The impact Jurgen Klopp has had on Liverpool is set in stone – but will there be a lasting reminder of the German giant cast in bronze outside Anfield?
You have to be something special to deserve a statute at one of the cathedrals of world football. That privilege has been bestowed on late managers Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley, but Sir Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard are still waiting.
But the fact remains that Klopp deserves to join those names above on the list of Merseyside royalty. When he was appointed manager in October 2015, Klopp had one mission – to make Liverpool champions again.
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And he did in 2020, obliterating the great Pep Guardiola led Manchester City. At one stage, Liverpool held a 25-point lead over City – the biggest ever in English top-flight history – and they broke another record by winning the title with a whopping seven games to spare.
He put Liverpool back on their perch for the first time in three decades – and right there and then he was guaranteed the freedom of the city. This seismic triumph came just 12 months after Klopp had beaten Tottenham to conquer Europe, winning Liverpool’s sixth European Cup.
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He was walking on water. To some people, Klopp could float across the River Mersey without getting his feet wet. But here’s the difficult part.
When Klopp announced he was leaving Liverpool earlier this season, it drew comparison to when Sir Alex Ferguson announced his time at Manchester United was up. And replacing Klopp will be really tough, for sure, but not in the same league as what David Moyes had to do in filling Fergie’s humongous shoes at Old Trafford back in 2013.
Klopp has won the two biggest trophies and eight in total. Which is a heck of an achievement, not least because he’s spent the majority of his time at Anfield locking horns with Guardiola – arguably the greatest manager of them all.
But will Klopp leave a dynasty behind him? No. Not even close.
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Dynasties belong to those who create teams which rule for years in succession, like Fergie did and Guardiola is now doing in Manchester. Fergie rebuilt three different teams and won 13 league titles, while Guardiola is on the cusp of winning a historic fourth Premier League crown on the spin.
Klopp, on the other hand, built one title-winning side. It still means replacing Klopp will be a tough job, but replacing Fergie was the impossible one. Harsh perhaps, but true.
But it’s also true of Klopp that his legend wasn’t just built on silverware, but also on the fact he had the qualities to become part of the fabric of the club and its people. He was the figurehead who gave back the club its pride. For 12 months, he made Liverpool the best team on the planet once again.
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He created ‘heavy metal’ football, and became so interwoven with Liverpool’s culture and beliefs he earned comparisons to those other favourite sons of the city, ‘The Beatles’.
To the tune of one of the Beatles’ many legendary songs, Liverpool supporters adopted new lyrics in tribute to Klopp. “I’m so glad, that Jurgen is a Red, I’m so glad, he delivered what he said. Jurgen said to me, you know. We’ll win the Premier League, you know. He said so. I’m in love with him and I feel fine.”
That love for Klopp will be unconditional and eternal, because he was one of them. He made sure those millions of Liverpool supporters around the globe continued to never walk alone.
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He was the underdog who took on Guardiola and his state-owned giants – and sometimes won. He was a typhoon of testosterone and teeth who led Liverpool out of the domestic darkness and into the light.
He beat his chest in front of the Kop. He became so much more than a football coach who knew how to take the fight to the richer superpowers around him.
He lived on a diet of emotion, energy and passion – and it made him one of the most endearing characters English football has ever had the privilege of seeing.
Klopp will be badly missed, but never ever forgotten.