says will be ‘sadly missed’ in the Premier League after announcing his forthcoming departure from Liverpool, although says the has made the right decision for himself.
Klopp made the shock announcement on Friday that he intends to step down as Reds boss at the end of the season.
He will have been in charge of the team for nearly nine years when he brings his Anfield career to an end and he is hoping to go out with a bang with silverware at the end of the current campaign.
Keane is disappointed that Klopp is leaving the English top flight, but the 56-year-old said it was down to a lack of energy and feeling worn out by the job, so the Irishman has backed the decision on those grounds.
‘I’m not really too concerned about the announcement, it’s just I think it’s sad he’s leaving the game,’ Keane told of Klopp.
‘I think he’s been an amazing manager for Liverpool, a great character for the . But I think he’s probably made the right decision if he thinks he needs to just have a break. He’ll be sadly missed.
‘I’ve enjoyed watching him and listening to him, I think he’s been brilliant for the Premier League and no doubt he will be a huge loss. But I think he’s made the right decision if he feels he needs that break.’
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has admitted that Klopp’s exit is going to be tough to deal with, but has called on everyone involved with the club to make it a memorable end for the manager.
‘It’s a hard one to take, because the manager means so much for us, to me, to the club, to the whole Premier League I think,’ said the Dutchman. ‘But he made the decision for him and his family. It was always going to be a tough one and it was definitely the case.
‘I think how we always try to manage noise from the outside. Of course this is massive, it’s massive news in football. For us, it was also a very big day. But we have big targets this year and that’s definitely stressed by the manager as well. For us and for me personally as well, I want to make sure the rest of the boys think like that too. I think that’s the case as well.
‘We all want to achieve so much and that mindset was already there since pre-season and that doesn’t change. It will maybe even give you an extra boost to do that extra or maybe enjoy it a little bit even more together and make the last part of the season, the last bit of the manager’s time at the club, the best time he’s ever had. That’s what we strive for and that’s why it’s business as usual.’
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