The Mysterious Departure of Zeljko Buvac: A Puzzling Chapter in Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool Era
When Jurgen Klopp took charge of Liverpool in 2015, he made sure to bring along his two closest assistants, Zeljko Buvac and Peter Krawietz. The trio had been inseparable since their days at Mainz and Dortmund, with each playing a vital role in their respective teams. Klopp referred to them as ‘the heart’, ‘the brain’, and ‘the eyes’ of the coaching staff.
However, Buvac’s sudden exit from Liverpool in 2018 remains one of the strangest mysteries of Klopp’s tenure. It happened just before the Champions League semi-final second leg against AS Roma, leaving the players and fans bewildered. Initially described as temporary leave, Buvac eventually left the club for good, without any explanation provided.
In his book ‘Si Senor: My Liverpool Years’, Roberto Firmino shed some light on the situation. He revealed that there had been no contact with Buvac since his departure, and the players were left in the dark about what had happened. Firmino described Buvac as the one who actively participated in training, organized everything, and led sessions. The rumors at the time suggested that there had been a clash over a signing, but Firmino admitted that he never asked Klopp about it.
Despite concerns that losing Buvac’s tactical expertise would diminish Klopp’s influence, Liverpool actually thrived without him. They went on to win every possible trophy, thanks in part to the contributions of Pepijn Lijnders. Lijnders, who had previously worked in Liverpool’s youth academy, returned to the club after Buvac’s departure. Firmino praised Lijnders as a “big help” in his own development, highlighting his deep knowledge of the game and his ability to provide valuable advice on positioning.
With Lijnders back on board, Liverpool continued their success, proving that they have a world-class backroom staff capable of adapting to changes. While the mystery of Buvac’s exit remains unsolved, Klopp and his team have shown that they can overcome any challenges that come their way.