Jurgen Klopp finally shedding light on why he quit Liverpool made so much sense

Jurgen Klopp unexpectedly decided to step down as Liverpool boss at the end of the 2023/24 season but the German manager’s reasons for doing so have since been justified

Jurgen Klopp’s reason for leaving Liverpool has made more and more sense in the time since his exit. The legendary Reds manager made the shock announcement in January 2024, at the midway point of last season, that he would be leaving the Anfield club at the end of the campaign.

The Liverpool supporters could make little sense of the decision at the time, given that their side was in the midst of a title race for Klopp’s second Premier League trophy. His squad appeared energised in the weeks that followed the announcement, winning 10 wins from 12 matches, but struggled in the last six weeks of the season as they settled for third place in the league.

In the final weeks of the season, Klopp expanded on his decision to leave behind the club he had become synonymous with, having won every trophy possible and connected deeply with its fanbase. He spoke candidly about his own fatigue and waning energy levels to give “100 per cent” in a role he had occupied for eight-and-a-half years.

The German, 57, said his decision stemmed from feeling as if the team would have carried their poor form at the end of the 2023/24 season into the new campaign had he stayed on, meaning he essentially sacrificed himself for the good of the club.

Klopp’s foresight was proven correct as Liverpool benefited immensely from the arrival of his successor, former Feyenoord boss Arne Slot. Thanks to Klopp’s selflessness and Slot’s own managerial prowess, the Dutchman achieved the stunning feat of winning the Premier League in his first season in English football with four games to spare.

“The football hasn’t been great the last few weeks, and as a result, you start hearing people say that I look really tired. I’m just old,” Klopp told Sky Sports ahead of a clash with Tottenham in May last year.

“I’m about being in it 100 per cent until the last day. That was always the plan. I was sure that if I didn’t make that decision now, next year it could have been tricky. The thought of picking yourself up for another pre-season, make big decisions.

“For that, you really need to be full of energy. 80 per cent is not enough. That’s the truth. It’s too much. It’s a 24/7 job. Yes, there are more important things in life, but if you really care then it’s 24/7.

“I did it for a pretty long time and I knew I couldn’t continue to do it at the standard necessary for a club like Liverpool. It will be super tough not to be part of it anymore in the way I’m part of it now – because I will stay part of it, I will,” he went on to add.

Klopp was given a hero’s farewell at Anfield after a 2-0 win in his last game against Wolves, before dancing on stage at his goodbye party and strolling through the city centre grinning with a drink in hand.

Having enjoyed recharging for half a year while on sabbatical, the former Mainz and Borussia Dortmund boss signed a long-term contract in October to become the ‘Global Head of Soccer’ at Red Bull. The role involves the strategic management of Red Bull’s international network of clubs, including RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, New York Red Bulls and Red Bull Bragantino.

Explaining his decision to take on the new role, Klopp said: “It was always clear, well, clear to me, that I wouldn’t do anything. And then the Red Bull story came up, and it was an outstanding [option], and I have to be honest about that.

“But I just want to support, not interfere, because I know how disruptive that is. Instead, I want to pass on my experience and work in the world that I know best.”

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