Jurgen Klopp is one of Liverpool's most successful ever managers after winning the club's sixth European Cup in 2019, five years before he stepped down from the role
Andy Robertson and his wife, Rachel
Andy Robertson and his wife, Rachel(Image: Getty Images)
Andy Robertson was just as surprised as his wife, Rachel, when Jurgen Klopp announced his decision to quit Liverpool.
In January 2024, Klopp stunned Liverpool fans by outlining his plan to leave Anfield at the end of that season. The legendary Reds boss decided to move on after "running out of energy," as he put it, following a successful nine-year spell on Merseyside.
Robertson was one of Klopp's key players during the German coach's time at Anfield, helping them win several trophies, including the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League title a year later. The Scottish defender was unaware of his manager's plan to quit.
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"Yeah, it was strange," Robertson told Stick to Football, which is now available to watch on Disney+, when asked about the moment Klopp announced he was leaving.
Klopp decided to reveal his plan to his players in January 2024 because the news was about to be leaked. Robertson and his teammates found out just minutes before the rest of the world did.
Robertson continued: "I think we got a text the night before saying, 'Meet at 9:30.' And we never had a meeting at 9:30, so I was like, 'I'm not sure about that.'
Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool just over two years ago
Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool just over two years ago(Image: Getty Images)
"We came in. There were a lot of people about. Gaffer's agent was in, other people were about, things like that. And to be fair, it broke on Sky Sports at the same time we got told.
"That was what the gaffer wanted. He knew it was leaked and coming out at 9:30, or whatever time it was, and we were in the meeting room when (it was leaked). So when we came out, it was everywhere."
As the news emerged, Rachel was furious with her husband, believing he had been keeping the news from her. Robertson laughed: "I remember my wife texted me, 'Why did you not (tell me)?' I was like, I've just found out!'"
Explaining his decision to leave Liverpool, Klopp said at the time: "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.
"It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy. 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."
After quitting Liverpool, Klopp enjoyed a six-month break from work before taking on the role of Red Bull's head of global soccer in January 2025. Yet that executive role was nowhere near as taxing as managing Liverpool, one of Europe's top clubs.
Klopp is yet to return to club management and is unlikely to do so anytime soon. He was recently appointed Germany's head coach, with international soccer far less demanding than club management.