Official: Jurgen Klopp To Leave Borussia Dortmund At End Of The Season After Annus Horribilis

Chris Wright

15th, April 2015

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By Chris Wright

The breaking news over in the Bundesliga this morning is that BILD are reporting Jurgen Klopp has told Dortmund’s top brass he wishes to leave the club at the end of the season.

Klopp has requested (like Pep Guardiola before him) a sabbatical after enduring something of an annus horribilis throughout 2014/15, with Dortmund spending the first six months of the season wallowing at the foot of the table before eventually finding themselves clawing toward lower-mid-table obscurity of late.

BILD reckon Klopp has requested to have his long-term contract terminated early, with several sources already linking him with a post-sabbatical move to Manchester City – with Manuel Pellegrini making way as and when.

“The coach asked BVB boss Hans-Joachim Watzke to prematurely release him from his contract which runs until 2018.

“Klopp feels that after seven years and three titles, (he is) exhausted and wants first of all to take a break.”

BILD are also reporting that former Mainz coach and highly-respected tactician Thomas Tuchel will step into Klopp’s void when the time comes.

The intriguing part is that since the story broke an hour ago, Dortmund have called a press conference for 1.30pm CET.

Who knows? Could be something, could be nothing.

Watch this space.

UPDATE: It’s now official. Dortmund have confirmed that Klopp will be on his way at the end of the season.

The man himself told his press conference: “It’s not that I am tired, I don’t have any contact with another club but I don’t plan to take a year off either.”

So the Etihad it is then, yes?