It was last November when Mike Gordon, president of Fenway Sports Group, got the call he had long been dreading.
The voice on the other end of the line was Jürgen Klopp. On the pitch, “Liverpool 2.0”, as the manager called it, was flying high after the summer's rebuild, but this was not an optimistic progress report passed on to the club's American owners.
Klopp explained that after much thought he had come to the conclusion that this would be the final season of his Anfield reign. His decision was clear – he would resign in May. He felt like he just didn't have the energy to continue. He was jaded and didn’t want to do the job on “three wheels.”
The German coach's decision in April 2022 to extend his contract until 2026 was the most pleasant surprise for FSG, as he had previously indicated that he would take a break. That was exactly the opposite.
When the news was relayed to stunned FSG executives John W. Henry and Tom Werner, they knew the attempt to change his mind would be unsuccessful.
This wasn't about money or getting another job. It was simply a matter of taking a break from the relentless demands of elite management. As painful as it was, the owners agreed they had to respect his decision.
Jürgen Klopp with Liverpool's then sporting director Michael Edwards (left) and FSG President Mike Gordon (John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Klopp was given time and space. There was no need to make last-minute announcements. However, the period from November to the end of January did not change the 56-year-old's attitude.
The decision to go public with his seismic decision on Friday was Klopp's alone. He really wanted to make sure staff, players and fans heard it from him first. He knew the longer he waited, the more likely it was to come to light through the media.
Klopp felt his inner circle and their families deserved clarity now so they could start planning for the future. Assistants Pep Lijnders and Peter Krawietz as well as first team development coach Vitor Matos will also leave.
“In an ideal world I wouldn’t have said anything to anyone until the end of the season. “Win everything and then say goodbye, but that’s not possible,” said Klopp. “Because no one will fire me, I have to make this decision myself.”
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Lijnders and Matos have their own ambitions as coaches and Klopp is keen to stress that they will be ready to take on a new challenge while he takes what he claims is a year-long break this summer.
For other backroom staffers like Andreas Kornmayer and John Achterberg, there is ongoing uncertainty as they wait to find out whether their services will be needed as a new era begins.
Klopp's agent Marc Kosicke stood at the back of the room on Friday as the somber Liverpool manager gave an emotional press conference in a packed media room at the AXA Training Centre.
At meetings to discuss preparations for the 2024/25 season, in which Liverpool will play a series of warm-up games in the United States, Klopp first questioned whether he had what it took to play again in July. “I’m usually the leading part of these meetings, but I couldn’t do that (this time),” he said.
Last season's problems, when the wheels came off and Liverpool were left fifth in the Premier League, had taken their toll. Klopp turned down the chance to lead Germany to a home European Championship after Hansi Flick was sacked last September because he felt an obligation to get his reign at Anfield back on track.
“But my leadership is based on energy and emotion, and that requires all of you. If I can’t do it anymore, stop it,” he said. “That wasn't my idea when I signed the new contract. At that point, I was 100 percent convinced that we would make it to 2026. But I realize that my resources are not endless. I’m not a young rabbit anymore.”
Friday morning was carefully choreographed. Klopp held a staff meeting in the coaching room at the top of the AXA training center, immediately followed by a meeting with the players in the dressing room at around 10.30am.
Some players had described this season as “the last dance”, a reference to the Michael Jordan documentary, and believed Klopp was making a final attempt to achieve something special with this group. But they hadn't expected that.
Once they were finished, the news was posted on social media for the world to consume. Klopp explained his reasons for feeling that now was the time to leave the club in a 25-minute interview with the club's media department, filmed the previous day. amid great secrecy.
Liverpool then continued their training session as usual. Photos emerged showing Klopp smiling and relaxing with the players as they prepared for Sunday's FA Cup game against Norwich City.
It had been a closely guarded secret. The fact that Klopp's press conference for the Norwich game took place on Thursday rather than the usual Friday raised eyebrows among some. This also applies to the decision to postpone the Liverpool women's press conference until Saturday. Kirkby staff sensed an announcement was coming, but few believed it would be so significant.
The reaction from both staff and players was completely shocking. Except for the select few in the loop, no one expected this. Some employees shed tears.
Jürgen Klopp trains on Friday (Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Klopp appeared with renewed energy as Liverpool topped the Premier League table, in the final of the Carabao Cup, in the round of 16 of the Europa League and still in the FA Cup. This team thought they had at least two more seasons with him at the helm.
If this announcement had been made a year ago, it would have been more understandable. Back then, there was friction behind the scenes as Liverpool lost their bearings in worrying ways: team morale had plummeted and a sense of negativity was growing, particularly during a terrible run of results after Christmas when they lost to Brighton (twice), Brentford and… Wolverhampton Wanderers lost.
Klopp's record as Liverpool manager is exceptional, but he can be a demanding figure for both his players, staff and executives. Some senior members of the squad questioned whether he would resign last May after the club failed to qualify for the Champions League.
But having stayed and revitalized the club's fortunes so spectacularly, there was a feeling that he wasn't going anywhere any time soon, even if some within the club recognized that it was an arduous task – something this only reinforces It was clear that Klopp had taken on so much more responsibility in recent years. The departure of other top managers had taken its toll.
