The charismatic German manager Jürgen Klopp has confirmed that he will indeed take a break after leaving Borussia Dortmund. Klopp spent seven years at die Schwarzgelben but could not sign off with a trophy after losing 3-1 to Wolfsburg in an entertaining DFB-Pokal final on Saturday. It seems that departing heroes just can't win their final games these days.
According to reports, the two-time Bundesliga champion was believed to be in pole position to succeed Brendan Rodgers as Liverpool manager with doubts surrounding the Northern Irishman's future at the club after an underwhelming season.
"After seven intensive and emotional years of ‘true love' I think it makes sense to take time to take stock of the countless memories before me and my fellow coaching team embrace a new challenge, fresh and highly motivated," Klopp said after discussions with his family, and his adviser, Mark Kosicke.
Many Liverpool fans, dissatisfied with Rodgers' third season performance, have clamoured for Klopp's arrival at Anfield. His passion, character, style of football, and track record in a coherent strategy made him an excellent candidate to push Merseyside's finest further. This news will disappoint many disgruntled Reds but should end the debate on Klopp's potential arrival at the club. Maybe Liverpool supporters can also quit using Klopp as their avatars on social media and football websites.
Along with Carlo Ancelotti's supposed plans for surgery and his wife's confirmation that the three-time Champions League winner intends to take a break, Rodgers may remain in the job by default unless another candidate, Frank de Boer perhaps, is more attractive to FSG's decision makers. Yet even de Boer may be unavailable this summer after reportedly agreeing to remain at Ajax in order to regain the Eredivisie title from PSV Eindhoven.
The transfer rumours and reported bids connected with Liverpool all indicate that despite this week's impending inquest into the past season's failings, Brendan Rodgers will most likely keep his job. Christian Benteke, Nathaniel Clyne, James Milner, and Danny Ings have been strongly linked with a move to the Reds this summer, and seem be in line with moves for Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana, and Rickie Lambert last summer. What seems probable is that an executive decision has already been made on the summer's transfer strategy designed to give Rodgers, who has three years left on his current deal, a better chance for success in 2015/16.
Rodgers will meet senior FSG members this week for decisive discussions on his future, but if he's set to stay, will significant changes be made elsewhere to improve a strategy that hasn't entirely worked as hoped? What we do know is that Liverpool fans will have to say goodbye to the prospect of Jürgen Klopp: Liverpool manager, at least for now anyway.