Klopp says goodbye, leads Anfield in song for Slot

Jürgen Klopp said farewell to Liverpool on Sunday by singing the name of his successor, Arne Slot, in front of the club’s supporters.

Klopp’s 8½-year reign as manager came to an end with a 2-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield, with first-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Jarell Quansah sealing a 305th victory in his 491 games in charge.

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Feyenoord coach Slot confirmed on Friday that he would be replacing Klopp at Anfield next season. After Klopp was presented with a series of miniature trophies to reflect those won since taking charge in October 2015, he told the Liverpool fans to follow him by chanting Slot’s name.

“The new manager, I want you to sing his name,” Klopp said. “Arne Slot, na na na na na! When the next season starts, go full throttle into it with the new manager. When you start, you keep believing. Don’t stop believing.

“I saw a lot of people crying, same to me too, but change is good. If you go with right attitude and everything will be fine.

“There has been such a long lead-up to this day and it was really intense. I had my bad moments as well but, thank God, not today. I’m just thankful for what happens. When you are in it, you forget sometimes how great it is. You take it for granted. Now I stand here, I’m just so happy I’m a part of the club’s history. It’s wonderful.”

Liverpool won every major honour with the exception of the Europa League under Klopp and the club’s 2019-20 Premier League success ended its 30-year quest to be champions of England.

Having revealed his decision to stand down in January, recent weeks have been building up to Klopp’s final game as manager. The 56-year-old said it has been an emotional roller coaster for him recently.

“I’m surprised I’m not already in pieces,” he said. “I’m so happy, I can’t believe it. The atmosphere, the game, being part of this family, how we celebrate at this stadium. Thanks so much.

“It doesn’t feel like an end, just feels like a start. I saw a team full of creativity, desire. Since a few weeks I have had too much attention, but in this time I realised a lot of things.

“People told me I turned you from doubter to believer, that’s not true. Believing is what you do yourself, you did it. Nobody tells you to stop believing, this club is in a better moment than for a long time.

“We decide if we’re worried or excited. We decide if you believe or don’t believe, trust or don’t trust. Since today I am one of you and I believe in you,” Klopp said.

“The other clubs, with the most money and the best managers, they win it. We didn’t have the best manager and never had the best team but for a while we played the best football and I love that.

“We are a rock-solid club and don’t overspend. People say, ‘You didn’t spend enough.’ What the heck do you want? I just understand this from the Liverpool way.”

Meanwhile, Feyenoord coach Arne Slot took charge of his last match with the Dutch club before he takes over at Liverpool next season, and was greeted with banners emblazoned with “walk on, walk on,” a line from the anthem shared by both his old and new club’s fans.

Feyenoord said goodbye to their coach on Sunday with an empathic 4-0 win in the home derby against Excelsior, two days after Slot confirmed he would be the next manager at Anfield.

Supporters chanted Slot’s name for most of the match in a poignant farewell as Feyenoord finished second to PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch league standings.

The 45-year-old Slot had steered Feyenoord to only a second championship in 23 years when they won the title at the end of the 2022-23 season.