Jurgen Klopp has announced he will stand down as Liverpool boss at the end of the season - as stunned supporters called it 'the worst day of their lives'.
In a bombshell interview on Friday morning that has stunned the sport, the 56-year-old German boss claimed he is 'running out of energy' after winning the Premier League, Champions League, the FA Cup and Carabao Cup across nine years at Anfield - and hinted that he may never manage in football ever again.
'I will leave the club at the end of the season,' he said. 'I can understand that it's a shock for a lot of people in this moment, when you hear it for the first time, but obviously I can explain it – or at least try to explain it.
'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.
Klopp's admission of burnout mirrors when he left his previous club Borussia Dortmund after wife Ulla Sandrock was said to have played a major role in his departure.
'Obviously Ulla wants me to do well and be fine, and when she realised that I’m really clear about that – and she knows I don’t take these kind of things lightly – she is happy for me, that I’m happy with the decision. Because that’s the truth.'
During Klopp's time in charge of Dortmund, Ulla had expressed concerns over his wellbeing during his final season in 2015, having been in charge of the Bundesliga side for seven seasons.
Klopp said he had informed the club of his decision to step down in November - and that he revealed it while discussing transfer targets for next summer.
'When we sat there together talking about potential signings, the next summer camp and can we go wherever, the thought came up, 'I am not sure I am here then anymore' and I was surprised myself by that,' he said.
Klopp even revealed the possibility he could retire from football management altogether - but said he needed more time before making a final decision.
'If you ask me, "Will you ever work as a manager again?" I would say now no. But I don’t know obviously how that will feel because I never had the situation.
'What I know definitely – I will never, ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool, 100 per cent. That’s not possible. My love for this club, my respect for the people is too big. I couldn’t. I couldn’t for a second think about it. There’s no chance.'
The president of Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group expressed their gratitude towards Klopp for his achievements at the club and said plans were already underway to ensure the Reds succeed when the German has departed.
'First and foremost, on behalf of John Henry and Tom Werner, I would like to state our profound appreciation for Jurgen,' said Mike Gordon.
'It goes without saying that we will be hugely saddened to lose not just a manager of such calibre, but a person and leader for whom we have enormous respect, gratitude and affection. At the same time, we fully respect his wishes and the reasons why he has decided the current season will be his last at Liverpool.
'Our priority now is two-fold. First, to ensure that the progress that has been made on the pitch this season is maintained in the final months of the campaign. Second, to continue the due diligence behind the scenes which will allow our football operations department to adapt to a future without Jurgen.'
Klopp's assistants Pep Lijnders and Peter Krawietz will also leave in the summer - with the former looking to move into management.
Club legend Jamie Carragher led the tributes towards Klopp on Friday, calling it a 'body blow' as he hailed the German's remarkable achievements.
