The brilliant analogy Jurgen Klopp used to tell wife Ulla he’s quitting Liverpool after she talked him out of it in 2022

10 months ago 42

JURGEN KLOPP has revealed how he told his wife Ulla he was leaving Liverpool.

The Reds boss announced on Friday he will be stepping down as manager at the end of the season.

The Reds boss will step down from his role at the end of the season[/caption]

His tenure at Anfield will end after eight-and-a-half years and seven major trophies so far, including the Champions League and Premier League.

In an emotional interview, Klopp detailed how he broke the news to his wife and even hinted at his next job in management.

Ulla had been a big influence on his decision to sign a contract extension with the club in 2022, when he initially intended to leave.

The 56-year-old explained: “I tried to describe it already, I had to explain it to Ulla clearly.

“I tried to explain it with, I’m like a proper sports car – not the best one but a pretty good one, can still drive 160, 170, 180 mph but I’m the only one who sees the tank meter is going down.

“The outside world doesn’t see that, that’s good, so you go until as long as we have to go, but then you need a break. In this case, you need to go to the petrol station.

“That’s exactly what I know I have to do, but nobody has to worry until the end of this season, I know that I will be fine until then.”

As for her reaction, he added: “I had to explain it, of course I had to. It was not like, ‘Oh, thank God.’ You must not misunderstand. Not at all.

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Ulla (right) was key to Klopp’s decision to extend his contract in 2022[/caption]

“She asked me why and I explained it like I explain it now to you, with a few more maybe private details, but besides that it was pretty similar.

“And 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.”

Klopp also touched on a potential return to the dugout, stating: “If you ask me, ‘Will you ever work as a manager again?’ I would say now no.

Xabi Alonso is perfect man for the job

By Dan King

XABI ALONSO ticks almost every box to succeed Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager and, if Bayer Leverkusen don’t let their lead at the top of the Bundesliga slip, the case for him to do so will be irresistible.

The former Kop idol knows the club inside out after five seasons at Anfield and has made no secret of his enduring affection.

Alonso has already forged a reputation as an innovative coach playing an attractive, pressing style, usually in a fluid 3-4-2-1 formation.

He has taken Leverkusen from second bottom of the Bundesliga to seven-points clear at the top, putting them on course to be crowned German champions for the first time in their 120-year history.

It’s worth remembering that both Rafa Benitez and Klopp arrived at Anfield with proof they could dethrone clubs who dominated their leagues

For Alonso to do the same, in only his second season as a top-flight manager, would mark him out as something special.

It is that lack of long-term experience that would still make appointing him to replace Klopp a gamble.

But otherwise, he looks like the perfect candidate as Liverpool are forced to plan a future without the man who made them champions of England, Europe and the world.

“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. This is part of my life, we are part of the family, we feel home here. There’s no chance to do that.

“But all the rest, will I ever work again? Of course, I know myself, I cannot just sit around. I will find something else maybe to do.

“But I will not manage a club or a country at least for a year, that’s not possible, I cannot do that and I don’t want to. That’s all.”