Jurgen Klopp has pinpointed the moment he knew he had to leave Liverpool after announcing he will walk away from the club at the end of the season.
Klopp announced his decision to walk away on Friday morning, despite Liverpool being in the midst of an outstanding campaign that sees them still in the hunt for four trophies.
But Klopp revealed at a special press conference on Friday afternoon that he has been thinking about his future for a number of months, and realised that he had to quit following last summer’s hectic transfer window, which saw the likes of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho leave for Saudi Arabia during a major transitional period at Anfield.
‘The summer was a difficult one. We were working really hard to bring in the right players. The summer and preparation we had was outstanding. That gave me a lot of joy. But it’s not about that,’ he explained.
‘I love the team and how we react, but it’s the stuff we have to do next to it. The planning – the transfer window isn’t just the window – you need to be spot on as well. Then I realised that’s something I cannot (continue)… I did it so often. Six press conferences a week for nine years!’
Jurgen Klopp has revealed the moment he knew he had to walk away from Liverpool
While several players left last summer, others arrived in the shape of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo, and Liverpool have bounced back from their disappointing 2022-23 season to lead the title race this term.
Some may wonder whether Klopp could be tempted to see the transition through after rebuilding his squad, and he would not be the first high-profile manager to perform a u-turn.
Sir Alex Ferguson famously reversed his decision to quit Manchester United in 2002, and went on to remain at Old Trafford for another 11 years.
But Klopp has insisted there is no chance of him following in the Scot’s footsteps.
‘No, nothing. If I won everything this season, it wouldn’t change my mind,’ Klopp stated.
‘I had to make the decision. I thought it through properly. It’s independent of any kind of result this season.
‘The big one is I can see there is a really good basis for this team. That’s why it’s a good moment to give it to someone else.’
Klopp has now managed three different clubs in Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool over the last 23 years with very little time in between jobs to recharge his batteries.
He admitted he is now looking forward to having a break to live a ‘normal life’, and reiterated that he will never manage another club in England after leaving Liverpool.
‘I have never lived a (normal) life. That is true,’ he added.
‘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.’
