Jurgen Klopp sensationally reveals he will LEAVE Liverpool at the end of the season after nine years at Anfield

Jurgen Klopp has announced he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season – bringing down the curtain on nine years in English football. 

In a bombshell interview on Friday morning that has stunned the sport, the 56-year-old German boss claimed he is ‘running out of energy’ after winning the Premier League, Champions League, the FA Cup and Carabao Cup – and hinted that he may never manage in football ever again.

‘I will leave the club at the end of the season,’ he said. ‘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 obviously I can explain it – or at least try to explain it.

‘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 will have to announce it at one point, but I am absolutely fine now. I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again.

Klopp’s admission of burnout mirrors when he left his previous club Borussia Dortmund when his wife Ulla was said to have played a major role in his departure. 

Jurgen Klopp has shocked football by revealing he will step down as Liverpool boss at the end of the season

Klopp has turned Liverpool into a European powerhouse over the last decade, winning seven trophies – including the Champions League in 2019 

The German claimed he was stepping down because he has ‘run out of energy’ after an emotional and passion-fuelled spell at Anfield

Jurgen Klopp’s wife Ulla played a major role in his his decision to leave his old club Dortmund and had an influence in his call to leave Liverpool too 

Klopp was asked about the influence of Ulla on his resignation – and said she was ‘happy’ with his decision. The pair met while Ulla was working as a waitress in a bar in Munich before getting married in 2005. 

‘I had to explain it, of course I had to,’ he said. ‘It was not like, “Oh, thank God”. You must not misunderstand. Not at all. Obviously Ulla wants me to do well and be fine, and when she realised that I’m really clear about that – and she knows I don’t take these kind of things lightly – she is happy for me, that I’m happy with the decision. Because that’s the truth.’ 

Klopp said he had informed the club of his decision to step down in November – and that he revealed it while discussing transfer targets for next summer. 

‘When we sat there together talking about potential signings, the next summer camp and can we go wherever, the thought came up, ‘I am not sure I am here then anymore’ and I was surprised myself by that,’ he said.

Klopp even revealed the possibility he could retire from football management altogether – but said he needed more time before making a final decision.

‘If you ask me, “Will you ever work as a manager again?” I would say now no. But I don’t know obviously how that will feel because I never had the situation. 

Klopp even teased the possibility that he could retire from football management altogether

He won the clean sweep of every trophy available during his time in English football 

Liverpool’s Fenway Sports Group directors hailed Klopp for his achivements at Anfield and said work was already underway to ensure success when he departs

‘What I know definitely – I will never, ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool, 100 per cent. That’s not possible. My love for this club, my respect for the people is too big. I couldn’t. I couldn’t for a second think about it. There’s no chance.’

The president of Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group expressed their gratitude towards Klopp for his achievements at the club and said plans were already underway to ensure the Reds succeed when the German has departed.

‘First and foremost, on behalf of John Henry and Tom Werner, I would like to state our profound appreciation for Jurgen,’ said Mike Gordon. 

‘It goes without saying that we will be hugely saddened to lose not just a manager of such calibre, but a person and leader for whom we have enormous respect, gratitude and affection. At the same time, we fully respect his wishes and the reasons why he has decided the current season will be his last at Liverpool. 

‘Our priority now is two-fold. First, to ensure that the progress that has been made on the pitch this season is maintained in the final months of the campaign. Second, to continue the due diligence behind the scenes which will allow our football operations department to adapt to a future without Jurgen.’

Klopp’s assistants Pep Lijnders and Peter Krawietz will also leave in the summer – with the former looking to move into management. 

Club legend Jamie Carragher led the tributes towards Klopp on Friday, calling it a ‘body blow’ as he hailed the German’s remarkable achievements.

The 56-year-old joined Liverpool in 2015 after leaving Dortmund and was tasked with overhauling an underachieving side

Former Liverpool man Xabi Alonso has been installed as the favourite to replace Klopp

JURGEN KLOPP FULL STATEMENT 

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 obviously 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.

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 will have to announce it at one point, but I am absolutely fine now. I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again.

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 and the least I owe you is the truth – and that is the truth.

I told the club already in November. I have to explain a little bit that maybe the job I do people see from the outside, I’m on the touchline and in training sessions and stuff like this, but the majority of all the things happen around these kind of things. That means a season starts and you plan pretty much the next season already.

When we sat there together talking about potential signings, the next summer camp and can we go wherever, the thought came up, ‘I am not sure I am here then anymore’ and I was surprised myself by that. I obviously start thinking about it.

It didn’t start [then], but of course last season was kind of a super-difficult season and there were moments when at other clubs probably the decision would have been, ‘Come on, thank you very much for everything but probably we should split here, or end it here.’ That didn’t happen here, obviously.

For me it was super, super, super-important that I can help to bring this team back onto the rails. It was all I was thinking about. 

When I realised pretty early that happened, it’s a really good team with massive potential and a super age group, super characters and all that, then I could start thinking about myself again and that was the outcome. It is not what I want to [do], it is just what I think is 100 per cent right.

Who should replace Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager?

‘This news was always going to be a body blow to the club whenever it came. I just thought it would be another few years away. What a manager, what a man, let’s go out with a bang Jurgen!’ 

Gary Lineker added: ‘Wow. Huge news. What an incredible job he’s done. A special @RestIsFootball podcast will be with you this afternoon.’ 

Former Liverpool man Xabi Alonso has quickly emerged as one of the front-runners to take over from Klopp after his incredible work at Bayer Leverkusen that has seen him take the team to the top of the Bundesliga. 

Klopp took over Liverpool in 2015 from Brendan Rodgers, tasked with overhauling a struggling side that had come close to winning trophies, but had often fallen short. 

He had to be patient for his first piece of silverware – which came in 2019 as his side beat Tottenham in the Champions League final.

One year later, he led his team to their first Premier League title win in 30 years as they romped to victory with 99 points to see off their bitter rivals Man City. 

He was often involved in touchline rows with rival bosses in displays of passion and fury

The Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup followed and in the 2021-22 season his side won the double of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

Klopp became renowned for his passionate displays on the touchline, bust-ups with rival managers, snappy retorts at journalists and often hilarious moments and displays of his lighter side in press conferences. 

He was also a vocal critic of the Premier League’s notoriously jam-packed fixture schedule – and would never hold back if he felt his team had been on the wrong end of a bad refereeing or VAR call. 

Fans have also been reacting with shock at news that one of the most popular and charismastic managers will be leaving the Premier League. 

One Liverpool fan said: ‘I’m in shock. We knew the day would come. Devastating. What a manager. What a man.’ 

Another added: ‘Bro. I’m lost for words. Low-key heartbroken. I need a minute,’ while a third said: ‘Nothing lasts forever. Even so, best leave me alone today. YNWA.’

A fourth wrote on X: ‘Devastated as a fan. Gutted for the club. But Jurgen – you have been the best of us. I am so proud you have been our manager and I wish you nothing but good things in your normal life ahead. Whatever you choose to do you will be extraordinary.’