Liverpool have confirmed assistant manager Pep Lijnders will also step down with Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season.
Sporting director Jorg Schmadtke will also depart after two transfer windows with the Reds at the beginning of February.
And Klopp’s right-hand man Peter Krawietz and elite development coach Vitor Matos will stand down following the shock announcement from Klopp on Friday morning.
LIVE: Jurgen Klopp announces shock decision to leave Liverpool
The Reds boss revealed to official club channels that he will leave after nine years at the end of the current campaign, citing a lack of energy for one of the most demanding roles in European football after nearly a decade in charge.
In a lengthy interview with Liverpoolfc.com, Klopp explained the thinking behind the call, which was told to owners Fenway Sports Group as far back as March.
And Liverpool have also confirmed respected assistant Lijnders will leave with Klopp after 10 years alongside Krawietz, who joined the club with Klopp and Matos, who was appointed to his role in 2019.
Lijnders moved through the ranks at Liverpool after his 2014 arrival, initially starting as Under-16s coach before taking up what was a newly-created position as first-team development coach a year later.
He then moved into the coaching set-up under Klopp following the manager’s appointment and carved out a reputation as one of the finest young coaches in European football as a result, having previously worked with PSV Eindhoven and Porto.
The 41-year-old left Liverpool in 2018 to briefly become head coach of Dutch side NEC Nijmegen before returning to the fold at Anfield later that year.
Lijnders, who has regularly stepped in to conduct press conference duties for League Cup games in recent years, signed a new contract alongside Klopp in April 2022 but will now depart with the manager when the 2023/24 campaign has concluded.
The best LFC news, features, videos and podcasts
Nobody covers Liverpool Football Club in more detail than the ECHO. Our team of reporters follows the Reds home, away and abroad and we have seven days a week coverage of everything from the first team, to the women’s team and the Academy.
Here’s how you can get the best LFC news on every platform:
Download our premium LFC App for exclusive content and ad-free reading. Apple here and Android here.
Follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Our Blood Red brand is one of the top rated LFC podcasts. You can watch it on Youtube here or search Blood Red podcasts wherever you listen. We’re also on TikTok.
Join our WhatsApp community for breaking news directly to your phone as it happens and follow our WhatsApp channel for updates and the best pictures.
Subscribe to our newsletters here for all the news directly to your inbox.
Subscribe to Dave Powell’s Bottom Line newsletter for exclusive business of football news, features and interviews directly to your inbox.
Follow us on every platform here.
Schmadtke was coaxed out of retirement to start work as Julian Ward’s successor as sporting director at the beginning of June, signing a one-year deal on the agreement of an informal review of the arrangement at the start of September.
Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon said: “We would like to place on record our gratitude to Jorg for the important role he has played since joining Liverpool last summer.
“He has made a valuable contribution, both in terms of the support he provided to Jürgen Klopp and the assistance and guidance given to our outstanding football operations department.
“As well as departing with our appreciation for his efforts, we would also like to take this opportunity to offer Jorg and his family our very best wishes for the future.”
Schmadtke said: “Liverpool is a very special club so to have had the opportunity to work here has been a huge honour for me, even though I knew from the outset that it would only be for a short period.
“I would like to thank everyone – the owners, manager, staff, players and fans – for the support I have been given and offer my best wishes for the rest of this season.”
The 59-year-old was key to the captures of Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo, who were all signed from Bundesliga clubs between early July and late August.
Krawietz, who is known affectionately as ‘the Eye’ by Klopp, has served as his assistant since their days together at Mainz when he served as the Reds boss’ chief scout and, like Lijnders, also inked new terms two years ago.
Meanwhile Matos, whose work sees him bring the latest information to Klopp and the promising youngsters within the club’s Academy ranks, has been an integral figure at the AXA Centre.
His role informally sees him described as ‘the connector’ between the youth and senior ranks and his work has helped a number of young hopefuls get their break in the Liverpool first-team in recent years.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
