Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp stunned the football world on Friday with his surprise announcement that he will step down from the club at the end of the 2023-24 season.
The German has become synonymous with the Reds since his appointment in 2015, succeeding where many others had failed in restoring the club to its former glories.
Klopp won virtually every trophy available to him to join an illustrious list of legendary managers who have occupied the Anfield dugout. The 56-year-old says it is time for a rest, but it is almost inconceivable to think he won't return to elite football management in the future.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are coming to terms with the impending departure of one of the game's leading coaches, and must quickly put in place a succession plan to build upon the German's exceptional work and keep the club on an upwards trajectory.
Here we look at what could be next for Klopp – and the Premier League leaders.
Why is Klopp quitting?
The German explained that while sitting down with the club to formalise plans for the 2024-25 campaign he realised he might no longer have the energy to drive the team forwards and that the feeling even took him by surprise.
“When we sat there together talking about potential signings, the next summer camp and can we go wherever, the thought came up, ‘I am not sure I am here then anymore’ and I was surprised myself by that. I obviously start thinking about it,” revealed Klopp.
He also said the 2022-23 campaign had been extremely taxing for him, personally. Having been in contention for a quadruple the season before, the Reds' standards dropped considerably, ending up without silverware following a fifth-placed Premier League finish, a last-16 exit in the Champions League and fourth round failures in both domestic cups.
And while their summer signings have generally been a success and they sit top of the league, Liverpool still feels like a club in the midst of a rebuild, while key players like Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker aren't getting any younger.
What's next for Liverpool?
The name on everyone's lips is former player Xabi Alonso.
A cultured midfielder in his playing days, Alonso remains an enormously popular figure at Anfield and would seem to tick every box.
As Jose Mourinho famously said: "Xabi Alonso was coached by Guardiola at Bayern, myself at Real Madrid, by Ancelotti and by Benitez in Liverpool... He has the conditions to be a very good coach."
And so it is proving, with Alonso having guided Bayer Leverkusen to the top of the Bundesliga. The team cruelly nicknamed 'Neverkusen' enjoy a four-point lead over Bayern Munich at the halfway point of the season – and it's a feat they have achieved playing modern, attractive football.
Alonso has the pedigree and the style while his popularity would afford him time to set about the unenviable task of filling Klopp's shoes.
Aside from Alonso, Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, Klopp's assistant Pep Lijnders and the former Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann are among the early names being discussed.
Club legend Steven Gerrard was at one time well-positioned to succeed Klopp but his stock has fallen following his failure at Aston Villa, while he has just extended his contract with Saudi Pro League Al Ettifaq.
What does this mean for Mohamed Salah and the rest of the Liverpool squad?
The departure of a long-term figurehead quite naturally raises questions about the future of his most trusted players.
Salah was the subject of sustained interest from the Saudi Pro League last summer and Michael Emenalo, the SPL's sporting director, has suggested on several occasions they are likely to rekindle the move in the future.
At a time when the SPL is aggressively growing its brand, who better to recruit than the Arab world's pre-eminent player?
And with his mentor Klopp moving on, the stars could be aligning for Salah to finally become the face of the SPL.
Alongside Salah, captain Van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson have been pillars of the Klopp era. With both enjoying strong seasons there is no suggestion Klopp's exit could directly affect their immediate futures.
What's next for Klopp?
The obvious answer would be one of the two prestige jobs in his native Germany. Bayern Munich have coveted him for a long time, while it's the long-standing dream of the German FA to appoint him as national team coach.
It's hard to overstate Klopp's immense popularity in Germany and the allure of a high-profile homecoming could prove hard to resist.
The national team has been suffering in recent times, with Nagelsmann installed last September to replace the sacked Hansi Flick and tasked with getting things back on track ahead of hosting Euro 2024.
With Nagelsmann likely to see his long-term future in club management, the post could become available after this summer's tournament.
Bayern, meanwhile, have had their ups and downs under Thomas Tuchel, a coach who has also had clashes with his superiors at the Allianz Arena.
Should his side indeed miss out on the league title to Alonso's Leverkusen, it could create the perfect opening for Klopp.
That said, he won't be short of offers, whether it be from broadcasters, elite clubs or ambitious upstarts from emerging markets like Saudi Arabia.
One thing is for certain, it won't be another club in the Premier League. "No other English club ever. I can promise that. Even if I have nothing to eat," said Klopp.
What has been the reaction?
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher posted on X, formerly Twitter: "This news was always going to be a body blow to the club whenever it came. I just thought it would be another few years away. What a manager, what a man, let’s go out with a bang Jurgen!"
Meanwhile, the former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness, said: "I'm amazed, I just think the demands of that job, it's one of the best jobs in the world if you get it right and he has done that. It would appear he has got a team again but it's just the toll it takes on the individual. When I look at Jurgen Klopp he is such a perfect fit for Liverpool cause he is on it, he's at it. He's aggressive, he's emotional and confrontational but that takes a toll. The pressures of being a manager at a big football club are enormous."
Edin Terzic, the Borussia Dortmund manager, said: "Jurgen Klopp is an outstanding person. I was lucky enough to get to know him here. He has shaped our club and Liverpool like no other. I am sure that there will be another station in his coaching life, there will be a place where he will do a similarly good job."
While Thomas Tuchel, the Bayern coach, added: "I have to digest that first, I can't say anything at the moment. Kloppo is one of the very best coaches in the world, he has always managed to influence the clubs where he worked. It's big news."
Newcastle United 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2
Tottenham (Alli 61'), Davies (70')
Red card Jonjo Shelvey (Newcastle)
DSC Eagles 23 Dubai Hurricanes 36
Eagles
Tries: Bright, O’Driscoll
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Hurricanes
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New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
SPEC%20SHEET
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Tour de France
When: July 7-29
UAE Team Emirates:
Dan Martin, Alexander Kristoff, Darwin Atapuma, Marco Marcato, Kristijan Durasek, Oliviero Troia, Roberto Ferrari and Rory Sutherland
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Lecce v SPAL (6pm)
Bologna v Genoa (9pm)
Atlanta v Roma (11.45pm)
Sunday
Udinese v Hellas Verona (3.30pm)
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Sassuolo v Parma (6pm)
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Monday
AC Milan v Torino (11.45pm)
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The biog
Age: 32
Qualifications: Diploma in engineering from TSI Technical Institute, bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dubai’s Al Ghurair University, master’s degree in human resources from Abu Dhabi University, currently third years PHD in strategy of human resources.
Favourite mountain range: The Himalayas
Favourite experience: Two months trekking in Alaska
SCHEDULE FOR SHOW COURTS
Centre Court - from 4pm (UAE time)
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The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic
Power: 375bhp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh332,800
On sale: now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
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The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
About Seez
Company name/date started: Seez, set up in September 2015 and the app was released in August 2017
Founder/CEO name(s): Tarek Kabrit, co-founder and chief executive, and Andrew Kabrit, co-founder and chief operating officer
Based in: Dubai, with operations also in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon
Sector: Search engine for car buying, selling and leasing
Size: (employees/revenue): 11; undisclosed
Stage of funding: $1.8 million in seed funding; followed by another $1.5m bridge round - in the process of closing Series A
Investors: Wamda Capital, B&Y and Phoenician Funds
And%20Just%20Like%20That...
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Company%C2%A0profile
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RACE CARD
6.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh82.500 (Dirt) 1,400m
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7.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (Turf) 2,410m
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10pm Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,400m
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
