HIS celebratory fist pump has become a familiar sight in the eight and a half years he’s been on the sidelines at Anfield.
Dubbed “the tracksuit manager” for his casual style, Jürgen Klopp has had plenty to celebrate during his trophy-laden time at Liverpool Football Club, so the soccer world was caught by surprise when he announced he would be leaving the celebrated English team at the end of the season because he’s “running out of energy”.
“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,” the German maestro says.
The 56-year-old said he’d told the club’s owners about his plans to leave last year after nearly nine years, his longest stint as a manager.
“When we sat there together talking about potential signings, the next summer camp . . . the thought came up, ‘I am not sure I am here then anymore’, and I was surprised myself by that. I obviously started thinking about it,” he says.
It’s particularly important for him to leave on a high note after last season’s disastrous performance, where they finished fifth on the Premier League table.
Currently, Liverpool top the Premier League table, they’ve reached the Carabao Cup final and continue to fight in two other competitions in their insatiable battle for silverware.
“Better to leave too early than too late,” was the way he put it.
With five months left in his term, praise has flooded in for Klopp.
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