Jurgen Klopp has announced he is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. Klopp’s announcement that he is leaving the club at the end of the season raises questions.
“I can understand this is a shock for a lot of people,” said Jurgen Klopp upon announcing his decision to leave Liverpool at the end of the season. That is an understatement.
The message from Klopp was that this was a personal decision rather than something initiated as a result of outside factors, from his own health to any relationships at the club. One of the themes of his address was that it is exhausting to keep going to the well.
“I am running out of energy. I am absolutely fine now but I know I cannot do the job again and again and again.” This was an epiphany to him as much as anyone, realising when asked about plans for next pre-season that he did not necessarily envisage himself there.
“The one thing I had not anticipated is that my energy source is not endless.” Klopp is self-aware enough to appreciate that his success has been built on being totally committed. It is impossible for any Liverpool manager to flourish in the role without that commitment.
Klopp suggested that he had begun to think about his future when Liverpool were enduring a “super difficult season” last time around, languishing down in eighth place in the Premier League table as late as mid-April before the team rallied to secure European football.
It was a matter of pride to leave Liverpool in better shape than that. “To help bring this team back on the rails.” Walking away after what looks like it could be a successful season and with a new team taking shape, “a wonderful platform” he called it, is more satisfying.
There has been much talk of Liverpool 2.0 and that remains true. Klopp will feel that he has begun the process of managing that transition with legends leaving and new heroes emerging. “My role will change. A lot of other things stay the same. The future is bright.”
