Jurgen Klopp reflected on an emotional and “intense” week as he prepares for his final game as Liverpool manager.
The match against Wolves at Anfield on Sunday marks the end of an era for the club and its devoted fanbase, who will bid farewell to a manager who has left an indelible mark on the team and the city.
In his pre-match press conference, Klopp did not shy away from expressing the whirlwind of emotions he has experienced.
“Most intense week of my life definitely,” he said. “I’ve said so many ‘goodbyes’ this week. We don’t have to pretend it’s a normal week because it’s not.”
The German coach, known for his heartfelt connections with players and supporters alike, acknowledged the difficulty of parting ways.
“Saying goodbye, I don’t think is ever nice, but saying goodbye without feeling sad or hurt, would just mean the time we spent together was not great, and we had a great time.
So it’s clear, it will be tough and I know it will be tough.”
Klopp’s tenure at Liverpool began in October 2015, and over nearly a decade, he has amassed an impressive collection of silverware.
Under his guidance, Liverpool secured seven major trophies, including the club’s first league title in 30 years and the 2019 Champions League.
Yet, his journey was also marked by near misses. Liverpool finished as runners-up in the Premier League by just one point to Manchester City on two occasions and suffered two Champions League final defeats to Real Madrid, in 2018 and 2022.
Earlier this season, Liverpool seemed poised for an unprecedented quadruple after winning the League Cup in February.
However, the final weeks of Klopp’s reign saw the team falter, resulting in a third-place finish in the Premier League, alongside exits from the FA Cup and the Europa League. Reflecting on these close calls, Klopp remained philosophical.
“I know we could have won more but I cannot change that so I am absolutely fine,” he said. “Not becoming champions for a point is not a good experience but it is an experience.
All the nearly wins will not be in the history books, that is life. I could not have done anything different.”
Beyond the trophies and near misses, Klopp’s legacy at Liverpool is also defined by the deep bond he forged with the club’s passionate supporters.
His face adorns murals across the city, and his departure announcement in January was met with a collective sense of loss. “We are ambassadors of the people.
We have to try to fulfill their dreams. Here these thoughts fitted like a glove to the people’s thoughts and that’s why it was pretty special,” Klopp explained.
His nearly decade-long stay in Merseyside has left him with lasting memories and relationships. “It’s nearly a decade in my life and super-influential in so many ways.
I love everything about this place, I take memories with me, fantastic memories, I take friendships, and relationships with me forever.
A decade in your life is a massive one and I will not forget a day in that time because I met the best people I ever met and I did it for the best club I could’ve imagined in a wonderful, very special city.”
As Klopp prepares to take charge of his final match, the atmosphere at Anfield is expected to be charged with emotion.
Fans will not only be celebrating the successes and unforgettable moments he has brought to the club but also mourning the end of a significant chapter in Liverpool’s history.
Klopp’s departure marks the conclusion of a period defined by thrilling football, dramatic victories, and a manager whose charisma and passion captured the hearts of Liverpool fans worldwide.
This Sunday, when the final whistle blows, it will signify more than just the end of a game.
It will be the culmination of an era, a poignant farewell to a manager who transformed Liverpool into a formidable force and left an enduring legacy both on and off the pitch.
For Klopp, the memories and the bonds he formed at Liverpool will remain, as will the gratitude of a club and city forever changed by his tenure.
