Michael
Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool contract has been extended until 2026, with his wife, Ulla Sandrock and assistant Pepijn Lijnders credited with the decision.
The Liverpool manager had previously stated that he would stand down in 2024, but after fast conversations with the club’s owner, Fenway Sports Group, he has finally put pen to paper and committed to an 11-year reign. Lijnders and Peter Krawietz, his assistants, have both extended their contracts until 2026.
FSG hoped the 54-year-old would sign a third contract extension with the club since his arrival in October 2015. Last month, Klopp hinted at a possible U-turn when he said he could sign a new contract “at the last minute” if he had the stamina to do so. When both were at Anfield for the Champions League semi-final first leg triumph over Villarreal on Wednesday, FSG president Mike Gordon swiftly initiated discussions with Klopp’s agent, Marc Kosicke. Klopp signed a contract on Thursday, making him Liverpool’s longest-serving manager since Bill Shankly.
Klopp described himself as “delighted, humbled, blessed, privileged and excited” by the deal and added: “The most important contract in my life I signed is the one with Ulla. Klopp, who earned about £10m a year from his last contract, said: “I had to ask myself the question: is it right for Liverpool that I stay longer? Along with my two assistant managers, Pep Lijnders and Pete Krawietz, we came to the conclusion it was a ‘Yes’. There is a freshness about us as a club still and this energises me. For as long as I have been here, our owners have been unbelievably committed and energetic about this club and it is clear that right now this applies to our future as much as I’ve ever known.
