Jürgen Klopp has left the building. He has managed his final Liverpool game, with Arne Slot set to take over — but the Reds could still have a contract clause they needs to honor.
Klopp confirmed Slot as his successor in dramatic fashion at Anfield, breaking into a chant in support of the incoming coach. Of course, the secret was already out by this point, with the Feyenoord manager having already made it clear he is Liverpool-bound.
As for what comes next for Klopp, that’s less well-known. You wonder if even he knows the details. But for now, it’s a break from management, with the boss of nearly a decade set to take the next year off. His wife has already decreed that one of the things on the to-do list is to learn how to cook!
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But where will Klopp be based for the next year? It’s thought he will move out of his Liverpool home, with Slot set to take over his house as well as his job.
And if he moves back to Germany, as seems likely, then Liverpool could have a ‘secret contract clause’ to honor. That’s according to the Mirror, which claims his deal at Anfield may have included a stipulation that the club help with the relocation in the event Klopp opts to return to his homeland.
It’s thought that such a clause existed in the 2019 version of the contract Klopp penned (Independent). Whether it survived the 2022 extension is less clear, but should it still be in place, Liverpool may now have a duty to assist in ‘repatriating the manager back to Germany on his terms’.
Of course, it may also be that Klopp feels he needs no such assistance, having had months to prepare for his next steps. That clause might have been to put safeguards in place in the event of a sudden exit, although even in 2019, surely neither party could really envisage a sacking.
The Mirror report speculates that Klopp is likely to receive any support he needs regardless of whether the clause remains in place. But in all probability, the focus is already turning to the future, for club and departing manager alike.
Liverpool.com says: What a chapter this has been in the club’s history. Of course, we will all watch what Klopp does next with interest, but he has earned the right to depart entirely on his own terms.
And he bows out having left Liverpool in an excellent place. His speech was full of genuine excitement for the future as a fan of the club, as he leaves behind an incredible legacy.