Klopp promises to explain decision to Monaghan fan
Jurgen Klopp shocked the soccer world last week when he announced he will step down as manager at Liverpool FC at the end of the season.
But the charismatic German, in a lengthy chat with the club’s in-house media team, gave special mention to Monaghan super-fan Daire Gorman who he referred to as “our friend”.
Explaining his decision to quit, the manager acknowledged that some younger Liverpool fans have never experienced a change of manager at the club before, and Daire from Tonniscoffey was among those Klopp feels deserves a personal explanation as to his reasons to step down. “I know there are kids out there when they run at my car after games and want to have signings and autographs and stuff like this,” he said. “Only recently we met Daire, our friend. I probably have to explain it to him as well, and I will, that’s no problem. I really will try to do all these things.”
Last year Daire was invited to Anfield on a once-in-a lifetime trip to spend time with Klopp and a host of Liverpool stars.
The 12-year-old came to the attention of the world after a video of him, overcome with emotion, went viral at Anfield during the club’s anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.
Crommelin Syndrome meant Dáire was born without arms below his elbows and without femur bones in both legs.
Klopp saw the video and subsequently invited Daire to the Liverpool training ground where the schoolboy met him as well as players Mo Salah and Luis Diaz.
Daire is a member of the Little Blue Heroes in Cavan-Monaghan and the first trip to Liverpool to see his team take on Aston Villa was organised by the charity, which provides support to families of children with serious illnesses while also granting wishes to the children involved.
In announcing his departure Klopp admitted he was running out of energy. “I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again,” said Klopp whose last match as Liverpool manager could be in Dublin if the club reaches the Europa League Final in the Aviva Stadium on May 22.