Klopp to leave Dortmund after 7 years

Jurgen Klopp announced on Wednesday that he will leave Borussia Dortmund coaching job in the summer after seven glorious years in charge.

The 47-year-old had a contract with the German powerhouse until 2018, but he decided to bid farewell to the club at the end of the season.

"I have always said that the moment I feel I am no longer the perfect coach for this extraordinary club, I would say so," said Klopp, "In the past days and weeks, I was not sure whether I was not the perfect coach anymore, but I couldn't say that I was either, so I saw it as my duty to inform (sporting director) Michael and 'Aki'(Dortmund chief executive Hans Joachim Watzke)."

"Something is ending now, which I, as a human, never wanted to end," he said at an emotional press conference, "But I absolutedly have the feeling that I am doing the right thing. I have had no contact with other clubs, I have nothing up my sleeve, but I also do not intend to take a sabbatical."

"I just wanted to make my decision known now so that the club can plan for the future.

"I chose this time to announce it, because in the last few years, some player decisions were made late and there was no time to react," he pointed at Mario Goetze's sudden departure to arch rivals Bayern Munich in April 2013.

Born in Stuttgart, Klopp began his period at Dortmund in the summer of 2008 following seven years coaching at Mainz. He became the hero of Dortmund by winning two league titles and a German Cup, and reached the 2013 UEFA Champions League final.

However, Klopp and his side met big problems this season both in Bundesliga and Europe. The team even descended to the bottom in February before climbing to their current 10th position in the league, and was knocked out of the Champions League 1/8 finals by Juventus.

At the press conference the club said they will not rush to name Klopp's successor.

"Certainty over speed, it's important to get the right person," said Watzke. Endi