Klopp to leave Dortmund in May

Borussia Dortmund coach, Jurgen Klopp, will leave the Bundesliga club at the end of the season.

Klopp has coached Dortmund since 2008, guiding the club to back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2010-11 and 2011-12.

But the 47-year-old German has asked to be released from his contract, which had been due to run until 2018.

“It’s not that I’m tired, I’ve not had contact with another club but don’t plan to take a sabbatical,” he said.

“I always said in that moment where I believe I am not the perfect coach anymore for this extraordinary club I will say so.

“I really think the decision is the right one. This club deserves to be coached from the 100% right manager.”

Klopp claims BVB need a change of direction and insists he made the decision early to avoid leaving the club hanging over the summer.

“I chose this time to announce it because in the last years some player decisions were made late and you couldn’t react,” he said.

Regarded as one of the most talented coaches in Europe, Klopp led Dortmund to the Champions League final, in which they were beaten 2-1 by fellow German side Bayern Munich in 2013.

The German is the favourite among soccer pundits to replace Manuel Pellegrini at the Etihad Stadium following Manchester City dramatic slump in the Barclays Premier league.

Dortmund sit 10th in the Bundesliga – 37 points behind leaders Bayern Munich – and look likely to miss out on European football next season.