The fact that he has been there for so long just shows how extraordinary Jürgen is.”
Speculating about Klopp’s future is pointless at the moment. What else could appeal to him? Another top club? The German national team? All doors will be open to him. He just has to go through…
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