By Efosa Taiwo

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has announced he will be leaving the club at the end of the season.

“I can understand that it’s a shock for a lot of people in this moment, when you hear it for the first time,” Jurgen Klopp said in an interview on the website of the Premier League leaders.

Watch or read our emotional interview with Jürgen Klopp in full as he discusses today’s news in detail and explains the reasons for his decision.

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 26, 2024

Reflecting on the impact he has had at Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp said: “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.”

Klopp’s backroom staff will also leave at the end of the season with assistant Pep Lijnders keen to pursue his own managerial career.

The US-based Fenway Sports Group (FSG), who own Liverpool, paid tribute to Klopp and said work will begin immediately on looking for his successor.

“I would like to state our profound appreciation for Jurgen,” said FSG president 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.”

Under his stewardship, Liverpool have lifted 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 has spoken in the past of his desire to manage the German national team.

Klopp shot to prominence as his Borussia Dortmund side emerged as challengers to German powerhouse Bayern Munich. Two league titles, a German Cup and a run to the European Cup Final (where they lost to Bayern) followed.

He stepped down at the end of the 2014-15 season but was back in management within months, joining Liverpool as Brendan Rodgers’ replacement.

After reaching the Europa League final in his first season at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp went about building a team capable of ending the Reds’ long wait for a league title. After a runner-up finish in 2019, that drought finally ended the following year as Liverpool finished 18 points clear of Manchester City to be crowned Premier League champions.

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