Gary Lineker revealed fresh information regarding Jurgen Klopp’s departure.
On Friday, Klopp stunned the football world by announcing he was set to depart Liverpool at the end of the season.
The German, who has won almost every trophy available to him at Anfield, including the Champions League in 2019 and their first Premier League in 30 years the following season, said he was stepping down because he was "running out of energy".
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"I told the club already in November," said 56-year-old explained.
"I can understand that it's a shock for a lot of people in this moment, when you hear it for the first time, but obviously I can explain it - or at least try to explain it.
"I love absolutely everything about this club, I love everything about the city, I love everything about our supporters, I love the team, I love the staff. I love everything. But that I still take this decision shows you that I am convinced it is the one I have to take.
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"It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy. I have no problem now, obviously, I knew it already for longer that I will have to announce it at one point, but I am absolutely fine now. I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again."
Despite the magnitude of the news, Lineker revealed on the Rest is Football podcast that the players were not informed of Klopp’s decision until the morning of the announcement.
The Match of the Day host said: “I think the owners have known for a little while but it was quite clear, and I have this on good authority, that the players didn’t know until the morning of the announcement.
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“But I suppose they wanted to keep it quiet.”
Co-host Alan Shearer replied: “As soon as you’ve told the players - you’re telling a group of 25 people - it will somehow get out. “
Lineker added; “One of them will tell their mate, and he’ll tell someone, and they’ll tell someone and it will end up in the newspaper or something.”
Topics: Football, Gary Lineker, Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool, Premier League
Chris Byfield