29 January 2024 , 18:28
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Liverpool fans were left in disbelief last Friday when Jurgen Klopp announced his plan to leave Anfield at the end of this season.
Klopp has been in charge of the Reds since October 2015 and done a stellar job. He's won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, European Super Cup, Club World Cup and Community Shield at Liverpool since replacing Brendan Rodgers.
Klopp's success on Merseyside is remarkable, as they were 10th in the Premier League when he took over and hadn't won a trophy for more than three years. Many Liverpool fans are worried the German's successor won't be able to emulate his success.
Losing Klopp is a huge blow to Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG), but it's not the first time they've been snubbed by one of the best in the business. Back in 2002, FSG suffered a similar blow at Fenway Park - the home of MLB giants Boston Red Sox.
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FSG also own the Red Sox and wanted Billy Beane, the general manager of Oakland Athletics, to become the team's new GM. John Henry, FSG's chairman, handed Beane a $12.5million (£9.9m) contract - the biggest ever to be offered to a GM at the time.
Henry was a huge fan of Beane's 'Moneyball' philosophy. Under Beane, the Athletics signed players by analysing on their on-base percentage and other detailed statistics. They had little interest in technical ability or how eye-catching a player was.
Beane's 'Moneyball' philosophy - which has been adopted by countless teams - aimed to sign undervalued players. And it worked, as Athletics became the first team in more than a century of American League baseball to win 20 consecutive games.
As well as being offered a record salary, Beane was also given the chance to make use of FSG's huge budget. Yet he turned down FSG and stayed with the Athletics. Beane stepped down as GM in 2015 and is now their president of baseball operations.
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Henry wanted to hire Billy Beane at Boston Red Sox 22 years ago - but the GM said no (Getty Images)But despite being rejected by Beane, FSG hired Bill James - another 'Moneyball' expert - and adopted the philosophy. Two years later, the Red Sox won their first World Series title since 1918 and went on to repeat the feat in 2007, 2013 and 2018.
Liverpool have also found many bargains since FSG bought the club in 2010, such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho. Recruitment has been superb during the last decade or so, and Henry and his colleagues must take some credit for that.
Klopp leaving Liverpool is a huge blow for FSG, but the club's American owners know how to recover from such setbacks. Reds fans should expect a fool-proof plan to be devised by the time Klopp says an emotional farewell at the end of this season.
And FSG have been working on that plan for two months already. "I told the club already in November," said Klopp after announcing his exit. "I can understand that it's a shock for a lot of people in this moment, when you hear it for the first time, but obviously I can explain it - or at least try to explain it.
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"I love absolutely everything about this club, I love everything about the city, I love everything about our supporters, I love the team, I love the staff. I love everything. But that I still take this decision shows you that I am convinced it is the one I have to take.
"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."