Pep Ljinders has pinpointed the exact moment he knew that Jurgen Klopp would be leaving Liverpool – and it was a lot earlier than you might think.
Klopp revealed towards the end of January that he will be departing the Anfield club at the end of this season, despite having a deal which runs until the summer of 2026.
The 56-year-old joined Liverpool in 2015 following the sacking of Brendan Rodgers, and has rebuilt the Reds to becoming one of the two dominant forces in English football over the past decade, along with Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, and have been the only team to run the Etihad club consistently close in that time.
Klopp has overseen Premier League and Champions League wins in his time at Liverpool, as well as the FA Cup, Carabao Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
Speaking last month, Klopp explained his decision to leave the club and outlined a lack of energy as being the primary reason behind it.
He said: “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, 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. 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 that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again.
“After the years we had together and after all the time we spent together and after all the things we went through together, the respect grew for you, the love grew for you and the least I owe you is the truth – and that is the truth.”
Ljinders and fellow assistant Peter Krawietz, as well as elite development coach Vitor Matos, will leave Anfield in the summer along with Klopp.
And Ljinders has revealed when he learned Klopp would be leaving Liverpool, and the decision was revealed to him last summer.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s Carabao Cup final against Chelsea, Ljinders said: “Nobody will replace Jurgen. I was clear, to be honest, when we had the talk a long time ago – for me it was clear and it made it easier for me.
“We knew in the summer, ‘OK we are going towards the end of this project’. It’s too much about me…we play in a final in 48 hours. I understand, so I think I have given answers in interviews.”
Liverpool will have been well aware of Klopp’s decision to leave well before his public announcement and a search for his successor will have no doubt begun a while ago, with Bayer Leverkusen boss and former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso tipped as the favourite to succeed the German.
But after such an era of success concludes, it remains to be seen how Liverpool will adapt to such an influential figure leaving Anfield.
