‘Re-energised’ Klopp agrees to stay at Liverpool until 2026
Owners FSG move quickly to seal deal after Villarreal game
Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, has performed a major aboutturn by signing a new deal that keeps him at Anfield for another four years.
In the midst of an historic quadruple bid, Klopp ended any lingering speculation about his long-term future by talking about a sense of reinvigoration and name-checking another “fab four” to explain his decision to commit until 2026. “I’m in love with here and I feel fine,” he said, referencing the Beatles song that has become part of the Kop’s repertoire in tribute to their coach.
Klopp put pen to paper shortly after giving the club the green light to open talks with his agent, Marc Kosicke. Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group drew up the terms and formalised the agreement. It amounts to a two-year extension.
Klopp’s assistants, Pep Lijnders and Peter Krawietz, have committed for the same contract length.
“There is a freshness about us as a club still and this energises me,” Klopp said. “For as long as I have been here, our owners have been unbelievably committed and energetic about this club and it is clear that right now this applies to our future as much as I’ve ever known.
“There are so many words I could use to describe how I am feeling about this news… delighted, humbled, blessed, privileged and excited would be a start.
“There is just so much to love about this place. I knew that before I came here, I got to know it even better after I arrived and now I know it more than ever before.”
FSG president Michael Gordon flew from Boston to attend Wednesday night’s 2-0 first-leg Champions League semi-final victory over Villarreal to seize the opportunity to secure Klopp’s signature.
Kosicke was also at the game. No sooner was it confirmed that conversations were progressing positively, the deal was rubber-stamped in a matter of hours yesterday,
Liverpool gleefully pouncing at the recent glimmer of hope that their manager was ready to discuss an extension.
Gordon, who has a close working relationship to the manager, formally opened and concluded the negotiation process without hesitation.
Klopp’s previous deal ran until 2024 and although he said recently he was not thinking beyond that, there was enduring hope from the owners he could be persuaded to stay, balanced with a determination not to pressure the manager into making his decision.
Throughout his Anfield tenure, Liverpool’s owners have acknowledged Klopp’s wish to give prolonged consideration as to whether to commit himself to another contract. Klopp has always stated he would only sign contracts he intended to honour in full, unwilling to make pledges without being sure he has the energy and motivation to keep going.
The ambitions of his backroom team were also part of his calculations. “Like any healthy relationship, it always has to be a two-way street; you have to be right for each other,” said Klopp.
“The feeling we were absolutely 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? Along with my two assistant managers, Pep Lijnders and Pete Krawietz, we came to the conclusion it was a ‘Yes!’”
There was always an anticipation once Klopp gave a positive signal that talks would be concluded swiftly. Personal terms were never going to be an issue. Klopp is understood to command a salary of around £10million a year.
Gordon said it was “beyond thrilling” to have secured Klopp’s signature. “Jurgen is the perfect figurehead for the modern Liverpool FC,” he said. “This is especially true of what he stands for, on and off the pitch. It also applies to the leader he is and the man he is. It was about him having the inclination and desire to keep going. It is clear he is more energised than ever.
“Jurgen wanting to make our future to be as bright as our present is a big statement. We cannot rest or consolidate. We have to think at all times about improvement and we are now able to do this in the knowledge that we have retained a manager who not only shares our vision and ambition, he remains determined to deliver on it.”