Football: Jürgen Klopp, an indelible mark on Liverpool

Jürgen Klopp. EPA – VINCE MIGNOTT

Jürgen Klopp, about to leave at the end of the season, does not have his statue like Bill Shankly, legendary coach of the Reds of the 1960s and 70s. But in eight years at the head of Liverpool he left his mark on the history of the prestigious English club, which he managed to permanently return to the top.

"If anyone wants to help Liverpool FC, they will have to go from someone who doubts to someone who believes", proclaimed the German for his very first day as a coach on the banks of the Mersey, in October 2015.

At the time, morale was low among the supporters. Traumatized by the title that they had let slip away in the last three days of the 2013/14 season, the Reds only finished sixth the following season and were in an unworthy tenth place when the # The former boss of Borussia Dortmund had replaced Brendan Rodgers.

💪 pic.twitter.com/XDjhMcU3LZ

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 26, 2024

With his energy and charisma, the German technician began a transformation of the club that evokes that of the 60s.

The list of trophies gleaned under his leadership is dizzying and testifies to the unique place he managed to occupy in the rich history of Liverpool.

Champions League (2019), English Championship (2020, a first since 1990), Cup (2022), League Cup (2022), European Super Cup (2019), World Cup of clubs (2019): nothing will have escaped Klopp, which also gives the measure of the void he will leave at Anfield.

"If you are second, you'are nothing"

"A great communicator, a showman, a pack leader: Shankly's qualities, described by Graeme Souness, Red between 1978 and 1984, are also his .

“Let’s squeeze everything out of this season and have another thing to smile about when we look back in the future.”

Jürgen’s important message to you.

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 26, 2024

If the latter managed to leave such a trace, it is because he felt the emotion of the place. Liverpool is a club full of emotions, with its history, its tragedies (the dramas at Heysel in 1985 and Hillsborough in 1989, editor's note). It's that emotion you feel when you go to Anfield and hear 'You'll Never Walk Alone,' the club anthem, Souness continues.

"He embodies everything that makes this club. Even without being from the city, the country or the area, he sticks to the club,” judged Trent Alexander-Arnold, a pure product of the city and the Reds, who became under his orders one of the best full-backs in the world.

Coming from another club with a close relationship with its public – Dortmund, which he took to the C1 final (2013), and its famous "wall yellow" -, Klopp knew that the fervor of the Anfield kop would be a major asset. It’s him who comes to celebrate the victories in front of the fans, with a closed fist and a laughing expression.

A very present ghost

One of the German's main strengths was to see in his failures, lessons and challenges, an opportunity to bounce back higher, stronger.

Watch or read our emotional interview with Jürgen Klopp in full as he discusses today’s news in detail and explains the reasons for his decision.

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 26, 2024

A year after the Champions League final lost against Real Madrid, he won the 2019 edition against Tottenham – a trophy that Shankly has never touched. A year after falling one point behind Manchester City, despite the staggering total of 97 points in one season, he conquered the ultimate Holy Grail: the title of champion of England, which the Reds had dreamed of since 1990.< /p>

With his statue in front of the kop, under which is written "He made people happy" and his ashes scattered on the lawn after his death, the spirit of Shankly – who is also the name of the main group of kop supporters – haunts every corner of LFC. With this champion title, Klopp had also made a special place in the hearts of the supporters.

A message to Liverpool supporters from Jürgen Klopp. pic.twitter.com/l7rtmxgOzt

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 26, 2024

The rest was more complicated with Manchester City's outrageous domination of the Premier League. In 2022, Klopp is not far from achieving a flawless performance but he fails in the Champions League final against Real Madrid (1-0) and a very small point behind the Citizens in the championship, consoling with the two national cups.

Also read: Football: Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool coach, will leave the club at the end of the season

Even before the end of the 2021-2022 season, his contract is even renewed until 2026, a sign of the faith of the managers of Fenway, the American owners of the club, in the pursuit of the successful adventure with the German. But despite finishing first in the league, Klopp, 'running out of energy', decided to walk away, taking everyone by surprise and leaving Reds fans suddenly orphans.