Jurgen Klopp becomes Liverpool manager: German boss becomes highest paid manager in club's history
The former Borussia Dortmund coach will earn a salary in the region of £5m-a-year
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Your support makes all the difference.Jürgen Klopp will be unveiled by Liverpool at 10 o’clock this morning after becoming the highest paid manager in the club’s history.
The German arrived at a Georgian quarter hotel near Liverpool’s city centre last night amidst a fray of supporters and media, having flown in with his advisors from Dortmund.
He was later joined by Tom Werner, Liverpool’s chairman, who had made the long journey from United States, before the pair completed a deal in the region of £5m a season. The pair then had dinner together, along with the coaching staff that remain at Liverpool following a day of change.
Beside the details of the three-year contract, which includes an option for a fourth, is an agreement for Liverpool to engage Bosnian Zeljko Buvac as Klopp’s assistant, while Peter Krawietz also arrives.
Klopp, 48, had referred to Buvac as “the brain” and Krawietz “the eye” when the trio worked together at Borussia Dortmund, where Krawietz was employed as video analyst. They started their association as a management team at Mainz in 2001 when Krawietz was the chief scout.
The appointments beckoned the end of Sean O’Driscoll’s brief spell at Anfield while Gary McAllister was replaced as first team coach as well.
O’Driscoll only left his post with England under-19s in July to become Brendan Rodgers’s right hand man.
McAllister, who was told of the development yesterday morning, insisted on fulfilling his training duties afterwards and will now move on to a new ambassadorial at the club.
The highly thought-of Dutchman Pep Lijnders remains on Klopp’s staff along with fitness coach Ryland Morgans, who followed Rodgers from Swansea City three years ago.
Glen Driscoll, the head of performance, and Chris Davies, the head of opposition analysis, depart under the new regime.
A decision has not yet been taken on the future of goalkeeping coach John Achterberg. Wolfgang de Beer, the specialist who worked under Klopp at the Westfalenstadion, has been at Dortmund since 2001 and remains in place under Klopp’s successor, Thomas Tuchel.
Klopp’s appointment is a significant coup by owners Fenway Sports Group, who persuaded the German to end his planned year-long sabbatical from the game after only four months.
Klopp is a two-time Bundesliga winner and in 2013, steered Dortmund to the Champions League final where they lost narrowly to Bayern Munich.
At Liverpool, Klopp – like his predecessor Rodgers – will continue to operate alongside the club’s much criticised transfer committee, which also comprises of stats guru Michael Edwards, the head of recruitment Dave Fallows and chief scout Barry Hunter.
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