Football
ESPN staff 9y

Jurgen Klopp says tearful goodbye to Borussia Dortmund home supporters

Jurgen Klopp said an emotional farewell to the Westfalenstadion following his final home game in charge of Borussia Dortmund.

Klopp's side needed to avoid defeat against Werder Bremen on Saturday in the last game of the 2014-15 Bundesliga campaign to qualify for the Europa League, and BVB survived a late fightback to earn a 3-2 victory.

Dortmund were contemplating relegation as they sat bottom of the table in January, but a return to form has seen Klopp steer BVB to seventh place and hand incoming coach Thomas Tuchel the chance to compete in Europe next season.

Despite this year's struggles, Klopp leaves BVB with a fine record having guided the club to Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012 as well as a Champions League final in 2013.

Klopp still has one opportunity to earn a final trophy in his last game in charge next Saturday in the DFB Pokal final against Wolfsburg in Berlin.

Dortmund's fans paid tribute to Klopp during Saturday's game with a banner reading "Danke Jurgen [Thanks Jurgen]," and the coach was left in tears after the final whistle.

Along with retiring midfielder Sebastian Kehl, Klopp saluted the Westfalenstadion crowd for one last time while a video message from the coach played on screens around the ground.

Klopp told the fans: "Our seven years of being together ends next week. We are together for the last time in this stadium, which has become my home.

"I enjoyed every second of my time here. Inside the stadium and in general. We were very fortunate to come here in 2008. It was a win-win situation.

"I take with me a bag full of the most positive memories. Thanks to each and every employee at the club. It was a great pleasure to work with you.

"It was an honour to be working for this club. 

"It was one of the best stories in football I've ever heard about."

When asked if he has been learning Spanish ahead of a potential La Liga job -- with Real Madrid a rumoured destination -- Klopp joked in the postgame news conference: "Una cerveza por favor."

Shinji Kagawa -- signed twice by Klopp for BVB -- told the club's official website: "We were highly motivated. I really felt there was a real team spirit within the team. We played a great game. Of course the scenes after the game were highly emotional. Now we want to go and win the cup next week. 

"I have already experienced that once before, it was a wonderful experience. This way we can give Jurgen Klopp and Sebastian Kehl a great farewell present and ride the bus around the Borsigplatz again -- that was just brilliant in 2012."

Versatile player Erik Durm said: "The head coach has always given everything for this club and also for us players. Of course we always tried to repay him.

"The pictures after the game were very touching, this does mean a lot to you. We are very happy that we won and that we could give [him] such a well-deserved farewell present.  Now we have one more game. We want to win that too. For the gaffer, for the club, for us."

Henrikh Mkhitaryan added: "I thank my team and my head coach that they always believed in me. I hope that things will continue to improve in the future."

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