Liverpool's owners have insisted they will take time to decide on Jurgen Klopp 's replacement.
Klopp has spent nine years on Merseyside, winning the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup and the Club World Cup. But he has now revealed that he will resign at the end of the current campaign, with a year remaining on his contract.
He will be followed out of the Anfield exit door by his entire coaching staff, leaving a huge gap for Fenway Sports Group, who own the Reds, to fill. The group's president Mike Gordon has now laid out how they will set about appointing a successor.
Gordon insisted it would take time for FSG to find a suitable replacement for a man who has turned around the club. But he was adamant that the supporters would be the first to find out once a decision is made.
“It is testament to Jurgen’s unstinting professionalism and ongoing commitment to the best interests of Liverpool FC that his decision was arrived at in a way which allows for business as usual to be maintained for the remainder of his tenure while simultaneously creating an opportunity for us to prepare for the future," Gordon said.
Premier League odds and betting tips
“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.
"As ever, these ambitions will be pursued in the best interests of the club and its supporters and we will update fans as and when significant developments are made.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Who should replace Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager? Comment below.
Fenway Sports Group have laid out their timeline for finding a successor (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)“Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to place on record our gratitude to Jurgen for everything he has done and continues to do for Liverpool Football Club. Thank you, Jürgen. When the time comes, you will never walk alone.”
Gordon added his thanks to Klopp for his work on behalf of club owners John W Henry and Tom Werner. And he revealed that Liverpool will reserve their full tributes until the end of the campaign, as per Klopp's wishes.
“On behalf of John Henry and Tom Werner, I would like to state our profound appreciation for Jürgen. 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," he added.
"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. In keeping with Jürgen’s expressed wishes, we will save the comprehensive tributes for a more appropriate time.
"But nevertheless, we would be remiss if we did not take this opportunity to reaffirm that his appointment remains one of the greatest blessings of our time as owners. The incredible achievements of the intervening years speak for themselves, so too does the joy that Jürgen and his team have brought to all of us supporters.
"His many accomplishments will never be taken for granted. To appropriate an adage synonymous with another Liverpool managerial great, Jürgen Klopp ‘made the people happy’ and we have total confidence he will continue to do so until his eventual departure."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
