Pep Lijnders: Jurgen Klopp’s Assistant Admits Manager Could Have Left Liverpool Last Year

• Jurgen Klopp has announced he will leave Liverpool in June
• The German manager has been in charge since September 2015
• His assistant has disclosed they could have left the club earlier

Jurgen Klopp will leave Liverpool at the end of the season after nine years in charge, but his departure could have come earlier, according to one of his right-hand men.

Klopp shocked the football world after the club released a video claiming he had a message for the fans, and he announced he is confirmed to leave in June.

He masterminded one of the most successful eras in the club's history in his nine years in charge. He won all possible trophies, including the first Premier League title in 30 years.

His backroom staff will also leave, throwing the club into a forced transition on and off the pitch, which they probably did not see coming.

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Klopp's departure could have been earlier

Klopp's assistant Pep Lijnders, speaking to the club's official website, has reflected on their decision to leave the club and admitted it could have come earlier.

“It’s not easy leaving such a club. But in life, I feel always you have to do the right thing and the right thing,” he said.

“In the summer, we said we should continue, and we go with all we have, we make it ‘the Last Dance’, we make it like a proper ending.”

The Reds are top of the Premier League table and have real potential to win the second for the manager and say a perfect goodbye, but first, a Carabao Cup final against Chelsea awaits.

Per The Independent, the Dutch manager is tipped to succeed his boss at Liverpool. He also admitted it is time for him to take up his career as a manager, and the only person who can make him backtrack is if he assists Klopp elsewhere.

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The former Borussia Dortmund boss claimed he wants to take time off football and will not be managing any club next season, but Barcelona are said to be eyeing him.

Carragher picks Klopp's successor

Sports Brief reported on Jamie Carragher picking Klopp's successor, with the manager set to leave his role as the head coach of the Merseyside club.

The pundit picked his former teammate and 2005 UEFA Champions League winner, Xabi Alonso, who is at Bayer Leverkusen, to succeed the German.