Manager Juergen Klopp has decided to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, the Premier League club said on Friday.
Klopp, who led Liverpool into the final of the League Cup on Wednesday, had informed the club’s hierarchy that he would end his eight-and-a-half years at Anfield at the end of the current campaign.
Assistant managers Pepijn Lijnders and Peter Krawietz are also leaving the club at the same time, Liverpool said.
“It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy,” Klopp, 56, said on Liverpool’s website. “I can understand that it’s a shock for a lot of people in this moment, when you hear it for the first time, but obviously I can explain it – or at least try to explain it.
“I love absolutely everything about this club, I love everything about the city, I love everything about our supporters, I love the team, I love the staff.
“I love everything. But that I still take this decision shows you that I am convinced it is the one I have to take.
“I have no problem now, obviously, I knew it already for longer that I will have to announce it at one point, but I am absolutely fine now. I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again.”
The German joined Liverpool in October 2015 and has won the Champions League, Premier League, Club World Cup, FA Cup, League Cup and Super Cup, as well as the Community Shield during his time in charge.
“In keeping with Juergen’s expressed wishes, we will save the comprehensive tributes for a more appropriate time but nevertheless, we would be remiss if we did not take this opportunity to reaffirm that his appointment remains one of the greatest blessings of our time as owners,” Mike Gordon, Fenway Sports Group president, said.
“The incredible achievements of the intervening years speak for themselves, so too does the joy that Juergen and his team have brought to all of us supporters. His many accomplishments will never be taken for granted.”
In the 2019-20 season, Klopp led Liverpool to their first league title since 1990, and their first of the Premier League era. The previous season, Liverpool lifted the Champions League, defeating Tottenham Hotspur in the final.
Juergen Klopp to leave Liverpool at end of the season
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Juergen Klopp to leave Liverpool at end of the season
- Assistant managers Pepijn Lijnders and Peter Krawietz are also leaving the club at the same time
- Klopp says he understands this might be a shock, but he is tired
Hillier leads from Hatton at Dubai Desert Classic with McIlroy 7 shots back
DUBAI: Daniel Hillier of New Zealand birdied the final two holes to shoot 2-under 70 on Saturday and take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic.
Tyrrell Hatton shot 68 and was the closest challenger to the No. 223-ranked Hillier, whose only win on the European tour came at the British Masters in July 2023.
Hillier was 13-under par for the week.
Rory McIlroy, seeking a third straight title at the prestigious tournament, was seven shots off the pace in a tie for 12th place after a round of 69.
FIFA bans Venezuelan soccer official for 5 years and orders near-$1M fine for financial wrongdoing
- FIFA’s ethics committee had also charged Álvarez with breaching “duty of loyalty”
- The verdict can be challenged on appeal
ZURICH: FIFA has banned a Venezuelan soccer official from the sport for five years for financial wrongdoing and fined him nearly $1m.
Manuel Álvarez was secretary general of the Venezuelan soccer federation when his conduct enabled the “misappropriation and misuse” of its and FIFA’s money, soccer’s world body said announcing the verdict late Friday.
FIFA’s ethics committee had also charged Álvarez with breaching “duty of loyalty” and “general duties” under its code.
FIFA, which makes at least $2 million available in funding each year to all 211 member federations, gave no details about the financial misconduct. The verdict can be challenged on appeal.
It is unclear how FIFA can enforce payment of the fine if Álvarez does not return to soccer.
Venezuela is the only member of the 10-nation CONMEBOL group of South American federations that has never qualified to play at the men’s World Cup.
Baniyas leads table as Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship kicks off
- Day one of the the competition’s first round also saw MOD UAE in second and Al-Ain in third
ABU DHABI: Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club took the lead on the opening day of the first round of the second Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship, held at Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi.
MOD UAE followed in second place, with Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club securing third.
The day featured competitions in the adult, masters and youth (under 18) categories, drawing hundreds of athletes from clubs and academies across the country.
Mohamed Salem Al-Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “The Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship is a significant milestone in the federation’s efforts to promote the sport locally, across the continent, and internationally. It reflects our commitment to achieving excellence in all we do. This championship highlights the continued support of our wise leadership for jiu-jitsu, a sport that instils discipline, courage and self-confidence in our younger generations. This first round marks the beginning of a promising journey, filled with aspirations to reach new heights of achievement.”
He added: “The championship aligns with the federation’s strategy to develop jiu-jitsu and strengthen its role in fostering a healthy, cohesive society. Our goal is to establish a sustainable sporting legacy for future generations by organizing events that meet international standards.”
The tournament’s ranking system ensures equality among all players, awarding points for outstanding performances while also considering factors such as strategy, techniques and skills.
