Liverpool confirm new Klopp contract
Liverpool have confirmed that Jurgen Klopp has signed a new long-term contract at Anfield.
Former Borussia Dortmund head coach Klopp has signed a six-year deal, taking him to 2022, a club source has told ESPN FC.
Klopp’s senior assistants — Zeljko Buvac and Peter Krawietz — have also signed extensions.
Klopp only took charge at Liverpool in October, but ESPN FC was told on Wednesday that the club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), had approached the 49-year-old about extending his stay on Merseyside.
Klopp told Liverpool’s official website: “It’s hard to express in words how honoured myself, Zeljko and Peter feel by the commitment shown in us by the ownership and the club in general.
“We are very much at the beginning of our journey, but to already have the connection we have with this very special place is incredible.
“I am the first to recognise that with this great commitment comes a great responsibility. All of our coaching careers we have looked to make teams and clubs better, with the ultimate goal of making the supporters proud and happy.
“To do this we have to make sure we always put player and team development at the heart of every major decision. It is my job to lead that and ensure every element of the LFC football environment reflects the best practices in the game. It is fantastic that the club’s ownership is just as committed to this as we are.
“There is much to do and much to achieve and we look to do this by being the most completely together group anywhere in the world. That’s everyone and we all have responsibility for it — all of us who are part of this LFC family: players, staff, ownership and of course the supporters.
“By being together at all times, we will be stronger, better and our successes sweeter.”
Jürgen Klopp has committed his long-term future to #LFC by signing an extended contract: https://t.co/pXstv84WCz pic.twitter.com/Gk3jBfu5j0
– Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 8, 2016
Liverpool ended the German’s first campaign in eighth place in the Premier League, failing to secure European qualification, but they reached the finals of both the Capital One Cup and the Europa League.
In a joint statement, principal owner John Henry, chairman Tom Werner and FSG president Mike Gordon said: “When you have an individual of Jurgen’s quality in the building it makes perfect sense to secure that person for the long term. To not do so would be irresponsible.
“The overriding motivation behind this decision is Jurgen’s commitment to overall improvement and development. In Jurgen we have someone who is always looking ahead, always looking beyond his own wants and needs and putting the club first.
“The ideas and plans he has for the football infrastructure excite us and we believe it benefits the organisation to have Jurgen committed to Liverpool for a sustained period, to make sure he is here to oversee this development.
“By making this commitment to him, we are taking away any future distractions or doubt. We will move forward in partnership together, with confidence in each other and with the club’s future at the forefront of every decision.
“He is a world-class managerial talent and his leadership will be critical to everything we hope to achieve in the years ahead.”
In May, Klopp revealed his preference to work at clubs for a long periods of time.
He said: “Seven years in Liverpool hopefully. Maybe you know better what people think when I joined the club. I am not sure about it, but for me it’s the only way to work to be honest.
“I don’t feel the pressure. I cannot change. I feel opportunity. I feel the pressure of the game and developing players. I don’t think I have all the time in the world but I don’t think I’ve ever felt doubt around me.
“If that’s right I don’t know but it makes me completely free to make decisions and for my team and myself to be free to develop together.
“What can I say? Yeah, my former clubs all wanted to extend contracts before I thought about leaving.
“Maybe it’s a long time with Liverpool I don’t know, but nobody should think about three years, we want to use the momentum.”
