Liverpool players' private joke suggests they knew Klopp exit was not far off

27 January 2024 , 12:08

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Liverpool players' private joke suggests they knew Klopp exit was not far off

It's emerged that some Liverpool players have been referring to this season as “the Last Dance” - but were unaware that Jurgen Klopp was planning to stand down at the end of the current campaign.

Klopp, 56, sent shockwaves through football when he announced on Friday that he would be leaving Anfield in the summer, almost nine years after he first joined the club.

There had been mild speculation that Klopp could move on from Liverpool in previous years before the German penned a contract extension until 2026 last year. But he, along with assist Pep Ljinders and other members of his coaching team, will now move on in the summer.

A new report from The Athletic has given some insight into Klopp's decision and how and when it was communicated to both the Liverpool hierarchy and the playing squad. Several players, who were informed of Klopp's plans on Friday morning, had been referencing the Michael Jordan documentary, “the Last Dance”, following the club's summer rebuild.

It seemed many believed that Klopp was mustering his all in a bid to achieve success one more time with the group and knew a parting of the ways was coming. However, nobody was expecting him to move on as soon as the end of the season.

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Klopp, who informed the club of his intention to leave in November, delivered an emotional video message to fans relaying the news on Friday which was shared on Liverpool's official social media channels.

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Jurgen Klopp has announced he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season (John Powell/Liverpool FC)

"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," Klopp said.

"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."

Dan Marsh