Former Liverpool midfielder Gary McAllister believes the possibility of a leak could have triggered Jurgen Klopp’s leaving announcement earlier than expected.
The Reds’ boss stunned the football world last week when he announced he would be stepping down as manager of the club at the end of the season. Explaining his decision, Klopp said he was running out of energy but insisted he would be fine for the remainder of the campaign.
Klopp’s bombshell announcement has been met with sadness by the Liverpool faithful as they come to terms with the German’s tenure coming to an end. Some people believe the timing of the statement is strange; however, McAllister has a theory as to why the German chose last week to break the news.
Speaking on the William Hill and Footy Accumulators’ podcast, No Tippy Tappy Football, he explained: “Everybody in the world of football was rocked by Jurgen Klopp’s announcement. I thought it was a wind-up but then my phone exploded with messages and headlines, I was just as surprised as everyone else.
“Jurgen had let the owners know in November so they’ve done amazingly well to keep it under wraps for this long. Part of me thinks the announcement has been made now because it might have been about to get leaked.
“The way he spoke was very sincere and very heartfelt. He’s been at Liverpool for nine years, managing the expectations of the fans and doing what he has to in order to be a success – he’s done an amazing job.”
Paying further tribute to Klopp, McAllister continued: “Klopp and Liverpool are a perfect match. His style of play is always on the front foot and that is what the fans demand.
“They want to see players playing for the badge and he brings that. He’s got massive character and he also knows how to recruit.
“It takes a lot to build a good team and not only has he built one fantastic team, there’s also the one he’s built now. When you look at them this season, anything could happen. They’ve totally refreshed the midfield and are still heavily involved in all four major competitions.”
