Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp emphasized that the reinstatement of Michael Edwards as Fenway Sports Group’s chief executive of football wouldn’t impact his decision to depart Anfield at the season’s end.
Klopp, who previously shared a successful partnership with Edwards during his tenure as the club’s sporting director until 2022, has engaged in discussions with him. However, there are no expectations for a significant change in direction.
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With over a decade’s worth of experience at Anfield across various positions, Edwards has been earmarked by FSG for a pivotal new role. He will be tasked with overseeing the significant transitional phase that Liverpool will undergo following Klopp’s departure.
Asked whether Edwards has asked him about reversing his decision, Klopp told reporters: “No, because – and it’s very important in his job – he’s not dumb.
“That was not a subject to talk about. Can you imagine if I changed my mind now? Can you? Of course not.
“It would be like when I said I’d never (move to) another club in England and next year I signed for our neighbours or a club who needs a coach.”
The German, who described Edwards as a “top choice”, said he had thought long and hard about his decision to step down as Liverpool boss.
“I don’t say these things without thinking about them before,” he said. “It would mean I realise only now how great this club is – I have known about it all the time.
“For me, it is the best club in the world and I am still leaving anyway. That’s what I’ve been trying to explain.”
Klopp, 56, was speaking on the eve of the second leg of Liverpool’s Europa League last 16 match against Sparta Prague, when they will be defending a 5-1 scoreline from the first leg.
When he announced his decision in January to leave Anfield, he spoke about laying the foundations for his successor.
With the League Cup already secured, Liverpool are targeting four trophies – they are involved in a three-way Premier League race, have an FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United on Sunday and appear certain to progress to the Europa League quarter-finals.
“The club is in a really good place,” said Klopp.
“People will only measure that at the end of the season when they have a look at what we really achieved, but that’s not that important for the future – what we achieve this season is for now.
“What’s important for the future is how good is the team, how good are the players, how good is the structure, how good is the organisation? That’s where my optimism comes from.”