Virgil van Dijk couldn’t hold back his tears as he bid farewell to Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp after his last game as the Reds’ manager on Sunday, May 19.
The two shared an emotional hug after Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on the last matchday of the Premier League.
After the match, Van Dijk admitted that it has been an emotional week for the players as they prepared to part ways with the German tactician.
“We don’t have to pretend it’s a normal week because it isn’t. I’m a very pragmatic person. This is the last game of the season and after that, it’s a holiday,” he said (via SPORTbible).
“Saying goodbye is never nice but saying goodbye without feeling sad or hurt, that would have meant the time was not good. The time was great. It will be tough,” he added.
When asked about his final embrace with the gaffer, Van Dijk said:
“Tough…tough. But life goes on.”
On the final matchday of the season, Wolverhampton Wanderers were reduced to 10 men as Nelson Semedo was sent off after a challenge on Alexis Mac Allister in the 28th minute.
The Reds scored their first goal in the 34th minute as Mac Allister met Harvey Elliott’s looping cross with a well-placed header. Jarell Quansah added the second six minutes later, slotting the ball home after it pin-balled all around the penalty box.
After the match, Jurgen Klopp was serenaded and applauded by the entire Anfield crowd. After a massive round of applause and emotional embraces from the entire team, the German addressed the crowd and expressed his gratitude.
“I’m surprised, I thought I was already in pieces, I’m so happy about you all, the atmosphere, the game, being apart of the family, just this day it’s incredible. Thank you so much,” he said.
After an emotionally charged speech, Klopp started chanting Arne Slot’s name. Arne Slot is the current Feyenoord manager who will manage the Reds next season.
“Arne Slot, na na na na, Arne Slot.”
Jurgen Klopp’s exceptional record as a Liverpool manager
With the win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, Liverpool finished third in the Premier League with 82 points. In the 2023-24 season, Jurgen Klopp won the Carabao Cup with Liverpool, beating Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea 1-0 in the final.
As Liverpool boss, Jurgen Klopp managed 489 matches, winning 304 of them. He boasts an incredible 2.07 point-per-game average with the Reds.The former Borussia Dortmund manager also won 10 Premier League Manager of the Month and two Manager of the Season awards.
Liverpool won the Premier League in 2019-20 and the 2019 UEFA Champions League under the German tactician. Moreover, they have also won one FA Community Shield, one FA Cup, and two Carabao Cups.
As of now, Klopp’s next destination is unknown. Klopp said (via Fabrizio Romano) that he will never manage any other Premier League team and is likely to take a long break.
“It will be a long break, for sure”, says Jurgen Klopp asked on his future For sure I’m not returning soon. It might even be it.
My time in England is definitely over because I’ll never coach another team here,. it’s over in Premier League. If I manage again, it will not be around the corner, ” Klopp said.
