Reds’ assistant coach walks away from Anfield amid dispute with Jurgen Klopp

 

Zeljko Buvac in a past training session. [Photo: Courtesy]

Jurgen Klopp's assistant manager, Zeljko Buvac, has sensationally walked out on Liverpool just two days before the second leg of their Champions League semi-final.

Buvac, 56, has worked alongside Klopp for the best part of 17 years, working as No.2 to the Anfield chief at Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and the Reds.

Buvac, known as "the brain", has been Klopp's right-hand man during his rise, having first met the 50-year-old during their playing days at Mainz.

Mirror Sport understands that Buvac tendered his resignation, in a move that will come as a major shock just days ahead of their clash with Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.

Jurgen Klopp and Zeljko Buvac in a past training session. [Photo: Courtesy]

Liverpool confirmed on Monday morning that he will step aside from that role between now and the end of the season “for personal reasons”.

Buvac and Klopp have a relationship dating back to 1992, when the Bosnian Serb first joined Mainz.

Reports on Sunday night from the Daily Record suggested that relationship had broken down and that Buvac was set to depart having been excluded from tactical meetings and "left completely out of the loop of late."

Buvac sat on the bench during the 0-0 draw with Stoke on Saturday.

He was also there during the 5-2 first leg win over Roma last Tuesday, but it was noticeable during the match that the man Klopp sought for counsel throughout was not his long-time lieutenant, but rather Peter Krawietz, the first-team coach.

Nonethless, despite having seen his 26-year association with Klopp turn sour, Liverpool maintain that Buvac remains a Liverpool employee and his position at the club is unaffected by this period of absence.

However, that appears to be little more than damage limitation and Buvac's exit is a major blow for the Reds as they arrive at such a crucial juncture in the season.

They fly out to Rome on Tuesday, hoping to defend a 5-2 first leg lead to book a place in the European Cup final for the first time since 2007.