Jurgen Klopp bids emotional farewell to Liverpool players after nine-year tenure at Anfield: ‘I’m incredibly proud of you’

Jurgen Klopp addressed his Liverpool players for the final time on Sunday evening after the curtain came down on his time in the Anfield dugout.

Klopp finished his nine-year reign with a 2-0 win over Wolves as Alexis Mac Allister and Jarell Quansah got on the scoresheet.

But the scoreline was never the main focus of the day, with everybody fully aware that Klopp was set to move on, none more so than his first team stars. As the players got back into the dressing room, the German coach gave his final emotional speech, and started off by insisting that he was more than happy with his team’s season despite missing out on the Premier League title.   

‘The football you are able to play is absolutely ridiculous,’ he said. ‘I can’t wait, watching you developing, making the next steps.’

After being told that Manchester City had won their fourth title in a row – with Liverpool the last team to stop them in 2020 – Klopp added: ‘You can do that again. I said to you this morning. There might be some people that say to you “that’s not enough”, I tell you, they don’t have a clue about football. 

After telling his players he loved them as was proud of them, Klopp left the dressing room for the final time to a round of applause

‘Could we have done better in moments? Yes, of course, that’s always possible. But did we do better than you can usually expect? Oh yes, because it takes longer to become a top team again, and you did that like this (clicks fingers). 

‘Then my expectations went (high) and then we couldn’t keep the pace. That’s the problem a little bit. 

‘Guys, we come in third in the first season with Liverpool 2.0 and from now on with new energy from outside, with new influences, with new push, proving yourselves, that’s good for squeezing everything out of your career.’

Across his nine years on Merseyside, Klopp won seven major trophies, including the Carabao Cup for the second time in his final season.

Yet he finished off his speech by talking to his players on a more personal level, thanking them for their part in his journey at Liverpool since he joined in 2015. 

‘I just want to say, I love you. It was absolutely outstanding. Thank you for the ride, I’m so proud of you and I’m so proud that I have been allowed to be part of this,’ he said.

‘Thank you very much, and the sky is the limit for you boys,’ before Klopp exited the dressing room to applause from the whole team.

Virgil van Dijk was in tears as he hugged Jurgen Klopp on the pitch after the final whistle

Trent Alexander-Arnold was also seen crying as Klopp addressed the crowd one last time

Klopp led chants for Arne Slot, who will replace him at Anfield next season

His final address to his players came at the end of an emotional day at Anfield that started with Klopp fighting back tears during the pre-match rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone from the home crowd.

After full time, Klopp then strode onto the pitch to embrace his team, with captain Virgil van Dijk crying on his shoulder as they hugged one another.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – who was given his professional debut by Klopp – also broke down in tears as Klopp took the microphone and spoke to the Liverpool fans, leading chants for his replacement, Arne Slot.

Klopp then performed his trademark fist bumps in front of the Kop, before making his way off the Anfield turf one last time.