Manchester City favourites to appoint Jurgen Klopp as new manager after Borussia Dortmund exit

Manchester City are the favourites to appoint Jurgen Klopp as their new manager after his departure from Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season.

The 47-year-old has requested to have his contract terminated after seven years with the Bundesliga side, who are 10<sup>th in the league and just six points above the relegation zone.

"As a person, I would have liked to see that something so beautiful does not have to come to an end," Klopp said at a press conference confirming his exit.

"I don't think of it as a load off my shoulders. I'm not tired, even though I look like this. I have had no contact with another club, but I am not planning a sabbatical."

Manager Manuel Pellegrini's days at the Etihad Stadium look increasingly numbered following an insipid defence of City's title that sees them 12 points behind leaders Chelsea and fourth in the Premier League with six games remaining.

City are four points above fifth place Liverpool and, despite spending £71m ($105m) during the 2014 summer transfer window, they were knocked out at the last-16 stage of the Champions League by Barcelona for a second straight season.

Klopp has regularly flirted with the idea of managing in the Premier League though confirmation he will be available from next season will likely lead to several clubs from across Europe enquiring after his services.

Klopp success despite limited funds

During seven seasons at Dortmund, Klopp won back-to-back German titles including the league and cup double in the 2011-12 season. The following campaign saw the club reach the Champions League final, where they were beaten by domestic rivals Bayern Munich.

The achievements of Klopp are held in such high regard given the limited transfer budget available to him and the swathes of high-profile exits in recent seasons that has seen Nuri Sahin, Shinji Kagawa, Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski all depart.

Such achievements have seen Klopp installed as the leading candidate with the bookmakers' at 11/10 to start the 2015-16 campaign as the new City manager, should the club decide to part with Pellegrini at the end of the campaign.

Sky Bet's Chris Spicer said: "We opened up betting on the next Manchester City manager on Sunday with Carlo Ancelotti considered a soft favourite amid suggestions that the Italian's days at Real Madrid are numbered.

"However, we now have a clear favourite with Klopp attracting all the recent money, prompting us to constantly cut his price.

"We also priced up the chances of Pellegrini staying at City but all the interest has been in his time to come to an end this summer, with odds on remaining now out to 7/2."