Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp announced on Friday that he would be standing down as manager at the end of the season.
The 56-year-old German claims a lack of energy is the reason.
Under his management since 2015, he reshaped the Reds into an ultra-dominant force across English and European football. He won the Premier League title in 2020 and the Champions League in 2019. But on Friday, he announced that this will be his final season in charge.
Klopp plans a sabbatical from the managerial job, saying he will not train any club or country for at least a year. He told in an interview that he will never train another club in England apart from Liverpool.
In a video shared by Liverpool, he was quoted as saying: “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.”
“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.”
“If you ask me now if I will ever manage again, I would say no. But you don’t know obviously as I’ve never had this situation.
“But I do know definitely I will never manage a different club in England than Liverpool.
“It is impossible. I will find something else to do. But I will not manage a club or country for at least a year.”
On an emotional level, Klopp said he felt the need to explain to Liverpool fans why he was going now: Admitting that the decision is very tough to make, he also felt “relief” when he made it, saying it’s the right time for him to try a “normal life” and see if he really misses management.