Jürgen Klopp’s announcement that he is to leave Liverpool at the end of the season has caused a ripple effect across the football world.
The tributes have rolled in for the German boss since his decision to walk away from the club was revealed.
Klopp will leave the Reds at the end of the current campaign after nine highly-successful years at Anfield. The long road to naming his successor will no doubt begin now.
But it hasn’t been just people within football gushing praise on the 56-year-old and wishing him luck in the future. Those outside the game have also been publicly praising Klopp.
One such celebrity is NBA legend Lebron James. The 39-year-old is closely linked to the club through FSG, and at one time the basketball icon even held shares in the club.
James held a two per cent stake in Liverpool, but exchanged it for a one per cent share in parent company FSG, in which he now holds a greater equity interest after negotiating a lifetime rights deal with Fenway Sports Management. Yet despite no longer being a direct owner, LeBron holds Liverpool close to his heart.
In the aftermath of Klopp’s announcement, the current LA Lakers player took to X to make his feelings known on Klopp’s decision.
“THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND MORE!!” he posted.
“You are one helluva manager and you’ll never be forgotten and more importantly YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE!! The Reds will miss you!!”
James has collaborated with Liverpool on multiple fashion lines over the last couple of years, including trainers, jerseys and training gear. He also was present for two of Liverpool’s Champions League finals, in 2018 and 2022.
Liverpool will begin their search for a new coach in the ensuing months, however Klopp will not be part of the recruitment process for his successor, stating in his press conference ahead of the Norwich game in the FA Cup fourth round that he will have no role to play in that regard. That decision will lie with a new sporting director — whom FSG will first have to appoint.
Klopp will be looking to end his Liverpool tenure in the best way possible. That can only be by lifting as many trophies as possible in the next several months and adding to the seven he’s already lifted since arriving in October 2015.
