The last weekend was traumatic for all Liverpool fans; the announcement that manager Jurgen Klopp is leaving shocked everyone.
It was a moment that Liverpool fans knew was coming but didn’t know it would come in January 2024.
Jurgen Klopp officially announced on the 26th that he would part ways with the club after the 2023-24 season and wants to take a break from football management; he stated that “he is running out of energy and can’t do it again and again”.
The man who took Liverpool from an ordinary club to extraordinary heights, reigniting the winning spirit, will officially conclude his chapter.
As a manager under Klopp, Liverpool rose to the top to become a competitive outfit always destined to win. For fans with LFC tickets, he was their savior. In 2019, he brought the club to the UEFA Champions League, defeating Tottenham in the final, their first since 2005.
In his first year in charge, Liverpool almost went on to win the league but lost out to Manchester City.
But then the triumphant moment came for the Reds when they clinched the league title in the 2019/20 season, their first in 30 years.
“I told the club already in November,” added Klopp, who announced his decision on social media as his side battles for the league title this season.
“I can understand that it’s a shock for a lot of people at this moment when you hear it for the first time, but obviously, I can explain it,” he added.
“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.
“It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy. I have no problem now, obviously….
“I know that I cannot do the job again and again….” he further added.
A Historic Tenure at Liverpool
The Liverpool news sites couldn’t believe it when Klopp announced his departure. Klopp leaves a remarkable legacy at the club, with the highest win percentage of any manager who’s ever been with the club for more than 50 games.
His win percentage stands at 60.7% across all competitions. Since his managerial tenure, only Manchester City has collected more points. In the last few seasons, Klopp has a total points tally in the Premier League of 671 points, while City has 716.
This should be an ideal benchmark to ascertain the consistent performances that Liverpool has delivered over the years, marking them as a top-tier club in the country.
Klopp shares the record for the longest winning run in the Premier League, achieving 18 back-to-back victories. Guardiola’s City has the same from October 2019 to February 2020.
Another record that will stay close to the German manager is the second-longest unbeaten run in the Premier League with 44 games. Only Arsene Wegner had a higher unbeaten record when the side went unbeaten for 49 matches from May 2003 to October 2004.
A Defining Era
The journey to Liverpool was nothing short of extraordinary. When Klopp took over in 2015, everyone with LFC tickets was endlessly frustrated with the mediocre performances that the team was delivering.
Nothing was adding up, and something needed to be done. Liverpool was eighth in the previous season; since then, they’ve dropped below the top positions.
Liverpool came almost close in 2018 to win the Champions League but had to lose out to Real Madrid. But on their second attempt in 2019 with Jurgen, the side defeated Tottenham to win the title.
The 2019-20 season was historic, with Liverpool winning the Premier League title, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup.
The next season, Liverpool continued to add to their trophy cabinet, winning both the EFL and FA Cups. Coincidentally, both of these wins were against Chelsea in the finals.
The 2021-22 season was challenging, where Liverpool saw several players leave, and their new gameplan needs to be fixed. But the turnaround from the previous season to now is tremendous. Klopp extended his contract and eventually brought in a working combination to see the team elevate back to the top this season.
As he departs, he leaves a long-lasting legacy of being the only manager to win the league, the EFL Cup, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League.
All fans with LFC tickets will fondly remember the good times they shared. They will surely miss the Klopp celebrations in front of the Kop and the vibrant energy the manager always brought to the team.
Will Not Manage Any Other Club – Klopp
Klopp’s decision is firm that he is leaving Liverpool. But he’s also firmly mentioned that he will not manage another club in England than Liverpool. This declaration underscores the connection he has developed with the club, the fans, and the players, ce enting his place as one of the greatest managers in Liverpool’s history.
Who Can Replace Klopp?
The biggest question everyone with LFC tickets is on is, “Who can replace Jurgen Klopp to take the legacy forward?”
There are several takers for the job, and among them are Liverpool’s revered manager Steven Gerrard. While Gerrard was a legendary player, but his managerial stints have failed to meet the expectations.
Here are a few more options for Liverpool to consider:
Xabi Alonso
Alonso is a strong candidate with deep ties to Liverpool, playing a key role in the club in the 2000s. He had tremendous success with Bayer Leverkusen and might be the right fit for the role.
But Real Madrid also has eyes on Alonso so that it might be tough.
Jose Mourinho
The ‘chosen one’ is again without a club to manage after he was sacked by AS Roma mid-season. The Portuguese manager, a seasoned tactician, has all the ticks to be Liverpool’s next boss.
While these names are speculations, Liverpool will take some time to assess their options, and the management and all those with LFC tickets will anxiously await the decision.
