Christian believer Jürgen Klopp has announced he's stepping down as Liverpool manager at the end of the season.
The German, who took charge of the club in 2015, has guided the Reds to every major competition in his tenure, including Liverpool's first-ever Premier League title, the club's first league triumph in 30 years.
In a video released on Liverpool's social channels, Klopp explained: "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."
Here are five instances where Klopp took opportunities to speak publicly about his trust in Jesus:
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Kicker Magazine 2004: “Jesus Christ is the most important person in history. For me, this is an easy answer.”
He went on to explain why he believes in Christ. “This person comes into the world and has a clear mission, which is not easy to accomplish at all.”
“In the end [of his life], he took all the sins on himself and was nailed on a cross.” This is why Jesus’ death on the Cross “was the greatest act that has ever been achieved because it changed everything.” “We don’t have to do it [paying for our sins], and this is a huge comfort.”
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BBC Sport 2016: “The problem is I’m a Christian,” the German manager said. “That [in itself] is not a problem, but the problem is I think other people can have success too – it’s not about me. But if you ask me about Liverpool, I would like to celebrate something each season.”
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fr-online.de: “To be a believer, but not to want to talk about it - I do not know how it would work!”
“If anyone asks me about my faith, I give information. Not because I claim to be any sort of missionary.”
“When I look at me and my life - and I take time for that every day - then I feel I am in sensationally good hands,” he added. “And I find it a pity if other people lack this sense of security - although they don't know it, of course, because otherwise they would probably look for it.”
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Mainz press conference: When asked whether "the football god was against" his team:
"In order to answer this question once and for all: although there is no football God, I believe that there is a God who loves us humans, just as we are, with all our quirks, and that's why I think he also loves football! But we have to score our own goals."
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Article for fussball-gott.com (soccer-god.com): "All of these really likable guys who I meet week in week out at matches or in some cases even in training, have one thing in common: they have noticed at some stage in their careers that there must be more to life than championship and relegation battles."
"They relate how a relationship with God has changed their perspective."