Jefferson Cordero, coach at MOD Academy, said: “Our team, consisting of around 145 athletes, is proud to participate in this prestigious tournament, which features a high level of competition. It provides our team with an excellent opportunity to test the players’ capabilities. We are delighted with our team’s performance and success in securing outstanding results, adding more medals to the club’s tally, and earning points that bring us closer to winning the tournament prize.”
Tareq Al-Zaabi, an MOD Academy athlete who won the gold medal in the masters category (brown/black belt) under 62 kg, said: “It is an honor to win the gold medal in this tournament, which carries a name so dear to us. I am determined to maintain this level of performance and achieve even more in future competitions. Over the past period, I have been focused on training hard to secure this victory and contribute to our academy’s success in earning the highest points as we strive for the title. I wish my teammates all the best.”
Noman and Sajid give Pakistan lead in spin-dominated first Test
- Noman grabbed 5-39 for his seventh five-wicket haul in Tests, Sajid finished with 4-65
- Pakistan earlier lost their last six wickets for 43 runs after resuming the day at 143-4
MULTAN: Spin pair Noman Ali and Sajid Khan shared nine wickets between them to give Pakistan a 93-run lead on the second day of the opening Test against West Indies in Multan on Saturday.
Noman grabbed 5-39 for his seventh five-wicket haul in Tests, while Sajid finished with 4-65 to dismiss the West Indies for 137 after lunch in a first innings that lasted just 25.2 overs.
Pakistan earlier lost their last six wickets for 43 runs after resuming at 143-4 and were bowled out for 230 in their first innings.
The dry and grassless Multan pitch has already produced 20 wickets in five sessions even though two-and-a-half hours were lost on day one, and another 30 minutes on Saturday, because of poor visibility.
Noman and Sajid, who shared 39 of the 40 wickets in the last two Tests against England in Pakistan’s 2-1 series win last year, were once again unplayable.
Sajid opened the bowling and removed Mikyle Louis (one), Keacy Carty (0), Kraigg Brathwaite (11) and Kavem Hodge (four) in his first three overs.
Noman then further jolted the tourists with another four wickets to leave them on 66-8.
The tail-enders showed more resistance, with number 10 batsman Jomel Warrican unbeaten on 31, with Gudakesh Motie adding 19 and Jayden Seales the last wicket to fall for 22.
Seales hit three sixes before holing out off spinner Abrar Ahmed.
Warrican also took 3-69 in Pakistan’s innings.
Saud Shakeel top-scored for Pakistan with 84 off 157 deliveries, including six boundaries, while keeper Mohammad Rizwan added 71.
Shakeel added an invaluable 141 for the fifth wicket with Rizwan, lifting Pakistan from a precarious 46-4 on day one.
Kevin Sinclair sparked the Pakistan batting collapse by taking Shakeel’s wicket with the first ball after drinks.
He then trapped Rizwan leg-before off a missed reverse sweep, the original decision of not out overturned on review.
Rizwan’s 133-ball stay included nine boundaries.
Sajid hit a boundary and a six in a rapid-fire 18 before he was bowled by Warrican on the stroke of lunch to end Pakistan’s innings.
‘Lucky loser’ Lys makes history to reach Australian Open last 16
- Eva Lys called it “an insane story” and life-changing after the German made history on Saturday by reaching the last 16 and a date with Iga Swiatek
MELBOURNE: Eva Lys called it “an insane story” and life-changing after the German made history on Saturday by reaching the last 16 and a date with Iga Swiatek.
The 128th-ranked Lys fought back from a set down to become the first women’s singles “lucky loser” to reach the fourth round since the event moved to Melbourne Park in 1988.
The 23-year-old defeated Jaqueline Cristian of Romania 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 and faces a daunting clash with the second seed and five-time Grand Slam champion on Monday.
A tennis tournament lucky loser is a player who does not get through qualifying for the main draw but is later awarded a berth following another player’s withdrawal, usually because of illness or injury.
“It definitely doesn’t feel real for me right now,” said Ukraine-born Lys, who had her flight booked and bags packed before getting a reprieve.
“I don’t know when the realization will kick in. It’s definitely just an amazing situation to be in, especially knowing that I was a lucky loser.”
It has been a whirlwind few days for Lys.
She lost in the final round of qualifying in Melbourne last week, her hopes of making the first major of the year seemingly over.
But she hung about in case another player would drop out and 13th seed Anna Kalinskaya did just that on Tuesday, giving Lys a lifeline.
She said she had just 10 minutes’ warning before defeating home player Kimberly Birrell in straight sets in the first round, then beat Varvara Gracheva of France.
“It’s definitely an insane story,” said Lys, who is enjoying easily her best run at a major and will need to reschedule her flight again — she had booked it for Sunday.
“How it happened, how fast it happened. It’s been just a couple of days that have totally changed my life,” she added.