The defeat at Wolves was one of several low points for Liverpool last season (Clive Mason/Getty Images)
During his short speech to the players, Klopp joked that his departure was partly their fault because Liverpool had reached such a high level so quickly that he felt he could pass the baton to someone else. He spoke about the talent of a young, dynamic team. Being able to leave Liverpool in a good place – his legacy – means everything to him.
“The players didn’t have many questions,” he said. “I spoke to everyone together and then a few more. We have a really strong bond.
“If a manager sits in the dressing room and talks like that, he usually gets sacked. It's not because of the things we've achieved, that's why my responsibility is so great.
“We had the situation last year and I think a lot of managers would have been sacked and there was never any intention of doing that and my responsibility is growing and growing. So if it’s no longer right, I have to say so.”
Klopp was worried about the impact the news would have on the afternoon training session, but he was pleased with the fact that everything carried on as usual. He told the players that they would have the opportunity until May to “write more chapters” and ensure this unforgettable era ends on a high. He believes it will shake everyone up, not distract them.
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So what now?
Klopp is adamant there will be no U-turn like Sir Alex Ferguson did in 2002. Unlike the former Manchester United manager, he has no interest in helping to choose his successor. “The last thing they need is the old man’s advice,” Klopp said.
He was angered by former Liverpool left-back Jose Enrique's suggestion that a lack of financial support in the transfer market from owners contributed to his decision to resign. “FSG has nothing to do with this,” he said firmly.
Klopp has always accepted the financial limitations of the club's self-sustaining business model. The fact that he succeeded makes his record at Anfield all the more remarkable.
Considering he took over a team that finished 10th in the Premier League in 2015 and led them to dizzying heights by winning the Champions League and ending a 30-year wait for a top flight title, he was the figure Liverpool's history has changed the most since Bill Shankly.
The search for a successor began in November, when Gordon first took that unwanted call. The data department, led by research director Will Spearman, has been doing background work over the last two months on which candidates around the world might be stylistically viable given Liverpool's brand of football.
However, the active search begins now – there are no applications for candidates at this point. Of course, the leadership knew that this time would come. And although Klopp's contract ran until 2026, the consensus was that the deal informally ran until 2025 with the option of a further year. With 18 months left, like a player's contract, this seems like a reasonable time to make a decision.
Liverpool were worried about the impact of the news as they contacted agents and looked for alternatives while Klopp was still in charge. Now there is the news of his departure, which is no longer a cause for concern.
The plan is to appoint a new sporting director before a new manager is appointed. Gordon, who appointed Klopp in 2015, will leave this recruitment campaign. Lost amid Friday's emotions was confirmation that interim sporting director Jörg Schmadtke will leave Liverpool next week. He was always only a stopgap measure and was brought in last summer to help the club deal with a difficult transfer window.
Jörg Schmadtke leaves his temporary role as Liverpool football director (Cathrin Mueller/Getty Images)
There is a lot of uncertainty as three key senior players – Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold – are all in the final 18 months of their current contracts and awaiting talks to begin.
They will want certainty about the direction the club is heading in before committing their future to Liverpool, and their negotiating position was arguably strengthened by Klopp's decision to leave the club in the summer.
Xabi Alonso is considered the leading candidate to succeed Klopp, and that is understandable considering his association with the club as a player who helped win the Champions League trophy in 2005 and that he has been with Bayer this season Leverkusen has done an excellent job. He has taken the club to the top of the Bundesliga, four points ahead of Bayern Munich, and the fact that he has done this on a smaller budget than rivals will certainly make him even more attractive to FSG.
However, the Spanish midfielder, who is also greatly admired at Real Madrid, another of his former clubs, revealed nothing when speaking to German media on Friday.
“Obviously a big surprise in Liverpool. I have great respect and admiration for what Jürgen has done at Liverpool,” he said. “Speculation is normal. My focus is here in Leverkusen, I am very motivated and am really looking forward to working with these players.”
Xabi Alonso is among the first candidates for the Liverpool job (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
Brighton's Roberto De Zerbi and Tottenham's Ange Postecoglou, a childhood Liverpool fan, are also on the radar. Thomas Frank still has his admirers after his stint at Brentford, which is because there are stylistic similarities between his side and Liverpool's high-pressure, high-energy approach. Julian Nagelsmann could also be of interest, although he first has to master the European Championships with Germany.
Klopp's decision to leave the club has certainly caused great uncertainty among other Premier League clubs. A person at a top club, speaking to The Athletic on condition of anonymity, admitted that Klopp's decision to quit had caused concern at their own club, simply because of the profile of the vacancy being created.
Senior FSG executives have stressed that Liverpool's owners are in it for the long term. They intend to oversee this new era and they have no intention of resuming their plans to sell their controlling stake.
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It will be almost impossible to find someone who can implement his business model like Klopp. “The Normal One”, as he described himself on the day he walked into Anfield in October 2015, proved to be anything but.
“When I said Liverpool 2.0, I wasn’t there for the next ten years, but the team is there, the base is there,” Klopp added. “Whoever comes in can’t give anyone a guarantee of winning trophies, but they can give a good chance of playing really good football.”
“You will get a top manager here. Going from being a doubter to becoming a believer and remaining faithful even in difficult moments… if we keep all of this, then there is a wonderful future ahead of us.”
Without Klopp, this is a leap of faith, because the FSG faces the challenge of replacing the irreplaceable.
Additional reporting by David Ornstein and Adam Crafton
(Photo above: Getty Images; Design: Eamonn Dalton)