Jurgen Klopp has revealed more on the timing of his exit from Borussia Dortmund back in 2015, admitting former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel played a role in his decision to depart.
Klopp enjoyed seven successful seasons with Dortmund, winning two Bundesliga titles, the DFB-Pokal and leading them to the Champions League final in 2013. However, he left at the end of the 2014/15 to enjoy a sabbatical from football, only to be lured back into management by Liverpool in October 2015.
BVB would actually only finish seventh in Klopp' s final season at Signal Iduna Park as they struggled to recreate their previous heights, prompting the German to announce that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season in April 2015.
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At a press conference at the time, he said: "I always said in that moment where I believe I am not the perfect coach anymore for this extraordinary club I will say so. I really think the decision is the right one. This club deserves to be coached from the 100% right manager."
Tuchel was confirmed as Klopp's successor later that month, having been out of work since deciding to leave Mainz 05 the previous summer.
And the Reds boss has now confirmed that it was Dortmund’s desire to land Tuchel as his replacement that prompted him to announce his exit prematurely in April rather than wait until the end of the season.
Speaking to German outlet WDR, Klopp said: "I can still remember the reason for the timing back then - Thomas Tuchel was about to go to HSV. Wait a minute! Tuchel is going to HSV? Then we have to get it out there now!' That's why it was a little earlier than planned at the time."
Tuchel lasted two seasons at Dortmund, with the 2016/17 DFB-Pokal his only trophy as he endured a strained relationship with club management.
Meanwhile, Klopp is currently under contract at Liverpool until 2026, having surprisingly signed a new two-year extension earlier this year. It remains to be seen if the German will prolong his stay even further in the future, but his comments when confirming his Dortmund exit do hint at him holding a similar stance for when he believes the time will be right to depart Anfield.
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