Jurgen Klopp reveals the exact moment he ‘knew’ he had to QUIT Liverpool, says he won’t u-turn like Sir Alex Ferguson once did and hopes to live a ‘normal life’ as he speaks out on decision to resign

Jurgen Klopp has pinpointed the moment he knew he had to leave Liverpool after announcing he would be leaving the club at the end of the season.

Klopp announced his decision to walk away on Friday morning, despite Liverpool being in the middle of an excellent campaign that still sees them chasing four trophies.

But Klopp revealed at a special press conference on Friday afternoon that he has been considering his future for several months, and realized he had to step down after last summer’s hectic transfer window, which saw the likes of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho leave for Saudi Arabia during an important transition period at Anfield.

‘The summer was difficult. We have worked very hard to bring in the right players. The summer and the preparation we had were excellent. That gave me a lot of joy. But that’s not what it’s about,” he explained.

‘I like the team and the way we react, but it’s the things we have to do in addition. The planning (the transfer period is not just the period) must also be exactly in order. Then I realized that this is something I can’t do (further)… I did it so many times. Six press conferences a week for nine years!’

Klopp is proud of his team’s rebuild this season but admits last summer’s transfer window left him exhausted

Klopp’s revelation followed an impressive interview he gave to Liverpool’s official website just hours earlier, when he confirmed he would walk away this summer having won every major trophy available during his nine years on Merseyside.

“I will leave the club at the end of the season,” he said. ‘I can understand that it is a shock for many people at the moment when you hear it for the first time, but of course I can explain it – or at least try to explain it.

‘It’s that, how should I put it, I have no energy anymore. I don’t have a problem with it now, of course I knew for some time that I would have to announce it at some point, but I’m doing absolutely fine now. I know I can’t do the job again and again and again and again.’

Klopp’s admission of burnout reflects when he left his previous club Borussia Dortmund after wife Ulla Sandrock was said to have played a major role in his departure.

Klopp was asked about Ulla’s influence on his dismissal – and said she was ‘happy’ with his decision. She had also been an integral part of him signing a new contract extension in 2022. The couple met while Ulla was working as a waitress in a bar in Munich before marrying in 2005.

“I had to explain, of course I had to,” he said. “It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, thank God.’ You shouldn’t misunderstand it. Not at all.

“It’s clear that Ulla wants me to do well, and when she realized that I’m very clear about (his decision), she’s happy for me.”

Klopp has won every major trophy during his time at Liverpool, including the Champions League in 2019

Jurgen Klopp’s wife Ulla played a major role in his decision to leave his former club Borussia Dortmund and influenced his call to leave Liverpool as well.

During Klopp’s time in charge of Borussia Dortmund, Ulla had raised concerns about his well-being during his final season in 2015 after seven seasons in charge of the Bundesliga.

Klopp said he had informed the club of his decision to resign in November and revealed this when discussing transfer targets for next summer.

“As we sat there together talking about possible contracts, the next summer camp and whether we could go somewhere, the thought came up, ‘I’m not sure if I’ll still be here then,’ and I was surprised by that,” he said .

While several players left last summer, others arrived in the form of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo, and Liverpool have bounced back from their disappointing 2022/23 campaign to lead the title race this season.

Some may wonder whether Klopp could be tempted to continue the transition after rebuilding his squad, and he wouldn’t be the first high-profile manager to make a U-turn.

Klopp has insisted he will not reverse his decision, as Sir Alex Ferguson did in 2002

Sir Alex Ferguson famously reversed his decision to leave Manchester United in 2002 and remained at Old Trafford for another 11 years.

But Klopp has insisted there is no chance he will follow in the Scot’s footsteps.

‘No nothing. If I won everything this season it wouldn’t change my mind,” Klopp said.

‘I had to make the decision. I’ve thought about it carefully. It is independent of any result this season.

‘The most important thing is that I see that there is a very good basis for this team. That’s why it’s a good time to give it to someone else.”

Klopp has managed three different clubs in Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool over the past 23 years, with very little time between jobs to recharge his batteries.

Klopp is looking forward to taking a break from football so he can live a ‘normal life’

He admitted that he is looking forward to a break to lead a ‘normal life’, and reiterated that he will never manage another club in England after leaving Liverpool.

‘I have never led a (normal) life. That’s true,” he added.

‘Three or four weeks in the summer was enough, but no more.

‘No club, no country for next year, no other English club ever, I can promise that. Even if I have nothing to eat, it won’t happen.’