Ex-Liverpool Midfielder Expresses Grief Over Jurgen Klopp’s Departure from Anfield

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Klopp’s surprising announcement last week, signaling his departure from Liverpool at the end of the 2023/24 season, marked the conclusion of his remarkable nine-year association with the Anfield club.

The manager leaves behind a lasting legacy as a true Liverpool legend, securing triumphs in the FA Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Carabao Cup, Champions League, and notably, clinching the club’s first league title in 30 years.

Reflecting on Klopp’s decision in an interview with RMC Sport, former Liverpool midfielder Keita confessed to being emotionally moved upon hearing the news.

“When I learned about it, I welled up with tears. In Liverpool, I felt like his son, and I consider him my dad,” shared Keita.

Keita, who joined from RB Leipzig in 2018, featured in 129 games for Liverpool during his injury-affected five-year tenure at Anfield.

After a season where he made only eight Premier League appearances in 2022/23, he departed as a free agent in the summer, opting for a return to the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen.

The current Liverpool squad also expressed surprise at Klopp’s impending departure, with defensive mainstay Andrew Robertson admitting it took them by surprise.

Reflecting on the news after the Reds’ impressive FA Cup victory over Norwich City on Sunday, Robertson acknowledged the initial shock, stating, “Like the rest of the world, it was a bit of a shock when he told us.

Nobody really knew where to look or what to do, but you have to respect his decision. He’s thought long and hard about it, not a rash person. He’s obviously deliberated a lot with his family.”

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