LONDON – Jurgen Klopp stunned the world of football on Jan 26 when he announced he would stand down as Liverpool manager at the end of this season, saying that after more than eight hugely successful years in charge, he was running out of energy.

The German, who led the Reds into the final of the League Cup on Jan 24 and is hugely popular with the fans, said he told the club’s hierarchy in November that he would end his 8½ years at Anfield at the end of the current campaign.

Assistant managers Pepijn Lijnders and Peter Krawietz are also leaving the club at the same time, Liverpool said.

“It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy,” Klopp, 56, said on the club website.

“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, the city, I love everything about our supporters, the team, the staff. But that I still take this decision shows you I am convinced it is the one I have to take.

“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 I cannot do the job again and again and again and again.”

In his press conference on Jan 26, he added: “I have never lived a (normal) life. That is true. Having three or four weeks in the summer was enough, but not any more. No club, no country for the next year, no other English club ever, I can promise that. Even if I have nothing to eat, it will not happen.”

He joined Liverpool in October 2015 and has won the Champions League, English Premier League, Club World Cup, FA Cup, League Cup and Uefa Super Cup, as well as the Community Shield.

“In keeping with Jurgen’s expressed wishes, we will save the comprehensive tributes for a more appropriate time... nevertheless, we would be remiss if we did not take this opportunity to reaffirm that his appointment remains one of the greatest blessings of our time as owners,” said Mike Gordon, Fenway Sports Group president.

“The incredible achievements of the intervening years speak for themselves, so too does the joy that Jurgen and his team have brought to all of us supporters. His many accomplishments will never be taken for granted.”

In the 2019-20 season, Klopp led Liverpool to their first league title since 1990, and their first of the Premier League era. The previous season, they lifted the Champions League, defeating Tottenham Hotspur in the final.

In the 2021-22 season, they won the FA Cup and League Cup but missed out on the quadruple as they were beaten to the league title by Manchester City on the last day of the season, and lost the Champions League final to Real Madrid.

Last season was a relatively poor one, with a fifth-placed finish in the league. But they have roared back to their best this campaign and are leading the Premier League standings.

“For me, it was super, super, super important that I can help to bring this team back onto the rails,” said Klopp, who has the highest win rate of any manager in Liverpool’s history in all competitions (60.7 per cent) who had overseen over 50 matches.

“It was all I was thinking about. When I realised pretty early that happened, it’s a really good team with massive potential, a super age group, super characters and all that, then I could start thinking about myself again and that was the outcome.

“It’s not what I want to (do), it is just what I think is 100 per cent right.” 

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher was one of the first to comment on the news. He posted on X: “This news was always going to be a body blow to the club whenever it came. I just thought it would be another few years away. What a manager, what a man, let’s go out with a bang Jurgen!”

The Reds are next in action against Norwich City in the FA Cup fourth round on Jan 28 and are also into the last 16 of the Europa League. REUTERS, AFP