Football world in shock as Jürgen Klopp announces he is leaving Liverpool

In a move that has shocked the world of football, Jürgen Klopp has announced that he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season.

“After guiding the Reds to another Wembley final on Wednesday night, the 56-year-old will continue to oversee the team’s remaining fixtures of 2023-24 before bringing the curtain down on a glorious eight-and-a-half-year managerial reign at Anfield, which has seen the club win six major trophies under his guidance to date”, Liverpool said in a statement on Friday.

The German arrived in England on October 8, 2015, and since then they have undergone a revolution, returning to the top of English, European, and world football, winning the UEFA Champions League, Premier League, FIFA Club World Cup, FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Super Cup, as well as the FA Community Shield.

Klopp told the club “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 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. But that I still take this decision shows you that I am convinced it is the one I have to take.”

Dortmund thrashed Real Madrid 4-1 away from home back in 2012 and the scars of that Black & Yellow defeat remain at the Spanish club. It was Klopp who delivered the tactical and emotional battering of the Cristiano Ronaldo-led side that day, with Robert Lewandowski, Marco Reus, Mario Götze, and Ilkay Gündogan leading the charge against Los Blancos.

Since then, the manager has constantly been linked with a move to the Spanish capital, although Ancelotti’s new contract puts a potential spanner in that plan.

There is also the strong possibility that the coach could take some time off. He mentioned in his statement “It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy. I have no problem now, obviously, I knew it already for longer that I would have to announce it at one point, but I am fine now. I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again.”

This hints heavily that the coach could indeed take some time away, just as Pep Guardiola did after winning everything with FC Barcelona.

A manager of Klopp’s standing can have his pick of clubs in Europe and beyond, with a head coach of his caliber not often on the singles list. Money has seen many players in Europe make the move to Saudi Arabia, as well as MLS, but it remains to be seen just what the 56-year-old does when the time comes to make a decision.

“What I know definitely” he added, “I will never, ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool.” We can rule out a job at Everton, then.

The news of Klopp’s departure shocked the football world and we’re sure it shocked Liverpool, too. While no news of Klopp’s replacement at the club has been announced - and not many people have even had time to speculate - what’s certain is that the English club will line up a top replacement as soon as they can.