LONDON: Former Borussia Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp will sign up as Liverpool’s new manager when he lands in Merseyside later on Thursday after agreeing terms earlier in the day, English and German media reported.

After days of speculation, the charismatic 48-year-old was expected to finally sign his contract as replacement for Brendan Rodgers, who was sacked on Sunday following an 18-month slump since nearly winning the Premier League title in 2014.

Liverpool did not confirm the reports but called a press conference for “a major club announcement” on Friday morning when Klopp, 48, was expected to be presented.

Sky television said Klopp had agreed to become manager. The Daily Mail newspaper said Klopp would sign a three year deal under which he would earn more than four million pounds ($6.1 million) a year.

Several of Rodgers’ backroom staff — including Gary McAllister and Sean O’Driscoll — left Liverpool on Thursday in anticipation of the new manager arriving.

Klopp, who led Dortmund to two Bundesliga crowns and a Champions League final, is credited with reviving ‘Die Schwarzgelben’ and moulding them into one of the most exciting brands in world football during his seven years in Westphalia.

He left Dortmund at the end of last season saying he wanted a sabbatical and his first match in charge of Liverpool will be against Tottenham on October 17.

Liverpool are 10th in the league and in a rebuilding phase after the departures of striker Luis Suarez, iconic midfielder Steven Gerrard and young star Raheem Sterling over the last two seasons.

It will be the Klopp’s first job outside Germany, where he made his name as an extrovert, a maverick and an innovative coach after starting his coaching career in 2001 at Mainz 05.

His philosophy is a high-octane, hard-running style that suffocates opponents, similar to the approach Rodgers desired and had success with in the 2013-14 season when Liverpool almost ended their wait for a first championship since 1990.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2015

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