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Jurgen Klopp departing Liverpool is as big as when legendary managers Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley departed Anfield.
That is according to talkSPORT host Simon Jordan, who spoke to former Liverpool boss and captain Graeme Souness following the surprise announcement.
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Klopp stunned the football world on Friday morning with the revelation that he will stand down from his role as manager at the end of the season.
Since replacing Brendan Rodgers in October 2015, the 56-year-old has won seven major honours, and is regarded in the same esteem as Shankly and Paisley, who won a combined eight league titles during their spells in charge.
Despite Klopp having a contract until 2026, he has chosen to depart two years earlier, and has hinted he will never manage again.
“This is as seismic as Shankly leaving, Paisley [departing] and the changes of direction,” Jordan said when learning of the news.
“Because the culture of the dressing room has really inherently been built around Jurgen Klopp now and his ability to relate to the fans and build a side that plays in a unique fashion.
“It’s a huge loss to the Premier League, it’s a huge loss to Liverpool, everything goes on, but it’s fascinating to hear someone say their reasons for leaving is because they are running out of energy.
“Because the very embodiment of energy is Jurgen Klopp and his sides.”
Souness, who played under Paisley, was equally astonished. “I’m amazed, I just think it’s the demands of that job, it’s one of the best jobs in the world if you can get it right, he’s certainly done that.
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“It would appear that after having a very difficult season last year, he’s got a team again, but it’s just the toll in takes on the individual.
“When I look at Jurgen Klopp, he’s such a perfect fit for Liverpool, because he’s on it, at it, he’s aggressive, very emotional, confrontational – he’s everything Liverpool supporters love.
“But that takes a toll, the pressures of being a manager at a big football club are enormous.
“He’s done the most remarkable job when you think how he’s been competing against, firstly Chelsea with their spending power, Man United with their spending power and now of course Man City have joined that group.
“He’s won trophies – the biggest of trophies – the job he’s done is quite remarkable.
“And when I look at him, he looks – I don’t think I’m overstating it – but he looks like he’s been beat up, metaphorically.
“He looks like a man that’s so intense and so on it, he looks like he’s going over the mill.
“And when you work at that football club, it’s such an emotional football club, that affects you, you get it very quickly.”
He added: “I’m surprised, because I believe he’s got a team has got a lot of life going forward and can only get better.”
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As for Arsenal legend Martin Keown, he revealed Klopp will go down as one of the greatest managers in history.
He stated: “This is a massive day for football in general, I think the guy has been absolutely magnificent.
“One of the all-time greats, it’s a sad day, for the Liverpool fans, I think this manager managed with integrity and honesty, and he has to tell the truth.
“He works with emotion, and the emotion now that is swelling up, I can just envisage these remaining games of the season, if it wasn’t emotional already when you go to Anfield, can you just imagine the support now?
“He needs that energy from everybody around him, it’s not an easy thing to keep getting up for every season to keep doing it, this is another group now.
“They’ve been quite magnificent Liverpool, and he needs help from everyone else, I think it’s admirable that he recognises that he has to step down.
“I think his timing – all the great leaders seem to find the right exit – there will be an outpouring of emotion from him and his players.
“They will bounce back from this, it’s a shame they’re going to lose him, maybe he feels differently at the end of the season, you hope that.
“But this is leadership, this is leading from the front.”
Liverpool are next in action against Norwich in the FA Cup and face successive matches against Chelsea and then Arsenal.
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