Jürgen Klopp to step down as Liverpool coach

Premier League club Liverpool have announced that Jürgen Klopp will step down as head coach at the end of the current season after eight-and-a-half years in charge.

The German has been in charge of the "Reds" since 2015, winning six major trophies including the Champions League in 2019 and the club's first Premier League title in 30 years one year later.

Klopp: 'running out of energy'

"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," he told the club's official website, revealing that he made his decision back in November.

"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."

Klopp joined Liverpool from German side Borussia Dortmund, with whom he won two Bundesliga titles (2011 and 2012) and the German Cup. Before that, he had led Mainz 05 to promotion to the Bundesliga.

Current Dortmund coach Edin Terzic praised Klopp as "an outstanding person" and said: "He has shaped our club and Liverpool like no other. I am sure that there will be another station in his coaching life there will be a place where he will do a similarly good job."

Thomas Tuchel, who succeeded Klopp in Dortmund and is now in charge of Bayern Munich, said: "Kloppo is one of the best coaches of all time. He's always managed to influence an entire club at all his clubs. It's huge news."

One of those tipped to succeed Klopp at Anfield is Xabi Alonso, the former Liverpool midfielder and now Bayer Leverkusen head coach who said on Friday: "What Jürgen has achieved in the last nine years in Liverpool deserves huge admiration and respect. But my focus is on Leverkusen. I have huge motivation to work here."