26 January 2024 , 11:34
1284
0
Jurgen Klopp has announced his shock move to leave his post as Liverpool boss at the end of the season after "running out of energy".
The Reds manager, who is contracted until 2026, has held the reins at Anfield since 2015, winning the club its first Premier League title in 2020 and a sixth Champions League crown in 2019.
The German boss said today: "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."
Klopp revolutionised Liverpool when he took over from Brendan Rodgers in 2015 and quickly introduced his Gegenpress, 'heavy metal football' style of play.
But it could've been a completely different story for the team if fierce rivals Manchester United had their way a decade ago and succeeded in bringing him to the team - before the boss' wife Ulla Sandrock intervened to stop him from making the switch.
Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash
Ulla intervened to make sure Klopp managed Liverpool (AFP/Getty Images)Back in 2019, former Reds defender Phil Thompson revealed that United had previously attempted to steal Klopp, until his other half stepped in. Speaking to TV2 in Norway, Thompson said: "I interviewed Klopp for Sky, and I asked if he and Liverpool were created for each other. He looked at me and asked 'Why?' Then Klopp told me he could have taken over Manchester United, but his wife said it wasn't right. When Liverpool arrived, his wife said it was right. There is something strange there. It is as if he's created for Liverpool."
At the time, believed to be 2013, Klopp was in charge of a Borussia Dortmund side who he guided to stunning back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2010-11 and 11-12. The German was being tipped as one of the finest managers of his generation while David Moyes was struggling in his first and only season in charge of the Red Devils. Klopp's wife, a social worker and children's writer, predicted United's current struggles. Over the next few years, Liverpool went from sleeping giants to genuine title contenders.
When Klopp broke the news of his departure to fans today, he added: "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 percent right."