Jurgen Klopp will leave Liverpool at the end of the season

Jurgen Klopp is scheduled to leave Liverpool at the end of the season.

Klopp (56 years old) announced his decision in a video clip on Liverpool’s social media channels on Friday morning. In an interview with club media, he said he informed the club of his decision in November.

Klopp added: “I will not coach a club or country for at least a year. This is not possible. I cannot do that and I do not want to.”

The German coach joined Liverpool in 2015 and won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup with the Merseyside club. He last signed a contract extension with Liverpool in 2022 and his contract was due to run until June 2026.

“I can understand that it's a shock to a lot of people at this moment, when you hear it for the first time, but obviously I can explain it – or at least try to explain it,” Klopp said.

“I love everything about this club, I love everything about the city, I love everything about our fans, I love the team, I love the staff. I love everything. But for me to continue to make this decision shows you that I am convinced that it is the decision I have to make.

“The thing is, I'm, how can I say it, running out of energy. I don't have any problem now. Obviously I've known for a long time that I'd have to announce it at some point, but I'm perfectly fine now. I know I can't do the job.” Repeatedly.

“After all the years we've spent together, after all the time we've spent together, after all the things we've been through together, the more I respect you, the more I love you, and the least I owe you is the truth — and that's the truth.” fact.”

“Huge shoes to fill”

Liverpool fans knew this day would come eventually, but not now, not this way.

Klopp's announcement of his resignation at the end of the season is an absolute bombshell, especially in the context of the club being a rising power – top of the Premier League, in the Carabao Cup final, in the last 16 of the Europa League, still in the FA Cup.

Klopp's contract extends until 2026, and the prevailing belief was that he would leave after the expiration of his current contract. Instead, two years earlier than planned, he decided he no longer had the energy to continue working beyond May.

This will be the end of an era as Liverpool bid farewell to one of the most inspiring figures in the club's history. Klopp pledged to take a year off to recharge his energy and promised that he would never coach any other English club.

The search for a successor begins now. There are some huge shoes to fill.

Klopp's assistant coaches, Pepijn Lijnders and Peter Krawietz, as well as elite development coach Vitor Matos, will also leave at the end of the season. Liverpool said in a statement that Lijnders is “keen to continue his career in management.”

“I already informed the club in November,” Klopp said. “I have to explain a little bit that the job I do people might see from the outside, I'm on the touchline and in training sessions and things like that, but the majority of things happen around this kind of thing. It means the season starts and you're almost planning for the next season already.

“When we were sitting there together talking about potential signings, next summer camp and could we go anywhere we thought, ‘I’m not sure I’m here anymore’ and I was surprised by that myself.”

“I'm fine. I'm healthy, as healthy as you can (be) at my age. Little bits and things like that, but nothing that should worry anyone, so that's totally fine.”

Klopp plans to continue on the sidelines, whether that be at domestic or international level, but he will not do so in England.

“If you asked me: Would you work as a manager again?” “I will now say no.” “But I don't know clearly how I would feel because I've never been in this situation before. What I know for sure is that I would 100% not coach another club in England other than Liverpool. It's not possible.

“My love for this club and my respect for the people is so great. I couldn't. I couldn't think about it for a moment. There's no chance. This is part of my life, we're part of the family, we feel at home here.

“There's no chance of doing that. But after all, will I ever work again? Of course, I know myself, I can't sit around. I'll find something else to maybe do. But I won't be managing a club or a country for at least a year. It's not possible. I can't.” “I don't want to do that.”

“Maybe he will inspire the players to give him a great farewell.”

Analysis from Premier League legend and sports columnist Alan Shearer

It's pretty amazing, for sure. No one expected that. This is done in the correct and professional manner. Liverpool fans and their football club deserve it, without walking out.

Maybe this will inspire the players to bid him a fond farewell between now and the end of the season. They are still participating in all their competitions, and they can give him a wonderful send-off.

Big news and a big, big surprise.

Klopp was appointed to replace Brendan Rodgers in October 2015. Liverpool finished eighth in the 2015-16 Premier League season, losing 3-1 to Sevilla in the Europa League final.

Klopp then led Liverpool to back-to-back fourth-place finishes, and reached the Champions League final in the 2017-2018 season, losing to Real Madrid. The following season saw Liverpool finish second in the Premier League, and go one better in the Champions League, beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0.

Liverpool then won their first ever Premier League title in the 2019-20 season, their first league win since the 1989-90 First Division.

Klopp coached Borussia Dortmund from 2008 to 2015, where he won the German League title twice in a row in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. His Dortmund team also reached the Champions League final the following year, where they lost to rival Bayern Munich.

Liverpool's first match comes after Klopp's announcement at Anfield in the FA Cup fourth round match against Norwich City on Sunday. Their final game of the Premier League season – which will likely be Klopp's last game as Liverpool manager if they do not reach the FA Cup or Europa League finals – will also be at home, against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

(Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)