Liverpool made the bombshell announcement on Friday morning that Jurgen Klopp will step down as manager of the club at the end of this season.
Klopp has been in charge at Anfield since October 2015, when he took over from Brendan Rodgers. He has won Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup titles during his time as manager.
In April 2022, Klopp signed an extension to his contract which would see him stay at the club until 2026 but that has been cut short by Friday's shock news.
Speaking to the Liverpool website, Klopp explained the reasoning behind his decision to leave the club. One element that will stand out to Irish fans is the shoutout he gave to young Monaghan lad Dáire Gorman, whose experience of meeting the manager and Liverpool players was shared in an inspirational video released last month.
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Jurgen Klopp to step down as Liverpool manager
Thankfully, Jurgen Klopp confirmed that there has been no strife in his personal life or health issues leading to his decision to step down. The 56-year-old said that he is "healthy - as much as you can be at my age," and said that there was no reason for fans to be concerned for his wellbeing.
Nonetheless, he said that the relentless time he put into his work as Liverpool manager was becoming more difficult to sustain season after season, saying "It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy."
Klopp went on to say that he made the decision to step aside in November and communicated it to club officials at that time - he joked that the club's ownership did not "smash a party" when he revealed his shock decision. He said that the revelation came after he realised he could not visualise himself in the role next season, and subsequently decided that he needed a break from management after nine years on Merseyside.
When asked to comment on the people he had met along the way, Jurgen Klopp reserved a special and touching mention for Dáire Gorman.
12-year-old Liverpool superfan Gorman hails from county Monaghan, and is a full-time wheelchair user due to the rare condition Crommelin Syndrome. Last month, Liverpool released a touching video showing Gorman getting to meet Klopp and the first-team squad.
Klopp reserved a special mention for the inspirational Irishman in his departure statement, saying:
There are so many things and that’s not the moment to talk about the fantastic time we had, because this wonderful book we wrote together since we are here together, I would love to put a few more chapters into it. That’s what I want.
I know there are kids out there when they run at my car after games and want to have signings and autographs and stuff like this – they never experienced a different manager since they are born.
Only recently we met Dáire, our friend, I probably have to explain it to him as well, and I will, that’s no problem. I really will try to do all these things.
In an emotional interview, the German coach explained his affection for the city and people of Liverpool, and asked the club's supporters not to make the conclusion of the season "about him":
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. 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.
The message to supporters: I really would like you to accept the decision. That would be nice. And then if I can ask for one more thing, after telling you don’t sing my song too early, after telling you be loud in the stadium, stuff like this, if I could ask you for one more thing it would be: don’t make these games about me, because there’s no need.
The only thing I always wanted was the full support for the team, it’s not for me. I know about our relationship, I don’t need any kind of proof. We will have a moment, maybe the last matchday here or somewhere else – I mean in other countries or other competitions. There’s enough time to do these kinds of things.
Let’s now really go for it. The outside world want to use this decision, laugh about it, want to disturb us. We are Liverpool, we went through harder things together. And you went through harder things before me. Let’s make a strength of it. That would be really cool.
Let’s squeeze everything out of this season and have another thing to smile about when we look back in the future. Thank you.
Klopp arrived at Anfield after a spell in charge of Borussia Dortmund which saw him lead the club to back-to-back Bundesliga titles and the Champions League final. He remains the last coach to win the Bundesliga with a club other than Bayern Munich.
The highlight of his time in charge of Liverpool thus far was the club's first English league title in 30 years, won during the COVID-derailed 2019-20 season. Klopp's side made the greatest start to a Premier League season in history, winning 26 of their first 27 games en route to a 99-point season.
Liverpool had also won the Champions League the season beforehand, after defeating Tottenham in the final in Madrid.
Despite the bombshell nature of the news of his departure, Jurgen Klopp said he is determined not to let it derail what has the potential to be a memorable season for Liverpool.
The club reached the EFL Cup final after progressing from their semi-final against Fulham this week, while they remain in contention in both the FA Cup and Europa League. There is every chance that, should Liverpool fail to reach the FA Cup final, Klopp's final game in charge of Liverpool could be the Europa League final in Dublin's Aviva Stadium.
Perhaps of most excitement for Liverpool fans will be the fact that they currently lead the Premier League, and seem the form team in the division entering the second half of the season. If Klopp could sign off with a second Premier League crown, many would see it as a fitting end to his time with Liverpool.
The current favourite to take over from Klopp is ex-Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso. The Spaniard is currently manager of Bayer Leverkusen, who remain unbeaten at the top of the Bundesliga this season. Close behind is Klopp's current assistant Pep Lijnders.
Other contenders touted by the bookies are fellow club legend Steven Gerrard, as well as Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi, Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou, and German coach Julian Nagelsmann.
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