Klopp’s here to stay...

Deal until 2026 means he’ll be longest-serving manager since Shankly

JURGen kLoPP committed his future to Liverpool yesterday, signing a two-year contract extension to stay at Anfield until at least 2026. the German, 54, has lifted the club from 10th in the Premier League when he joined in 2015 to champions of europe in 2019, ending their 30-year wait for a league title a year later. this season, the Reds are in the hunt for the first Quadruple in english football. ‘there are so many words I could use to describe how I am feeling about this news,’ said klopp. ‘Delighted, humbled, blessed, privileged

and excited would be a start.’

JURGEN KLOPP has given Liverpool a huge boost by signing a new contract — ahead of a month in which they could make history. It was Klopp’s intention to leave Anfield at the end of his most recent deal, which was scheduled to run until June 2024, and he pressed that fact home as recently as March, when he said: ‘That will be me, thank you very much.’

But Klopp, 54, has been revitalised this season and he has petrol in the tank once again. Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s owners, were well aware of this and were encouraged to make moves to extend the partnership.

Klopp has committed himself to June 2026 and the importance of the date shouldn’t be discounted. Provided there is no early split, Klopp’s 11-year stint will make him Anfield’s longest-serving manager since Bill Shankly, who was in charge from 1959 to 1974. His impact is no less profound.

‘There are so many words to describe how I am feeling about this news — delighted, humbled, blessed, privileged and excited would be a start,’ said Klopp. ‘Like any healthy relationship, it has to be a two-way street.

‘You have to be right for each other. The feeling we were right for each other is what brought me here in the first place and it’s why I’ve extended previously. This one is different because of the length of time we have been together.

‘I had to ask myself the question, “Is it right for Liverpool that I stay longer?”’

The answer, unequivocally, was yes. Mike Gordon, the president of FSG with whom Klopp has a close relationship, was at Anfield for the first leg of the Champions League clash with Villarreal and saw Liverpool take a step towards reaching their third final in five years with a 2-0 win.

Also in the crowd was Marc Kosicke, Klopp’s long-time agent, and he and Gordon agreed the final details of the deal. Klopp is the architect of everything Liverpool have achieved in the last seven years and his influence on the club is enormous.

‘Everything Jurgen has said publicly about his future was reflected by his words privately to us,’ Gordon said. ‘It was about him having the inclination and desire to keep going. In this respect, it is clear he is more energised than ever.’

Klopp has signed two extensions since he was appointed in October 2015. The first — a sixyear deal — was in June 2016 following his bright start, the second was in December 2019, six months after he led Liverpool to their sixth European Cup success.

It was always his plan to pass the baton in 2024 — being at Liverpool for nine years would have been his longest stint as a manager — but the landscape is changing and he is excited about what this squad could achieve.

Plans are in place to make new additions in the next window, with Liverpool keen on Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni. They are also watching Aberdeen right back Calvin Ramsay.

Klopp is loyal to his staff and his right-hand men Pep Lijnders and Peter Krawietz have also signed new deals to 2026.

There will be one departure at Anfield this summer, however; sporting director Michael Edwards is leaving and expected to take a break from football. He will be replaced by Julian Ward, currently Edwards’ assistant.

With a number of players signing new deals and some exciting additions having been made, Quadruple-chasing Liverpool want Klopp to oversee what they believe will be a thrilling new era.

Klopp reflected: ‘I asked myself the question I mused over publicly, “Do I have the energy?” I didn’t need long to answer.’