After his final game in charge of Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp gave an emotional speech before leading chants for incoming manager Arne Slot.
Klopp ended his nine-year reign on top as the Reds cruised to a 2-0 win over Wolves at Anfield after first-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Jarell Quansah.
After the final whistle, Klopp took to the pitch to address the home fans and thank them for their unwavering support during his time at the club.
The German said: “I’m completely surprised, I thought it was already in pieces, to be honest, but it’s not like that.” I’m so happy I can’t believe it.
“I’m very happy for all of you, for the atmosphere, for the game, for being part of this family, for us, for how we celebrate this day. It’s just incredible. Thank you very much.
Jurgen Klopp gave an emotional final speech to the Liverpool crowd on Sunday afternoon.
Players and staff stood guard of honor for the German coach after their victory over Wolves
‘Honestly, for some reason, it doesn’t feel like an ending. It feels like the beginning, because today I saw a soccer team play full of talent, full of youth, full of creativity, full of desire, full of courage.
“That’s part of development, that’s what you need obviously, but obviously a few weeks ago I received too much attention, it’s really uncomfortable, but in this time I realized a lot of things.”
‘People told me I turned them from skeptics into believers, that’s not true. Believing is an active act, you have to do it yourself. I just said we had to do it, you did it. That is a big difference.
‘And who tells you, nobody tells you now to stop believing, because this club is in a better moment than, never, maybe never, I would have to ask Kenny (Dalglish). Probably once… a long time ago, let me put it that way.
“So we have this wonderful stadium, we have this wonderful training center, we have you, the superpower of world football, wow.”
‘We decide if they are worried or excited. We decide if we believe or if we don’t believe. We decide if we trust or not trust.
‘From today I am once yours, and I continue to believe in you. I am still a believer, one hundred percent.
During that speech, he began chanting the name of his Dutch successor.
Klopp then chanted the name of his successor at Liverpool, Arne Slot, after his final match.
Slot to take charge of Liverpool as Klopp prepares to leave after nine years at the club
With a big smile on his face, Klopp sang: ‘Arne Slot! La, la, la la! Arne slot! ‘La, la, la, la!’
He then said: “When the next season starts, you’re not waiting to see what’s happening, no, you’re going full throttle.” You welcome the new manager like you welcome me. You do everything possible from day one.
‘And when it’s hard, you keep believing. When it’s difficult, you continue to believe and push the team, for a goal or whatever. Now I am one of you, I love you very much.
“The only thing we don’t have here in this wonderful stadium are video walls, and I have to tell you that on my jersey is ‘Thank you, love’ and ‘I will never walk alone again’. Thank you for that, you are the best people in the world . Thank you.’
Earlier this week, Slot confirmed he will succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield after the Reds agreed a compensation package that could reach £9.42 million with his employers in Rotterdam.
Feyenoord released a stylish video in his honor and had him posing on the pitch with the praise he has given them.
Slot won the Eredivisie title last season, the KNVB Cup this year, and also took them to the 2022 Europa Conference League final, where they lost to José Mourinho’s Roma.
Feyenoord unveiled huge tifo with Slot’s face ahead of his last game in charge
Slot’s reign at Feyenoord ended with a dominant 4-0 win over relegated Excelsior
Feyenoord fans farewelled Slot with a giant banner dedicated to him before their dominant 4-0 win over Excelsior on Sunday.
Goals from Gernot Trauner, Ondrej Lingr, David Hancko and Lutsharel Geertruida gave Slot one last game to remember as Excelsior were relegated from the Eredivisie following the defeat.
Meanwhile, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold could not contain their tears after hugging Klopp after his final game in charge of Liverpool.
Van Dijk admitted last month that he “feared” Klopp’s departure, which the 56-year-old announced in January.
After hugging all his players, Klopp spoke to the Anfield crowd and encouraged them to support incoming boss Slot.
Klopp then performed his trademark fist bumps in front of the Kop as he received adulation from fans.
Klopp bid farewell to the Anfield crowd after their 2-0 win over Wolves on Sunday.
Virgil van Dijk cried as he hugged Klopp on the pitch after his last game for the club.
As his players looked on, Alexander-Arnold was also seen crying, having played all of his club’s professional football with Klopp.
Klopp opted to give Alexander-Arnold his debut as a teenager in 2017, and the full-back never looked back, becoming one of the best right-backs in world football.
After the match, Klopp sends an emotional message and addresses his Liverpool players for the last time.
In a video that appeared on Liverpool’s official account on X, he said: “I love you, that’s all I can say.”
‘The football you can play is absolutely ridiculous. I can’t wait to see you develop and take the next steps. We came in third place. I don’t even know who came out as champions yet.
‘You can do that again. I told you this morning. There may be people who tell you ‘that’s not enough’, I’m telling you, they have no idea about football. Could we have done better in a few moments? Yes, of course, that is always possible.
Klopp gave an emotional final speech to his players after his last game in charge
‘But did we do better than can normally be expected? Oh yeah, because it takes longer to become a top team again, and you did it like this (snaps fingers).
“Then my expectations were raised and then we couldn’t keep up. That’s kind of the problem.
“Guys, in the first season with Liverpool 2.0 we came third and from now on with new energy from outside, with new influences, with new momentum, showing what they are worth, that is good to squeeze everything into your career.
‘I just wanna say I love you. It was absolutely exceptional. Thank you for the journey, I’m so proud of you and so proud that I was allowed to be a part of this. Thank you very much and the sky is the limit for you guys.
