Jurgen Klopp announces Liverpool departure; odds-on for Germany job

Jurgen Klopp has announced he will be leaving Liverpool after nearly nine years in charge at Anfield and is among the favourites to manage the German national team next.

Speaking Liverpool's official club website, Klopp said: “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."

While Klopp may want to take an extended break from football, there could be a number of managerial opportunities in the near future. Both Germany and England could be looking for new managers after this year's Euros and currently head the betting.

Jurgen Klopp next permanent job odds:

Klopp took over at Anfield back in October 2015 with the club in disarray. After the title charge of 2013/14, Liverpool lost Luis Suarez, while Daniel Sturridge struggled with injuries and Steven Gerrard became a less prominent figure in the side. The Reds failed to progress from their Champions League group featuring Basel and Ludogorets, finishing a distant sixth in the Premier League, eight points off the top four.

The Suarez money was spent on a series of underwhelming signings including Rickie Lambert, Lazar Markovic and Mario Balotelli, and after a poor start to the following season that saw Liverpool loitering in mid-table, Brendan Rodgers was dismissed on the back of Liverpool's 1-1 draw to Everton.

Klopp arrived on Merseyside after leaving Borussia Dortmund in the summer, and though the revolution wasn't instant, there was a marked improvement from Liverpool, with the Reds making the EFL Cup final and the Europa League final. 

The XI fielded in Klopp's first game has become iconic in its own way, showing how far Liverpool have come under the German. Klopp's first game was a trip to Tottenham, where the XI read: Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno, Lucas, Can, Milner, Lallana, Coutinho, Origi. Just two years later, Liverpool reached the Champions League final, with James Milner the only survivor in the starting XI.

Although the last decade will always be thought of as the Klopp era, much credit must be given to Liverpool's recruitment team, unearthing the gems who could take the side to the Champions League and Premier League. The star player of Klopp's first Liverpool team, Philippe Coutinho, left in January 2018, but the likes of Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Georginio Wijnaldum and Sadio Mane had already arrived at the club, ready to fill the void. 

Klopp's first full season in charge saw a more free-scoring outfit, who notched three or more times in 12 games that season, but also lost 4-3 to Bournemouth, 3-2 to Swansea, and drew 2-2 three times. Nevertheless, it was enough for the Reds to return to the European top table.

The brilliant Salah arrived at Anfield and scored 32 Premier League goals in his maiden campaign as Liverpool reached the Champions League final. While Liverpool were even more free-scoring, notching three or more in nearly half of their Premier League games, they lacked the ability to control games, recording just one 1-0 win all season. There were pieces missing that would stop them challenging for the title.

The arrival of Van Dijk made Liverpool stronger, conceding 0.81 goals per game, down from 1.14 prior to his arrival, but the Reds were still missing a top-class goalkeeper, no more evident than in the Champions League final when two Loris Karius errors saw Real Madrid run out 3-1 winners.

Alisson arrived from Roma and the puzzle was complete. Liverpool would amass a ridiculous 97 points in the Premier League – but still come up agonisingly short in the title race – beating Tottenham in the Champions League final.

While Manchester City were able to just barely hold off Liverpool in 2019, the Reds ran rampage over the rest of the league the following season. 

Prior to the Covid interruption, Liverpool won 26 of their first 27 games, the draw at Old Trafford their only dropped points. While they dramatically exited the Champions League at the hands of Atletico Madrid, the first Premier League title finally arrived, with Liverpool reaching 99 points, finishing 17 clear of City.

Injuries decimated the side the following year, with Liverpool remarkable home record coming to a halt, going on to lose an alarming six straight matches at Anfield before a late run of form saw them sneak into the Champions League places.

The Reds would be back with a vengeance in the 2021/22 campaign, however. Van Dijk was fit again, as was the rest of the squad, and for much of the season, the prospect of an unprecedented quadruple was very much on the cards.

Liverpool won the EFL Cup and FA Cup to secure a double, while given a straightforward path to the Champions League final with only Benfica and Villarreal standing in their way. 

Liverpool needed to beat Wolves at home and hope that City dropped points at home to Aston Villa on the final day to complete a domestic treble with a Champions League final still to come. 

But despite City going 2-0 down to Villa, Liverpool spent much of the afternoon locked at 1-1 with Wolves. By the time Liverpool did eventually take the lead, City had scored three quick-fire goals to seal the title. 

The following week, despite being much the better side and forcing Thibaut Courtois into so many saves he was named Man of the Match, Real Madrid nicked a 1-0 win, with Liverpool left to lick their wounds. 

It would be the beginning of the end of Liverpool, whose historic side was in the process of being broken up. Mane would depart for Bayern Munich, and with injuries taking their toll once again, Liverpool laboured to a fifth-place finish. 

Roberto Firmino, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita would all depart at the end of the campaign, with fans bemoaning the lack of investment into their midfield as a reason for their struggles throughout the season.

Midfield reinforcements did arrive at the start of the 2023/24 season, with Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister all joining and Liverpool launching a title challenge once again. 

The Reds are into one cup final and well placed for a run at another, while also going strong in the Europa League.

Fans won’t want to be getting too carried away so many months from the end of the season, but it’s only a 40/1 shot that Liverpool win the quadruple this season, and what a perfect end to Klopp’s Liverpool career that would be.

bet365 News Team

• Liverpool F.C.
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