Borussia Dortmund may have endured a tumultuous season, looking real candidates for the Bundesliga drop at one stage, but not once has manager Jurgen Klopp's future been called into question.
This says a lot about the previous success that the popular German has achieved, leading Die Borussen to a Bundesliga title, DFB-Pokal success and a Champions League final which they narrowly lost against Bayern Munich two years ago.
However, the journey has now come to an end, with Klopp confirming earlier reports this afternoon that he intends to call time on his seven-year stay at the Westfalenstadion this summer in order to start a new adventure elsewhere.
While the 47-year-old is expected to take a year-long sabbatical, much in the same fashion as a man he has got to know well in Pep Guardiola, there will certainly be no shortage of options for the well-admired boss. Here, Sports Mole picks out five potential destinations for Klopp.
1. Manchester City
The most obvious next move for Klopp is the Etihad Stadium, where he would be tasked with overhauling a City squad that appears to be in desperate need of a change of direction. Manuel Pellegrini's future is said to be hanging by a thread following a run of eight defeats in 14 outings for the Citizens.
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Plenty of names have been linked to the hot seat in recent times, most recently Bayern boss Guardiola, although he is not likely to leave his current position anytime soon. That could open the door for Klopp, a man reportedly perceived as being the next best thing by City chiefs.
For so long now the former Mainz 05 manager has cast an envious glance over his shoulder at the spending power held by German rivals Bayern, but should he take over at fallen champions City then he will be able to show his ability to pick out star names from oblivion at the highest level.
2. Arsenal
Sticking with the Premier League, and while it now seems more unlikely than ever that Arsenal will part company with Arsene Wenger this summer following an impressive end to the campaign, a change of management is still not completely out of the question.
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The 'Wenger-out brigade' have not been seen since the Gunners turned their fortunes around in February to string together a winning run that stretched into its eighth game last time out. However, an FA Cup semi-final defeat this coming weekend against Reading, coupled with a third-place finish in the top flight, could see the pressure increase once more on the Frenchman.
Nobody has been linked with the Arsenal job more than Klopp in recent times, and he may be seen as a valiant replacement for Wenger should board members finally swing the axe. Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have both reportedly also shown an interest in the past, so it could be a case of now or never for the North London club.
3. Paris Saint-Germain
Another option which, at this moment in time at least, appears rather preposterous. Laurent Blanc's side are currently top of the Ligue 1 table and preparing for a crucial Champions League quarter-final double-header against Barcelona.
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Things did not look quite so rosy just a couple of months back, though, with the PSG boss rumoured to have been told that he faced the sack if his side lost to Chelsea in the last round of the showpiece competition.
Of course, the French champions went on to win the tie in the most dramatic of circumstances, and since then they have placed one hand on the domestic league title. That is not to say Blanc is completely free from the axe, however, with a second-place finish in Ligue 1 and a final-eight exit in Europe not likely to be enough to save his job in the most cut-throat industry of them all.
4. Napoli
Rafael Benitez's time at Stadio San Paolo is widely considered to be coming to an end, following a two-year stint in the Napoli dugout. West Ham United and Man City are among those to have been linked with the Spaniard, meaning that a vacant position may have to be filled this summer.
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On the face of it, this may appear to be something of a sidewards step for Klopp, leaving one team looking to oust a European giant to claim the league title for another who find themselves in a similar position. It could be an interesting career move for the heavy metal-loving gaffer, though, and one which will offer a chance to compete in the Champions League once again.
Like Dortmund, Napoli supporters are vociferous in their support, and they love a manager who can generate that passion from the stands and out onto the field. It will not have gone amiss, then, that Klopp was sent off during a European tie against Napoli two years ago, having been left furious by a decision that went against his side. Not quite a match made in heaven, but a switch that may just work.
5. Real Madrid
The most unlikely option of them all, but one that should not be dismissed entirely. Klopp did, after all, orchestrate a memorable 4-1 victory over Madrid just a couple of years back, in a match which truly sent shockwaves around the continent.
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Madrid is a side, perhaps more than any other on the planet, that demands success on a regular basis. Whether Klopp would be the man to bring regular silverware to the Bernabeu is a current moot point, with Ancelotti still on course to secure a European and domestic double this season.
Football works in mysterious ways, though, and there is every possibility that we could see an energetic Klopp parading the touchline in the Spanish capital some time in the near future.
Daniel Lewis
