There was a real sense of shock in the English Premier League on Friday lunchtime (26 January) when Liverpool FC announced that manager Jürgen  Klopp would be leaving the club at the end of the present campaign.

The 56-year-old German is contracted up to the summer of 2026, so not many outside of the club saw this coming, especially with the team enjoying a fabulous season, sitting at the top of the Premiership, awaiting an EFL Cup final against Chelsea next month, still competing in the FA Cup and favourites to win the Europa League.

He has been in charge since October 2015 and in that time his sides have lifted the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, UEFA Super Cup and a Club World Cup.

He explained that he felt he was “running out of energy” and actually told the club’s hierarchy of his intentions back in November, but has decided to make it public now to provide clarity and to allow for an orderly transition.

Huge shock

In the midst of such a good season, there is no doubt that this announcement will be a massive shock to the football world. When Klopp signed his new contract in 2022 to take him through to 2026, very few people would have believed he would be gone two years early.

Success after success

He walked into Anfield to replace Brendan Rodgers in 2015, after catching the eye with his excellent record for Borussia Dortmund. In his first full season as boss on Merseyside he guided the team to a respectable fourth place finish, which was repeated the following year.

That was followed by two Champions League final appearances, the second ending in victory over Spurs in the final to lift the trophy.

Then in 2019/20 came the Holy Grail of the Premier League title that had eluded the club for three decades, with the only disappointment being the success was secured in an empty stadium due to the Covid restrictions.

Lasting bond

With still half a season and so much to play for, his current record has him at a 60% win rate, making him an incredibly difficult act to follow, not just for his record which allows him to stand comfortably in a list of great Liverpool managers of the past, but also for the remarkable bond he has been able to form with the club’s supporters.

Speaking from the heart

Klopp was understandably emotional when he spoke at length about his decision. He began by declaring publicly his love for the club, city, supporters, team and staff, but said he knew he couldn’t continue to do the job again and again, and he said he felt he owed everyone the truth.

He reference the troubles that the club went through last season as a motivation to get things back on track, and when he realised pretty early into this season that he had another really good team with massive potential, he could start thinking about himself and essentially, this decision to go was the outcome.

“It is not what I want to do, it is just what I think is 100% right thing to do”.

Health issues not behind decision

When asked if it was a health matter he responded by saying: “I am OK. I am healthy, as much as you can at my age. Little bits and bobs, stuff like that, but nothing anybody has to be concerned about, so that’s absolutely fine.” 

Couldn’t keep it quiet much longer

He explained that in an ideal world he wouldn’t have said anything to anybody until the end of the season, but it no longer was possible to keep secrets and he admitted it was a bit of a surprise it hadn’t come out sooner.

Clarifying the situation he pointed out: “There are so many things which are influenced by it, especially personal situations. People from my staff need to know early, and especially the club needs to know early and needs to plan.”

Putting a positive spin on things he issued a challenge: “Let’s squeeze everything out of this season and have another thing to smile about when we look back in the future.”

Proud “scouser”

Speaking more personally about his relationship with the football club and the city, he called it the “best club in the world, and being made an honourable Scouser, I didn’t know before, but that’s probably one of the best things I could have achieved in my life. The way these people deal with difficulties is a role model for me.”

He also said that he would never manage a different club in England. “That’s not possible, my love and respect for the club and the people is too big.” He intends to take at least a year off then reappraise his situation.

Replacing him a massive task

Although it is one of the biggest clubs in world football, and as such will have no shortage of applicants, whoever takes on the role from Klopp will have massive shoes to fill; so the board of directors have a huge decision to make between now and the end of the season.