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Klopp asks to leave Borussia Dortmund

Jonathan HardingApril 15, 2015

Jürgen Klopp has asked to end his contract at Borussia Dortmund at the end of the current season, according to reports from German newspaper Bild. Thomas Tuchel is favorite to take over.

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Deutschland Jürgen Klopp BVB
Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/R. Hartmann

According to German newspaper Bild, head coach Jürgen Klopp has asked to leave Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season. Borussia Dortmund have called a press conference for 1:30p.m. local time (11:30 UTC).

After seven years, two Bundesliga titles, one German Cup and a special run to the 2013 Champions League final, the 47-year-old coach has told chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke that he is exhausted and wants time away. Relations with both Watzke and Sporting Director Michael Zorc have apparently been strained for months, with the three regularly disagreeing.

Thomas Tuchel is favorite to replace Klopp as Borussia Dortmund boss, with reports suggesting Tuchel has been offered a four-year contract worth around 5 million euros ($5.3m) a year. Zorc is reported to have met with Tuchel this time last year after Klopp unsuccessfully asked for a release. At that time, Klopp was subject to an 'unethical million pound bid from England' according to Bild.

This season has been a tumultuous one for BVB. They have only collected 33 points from 28 games in the Bundesliga, leaving them in 10th - 37 points off league leaders Bayern Munich. A decent Champions League run ended aprubtly in the round of 16 after a 5-1 aggregate defeat to Juventus. They have reached the German Cup semifinals but must overcome Bayern if they want to make it to Berlin.

With seven league games left in the season and Dortmund only six points away from the relegation playoff spot, the fate of the club hangs in the balance.