Jurgen Klopp came 'close to quitting' Liverpool midway through last season

Jurgen Klopp could have left Liverpool during the horror-show of last season if it wasn't for his wife Ulla persuading him against the idea.

Klopp shocked the footballing world on Friday when he revealed that after nine seasons at the helm of the club, he would be leaving Liverpool come the end of the campaign.

Admitting that he was 'running out of energy', Klopp confirmed that his time was up at Anfield, hinting he may never manage in football ever again.

It was a statement that rocked all Reds fans to their core, not wanting to accept the departure of a man who had taken their club from obscurity to the pinnacle of the sport, winning all that there is to win during his tenure on Merseyside - including a first Premier League title in 30 years.

However, according to The Times, this announcement could have come maybe a year earlier if it wasn't for the intervention of his wife.

Fatigued and mindful of his health, Klopp found the 2022/23 season a 'dog year', as he put it in his press conference on Friday - with the club languishing lower down the table in what his worst full campaign since taking the reigns at Anfield.

Things became so difficult for the German that he apparently contemplated packing it in as Liverpool boss - but was persuaded against the idea by Ulla, a prominent party in all major career decisions Klopp has made since their marriage in 2005.

Instead of quitting, Klopp threw himself back into the job, seeing out the season before overseeing a rebuild of the squad alongside sporting director and long-time friend Jorg Schmadtke.

Creating what he dubbed 'Liverpool 2.0', it was a rebuild that has so far proved incredibly successful, turning the club's fortunes around to such an extent that the Reds are now back on their perch at the top of the Premier League, seen as one of the teams to beat in this season's title race.

While fans will be gutted to see the back of Klopp come May, it seems Ulla - who is said to love her life living in the picturesque coastal village of Formby - is the one fans should be thanking for an extra 12 months of the German.