Featured Image Credit: Liverpool FC
Topics: Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, Football, Premier League
Topics: Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, Football, Premier League
Jurgen Klopp has announced that he will stand down as Liverpool manager at the end of the season.
Klopp informed the Premier League club of his decision in November, with a shock announcement on Friday morning revealing the news to supporters.
In a statement, Klopp said that he is "running out of energy" and has hinted at retirement. Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso is the early favourite to replace him as Liverpool manager.
Klopp explained his decision and address the club's supporters at a special press conference.
See highlights from the press conference below as they happened:
LFC CEO responds
Will Klopp manager another English club?
Intensity of working at the very top
Message to the fans
'I'm not a young rabbit anymore'
Klopp said recent years have felt like 'dog years' due to how intense they have felt.
He ends the press conference by saying it'll be 'fun' to watch his successor continue the Liverpool legacy.
Klopp says being an 'honorary scouser' is one of the 'best things to happen in his life'.
He loves Liverpool and continues to be amazed by the people who live there.
Asked if he has a message for the Liverpool fans, Klopp says: "I'm not in the mood for saying thank you even though I could five million times... these things will happen [but] now it's the rest of the season.
"We should not make these [remaining] games about me.
"We need that and we want it, let's squeeze everything out of this season, that's the message."
Sir Alex Ferguson famously u-turned on a decision to leave Man Utd back in 2002, staying put for a further 11 years.
Klopp is asked if there's anything that could happen to change his mind, to which he says 'no' regardless of winning trophies or not.
Club CEO Billy Hogan says the club will announce information on his replacement when the time is right.
It 'wont serve as a distraction' to the ambitions of this season.
Klopp continues his honestly, saying the game is 'too important to just do it with 50%'.
He says to have three to four weeks off in the summer is no longer enough.
He says he will not manage for the next year after leaving Liverpool and while he doesn't know what will come after that, he'll never manage another club in England.
Klopp says he was 're-energised' after the summer and ready for the new season.
He's asked if he was trying to convince himself this was the case.
Klopp said: "The summer was great... it's not about that, in this moment I love every minute with the team. It's just the stuff that you have to do next to it as well like planning.
"You might think the transfer window is the transfer window but it's not [just] a decision... it's just a moment where you can finalise [months of work to get a player].
"I've had six press conferences a week for nine years. I have no problem with [the press] but I can't wait not to do that.
"It takes all of you and needs all of you... I am who I am and where I am because of how I am, but if I cannot be that anymore, I have to stop and tell the people."
Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan is waxing lyrical about Klopp and his integral part in bringing trophies back to the club.
He said: "We've worked together for the last nine years and I could see this was a situation he had come to that he believed in.
"When your colleague and friend comes to a decision like that it's something you support and respect.
"I'm surprised in a sense but I understand it.
"He wanted to give the club the chance to go through what will be an orderly process."
Klopp will not have a say in who his successor is.
He said: "The incredibly strong structure behind the scene is one of the reasons I can leave."
Everyone working at the club is working towards one unified goal, he says.
Looking back, Klopp said lots of managers in his position last year 'would have got the sack'.
He says when he knew the moment was right to leave, he had to come forward and let people know.
Klopp says 'people outside of the club will be happy, whatever... the distraction comes from outside [the club]' and he and his players will not let it impact their season.
He says there's no guarantee of trophies for the second half of the season but the focus remains the same.
Klopp says: "The club needs time to plan for the future while sorting the present."
The players have a 'really strong bond' so haven't asked questions yet.
He said: "The agreement we have at the moment is for one year... even if you have a five or six year contract."
For that year, 'the boys see it exactly like that and are in a really good mood'.
Klopp says he was 'relieved' when he made the decision for himself, saying he 'doesn't take these things lightly'.
He said: "The two important things I had to do was tell our supporters and tell the players."
The reaction of the players was 'top', Klopp says. Now the focus is on the rest of this season with a lot to compete for, with Liverpool fighting for four trophies.
He said: "The players I spoke to altogether and a few others after that. The players didn't have a lot of questions. We have a really strong bond.
"We are professionals.. The agreement with the players is for one year (at start of season). We are completely in that year and the boys are in a really good mood."
The press conference with Jurgen Klopp has begun.
He says this is the right decision and you have to be 'top of your own game' to deal with the pressure at the top of elite football.
Klopp says: "It's impossible to start where I start and end at Liverpool but if it becomes possible it's because you've invested everything you have."
He said my 'resources are not endless' and 'prefers to pack absolutely everything in this season' before having a break.
He said: "We are not young rabbits any more and we don't jump as high as we did."
Klopp says Liverpool needs a 'top manager' at all times and would take to go in to next season and realise he can't commit to the same level of high standards he expects of himself.
Naturally the talk has already turned to who will be the next person to take over the manager's role at Liverpool.
They'll have big shoes to fill, with Klopp winning every trophy available to him in his eight years at the Merseyside club.
Klopp's decision to leave Liverpool out of the blue and part way through his current contract has shocked not just the Reds, but the entire footballing world.
He spoke in depth over the reasons behind the move, with them unrelated to his ongoing love and passion for the club and city.
Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso is the current favourite to replace Jurgen Klopp.
Alonso is currently in charge of Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen, who are unbeaten in the league.
He's been asked about the reports linking him with a return to Anfield.
Klopp announced his decision in an emotional interview with Liverpool's club website.
Check out the video below.
Welcome to our live coverage of today's special press conference at Liverpool, in the wake of the bombshell news that Jurgen Klopp is leaving the Premier League leaders.
Klopp announced in an interview on the club's website this morning that he will step down as manager at the end of the season.
He is due to speak to the media at 3pm to explain his decision, so stick with us as we bring you all the best quotes and reaction to one of the biggest stories of the season.
Live updates will be posted here from 2.30pm UK time.
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