Jurgen Klopp has announced he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, but why is he leaving? What does this mean for Liverpool? Who will replace him? What is Klopp’s lion? We look at six key questions facing clubs and managers.
Why is it time for Klopp to go?
Klopp’s message is that this is a personal decision and is not dependent on external factors, his health or any relationship at the club. One of the topics of his talk was that tracking source code is tedious. “I’m low on energy. I’m doing pretty well now, but I know I can’t keep doing it,” he said.
It was as much a revelation to him as it was to everyone else, as when asked about his plans for the upcoming pre-season, he realized it wasn’t necessarily what he thought it would be. “One thing I didn’t expect was that my power supply wasn’t infinite.” Klopp knows his success is based on his total commitment. Without this commitment, no Liverpool manager can succeed in this role.
Liverpool are playing well so why leave?
Klopp said Liverpool had endured a “very difficult season”, finishing eighth in the Premier League last season and putting together a squad to secure European football in mid-April. It was an honor to leave Liverpool in good shape. “This is to help the team get back on track.” He is pleased that a new team is emerging after what appeared to be a successful season, calling it “a great platform”.
Liverpool 2.0 is being talked about and is still being talked about. With legends leaving and new heroes emerging, Klopp feels he has begun the process of managing this transition. “My role will change. Most other things will remain the same. The future is bright.”