Borussia Dortmund have announced on Wednesday that manager Jürgen Klopp will leave the Bundesliga club at the end of the season. The 47-year-old requested to be released from his contract, which was due to run until 2018.
"I have always said I would speak up when the moment arises where I feel that I am no longer the perfect manager for this outstanding club," explained Klopp. "It doesn’t have anything to do with the current situation." In fact, he just felt that “Borussia Dortmund needs a change."
"As long as I am here, comparisons will always be made to past successes," he continued. "We couldn’t take any further small steps together but these small steps are sometimes necessary for development. Therefore, something had to give and in this case, I’ve decided to make way."
"We’ve written a footballing fairytale“
"At Jürgen’s initiative, we entered into discussions and have then decided that after seven years our journey together has come to an end," commented CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke. "We have written a modern footballing fairytale with Jürgen Klopp as the main protagonist," remarked sporting director Michael Zorc. BVB didn’t disclose any information on a potential successor or the time frame for appointing a new manager.
Klopp took up the reins in Dortmund in 2008 and has won two Bundesliga titles (2011, 2012) and the DFB Cup once (2012). He also led the club to the 2013 Champions League final, in which they lost 2-1 to Bayern München, and the 2014 DFB Cup final, in which FCB triumphed 2-0 after extra time. BVB currently lie in tenth place in the Bundesliga table with six matchdays to go.
Borussia Dortmund have announced on Wednesday that manager Jürgen Klopp will leave the Bundesliga club at the end of the season. The 47-year-old requested to be released from his contract, which was due to run until 2018.
"I have always said I would speak up when the moment arises where I feel that I am no longer the perfect manager for this outstanding club," explained Klopp. "It doesn’t have anything to do with the current situation." In fact, he just felt that “Borussia Dortmund needs a change."
"As long as I am here, comparisons will always be made to past successes," he continued. "We couldn’t take any further small steps together but these small steps are sometimes necessary for development. Therefore, something had to give and in this case, I’ve decided to make way."
"We’ve written a footballing fairytale“
"At Jürgen’s initiative, we entered into discussions and have then decided that after seven years our journey together has come to an end," commented CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke. "We have written a modern footballing fairytale with Jürgen Klopp as the main protagonist," remarked sporting director Michael Zorc. BVB didn’t disclose any information on a potential successor or the time frame for appointing a new manager.
Klopp took up the reins in Dortmund in 2008 and has won two Bundesliga titles (2011, 2012) and the DFB Cup once (2012). He also led the club to the 2013 Champions League final, in which they lost 2-1 to Bayern München, and the 2014 DFB Cup final, in which FCB triumphed 2-0 after extra time. BVB currently lie in tenth place in the Bundesliga table with six matchdays to go.
