Hot dog anyone?
JURGEN KLOPP has been officially confirmed as the new manager of Liverpool
He becomes the highest-paid manager in the club’s history after agreeing a £7m-a-year deal to take over at Anfield.
Klopp will be officially unveiled at a press conference this morning when he will outline his vision for a lasting revival at the club.
He arrived into John Lennon International Airport on a private jet from Dortmund at around 5pm this evening before being immediately whisked to the city’s Hope Street Hotel where he signed the paperwork on what is initially a three-year contract.
The deal, which was signed in the Sixth Board on the Sixth Floor of the hotel overlooking the city, expires in the summer of 2018, though there is an option to extend it for a further 12-months.
Klopp, 48, has been Liverpool’s first choice to succeed Brendan Rodgers, who was sacked last Sunday following the 1-1 Merseyside derby stalemate with Everton.
Jurgen Klopp has agreed a £7m-a-year contract with Liverpool
Negotiations over the past week have proved smooth with Klopp breaking plans for a year-long sabbatical just four months after leaving Borussia Dortmund, where he enjoyed glittering success.
Liverpool chairman Tom Werner will accompany him at the press conference having flown to Merseyside from Boston, but Fenway Sports Group principal owner, John W Henry, will not be present nor president, Mike Gordon, who is hands on at the club.
Klopp has already started reshaping the club’s backroom staff with Sean O’Driscoll and Gary McAllister released from their coaching roles at Liverpool as part of the shake-up.
Klopp has already got rid of Sean O'Driscoll (left) and Gary McAllister (right) from his backroom
Assistant manager O'Driscoll has left, but McAllister has been offered, and accepted, an ambassadorial role at Anfield.
First team development coach Pepijn Lijnders will remain under the new regime, but Glen Driscoll, head of performance, and Chris Davies, head of opposition analysis, have also had their contracts terminated in the wake of Rodgers’ sacking.
Klopp is bringing his own assistants in Zeljko Buvac and Peter Krawietz who were part of his set up at Borussia Dortmund and it remains to be seen whether there be a role for any player with Liverpool links in the new set-up.
A club statement read: "Liverpool Football Club are delighted to announce Jürgen Klopp has been appointed as the club's new manager.
"The German coach has signed a deal to take the helm at the Reds and will be presented at a press conference at Anfield on Friday morning."