Klopp Is More Than Klopp – Liverpool Manager Pays Heartfelt Tribute To Coaching Team

Klopp Is More Than Klopp – Liverpool Manager Pays Heartfelt Tribute To Coaching Team

Departing Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp paid an emotional tribute to his backroom coaching team as his illustrious Reds career came to an end. Four months after announcing his decision to step down, the 56-year-old led Liverpool for the final time on Sunday afternoon.

Wolverhampton Wanderers visited Anfield for Klopp’s farewell match, where Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory with goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Jarell Quansah in the first half.

With Liverpool already guaranteed a third-place finish, the match had little impact on the Premier League standings, but tributes to Klopp poured in both during and after the game.

Klopp, previously with Borussia Dortmund, is not the only one departing; seven backroom staff members will also be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.

“Jurgen Klopp is more than Jurgen Klopp”

Assistants Pep Lijnders, Vitor Matos, and Peter Krawietz are moving on, with the first two set to continue their partnership at Red Bull Salzburg. Goalkeeping coaches John Achterberg and Jack Robinson are also departing. Additionally, head of fitness and conditioning Andreas Kornmayer and head of recovery and performance Andreas Schlumberger are following Klopp out the door. Klopp made sure to acknowledge all his staff in his post-game press conference.

“I want to thank everybody. I love how we said goodbye to the staff, how the players said goodbye to the staff. For the public, it’s Jürgen Klopp, Jürgen Klopp, Jürgen Klopp,” the Liverpool boss said.

“But Jürgen Klopp is Pep Lijnders, Peter Krawietz, Vitor Matos, John Achterberg, Jack Robinson, [Claudio] Taffarel, Andreas Kornmayer, Andreas Schlumberger. Jürgen Klopp is so much more than just Jürgen Klopp. I alone would have achieved absolutely nothing.

“It’s really nice how people appreciated that today. Everybody felt truly valued. I don’t lack appreciation—people show me all the time and tell me they will miss me. I’m happy that all the other guys got their attention as well.”

Klopp reveals when he might return to Anfield.

As Klopp prepares to take a well-deserved break from the intense world of management, the 56-year-old has confirmed that he will return to Anfield as a supporter, though not immediately.

The German does not plan to attend Liverpool’s first game of the 2024-25 campaign, but he is certain that he will watch a Reds match before the year ends.

“Now we will have a party and then come back for another event. I will return occasionally, just as a supporter now, and I’m fine with that, honestly. Maybe not for the first game of the season – that’s early, wow!” Klopp remarked.

“Maybe after the second international break or something like that. What can I say? There must be a difference if things go bad or if things go well. I’m really happy that we could finish like this – third place, that’s alright.”

Klopp also addressed the Anfield faithful after his final game in a Liverpool tracksuit, where their 2-0 victory saw them finish on 82 points ahead of Arne Slot’s imminent arrival.