From Doubters to Believers
“Klopp’s leaving,” I said in disbelief as soon as my dad picked up the phone. I couldn’t really say much else as my brain still hadn’t processed the news which still feels like a punch to the gut. My dad couldn’t believe it either, no one could really. Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool’s manager of 9 years, the man who won everything, had announced he would be leaving at the end of the season.
Family and friends aside, he is the one person who has given me the most joy in my life. To those who aren’t massive football fans, and even to those who are, this might seem a ludicrous statement, but it is one that I truly believe.
Klopp joined Liverpool in 2015, with the club winning just two trophies in the previous ten years and sitting 10th place in the Premier League. I was 13 at the time and had no idea who this bespectacled German was. I liked football and played it. I’d cried when Liverpool lost to Chelsea in that fateful game where Gerrard slipped, but this may have been because of how upset my dad had been. But this all changed with Klopp. What was a fun pastime turned into a passion, an obsession.
In the 9 years since Liverpool have won every major trophy available, except for the second-tier Europa League, which if it all goes to plan, Klopp will lift in what will likely be his last game as Liverpool manager. With ‘only’ one Premier League title and one Champion League title there will be those who claim there have been multiple better managers in the Premier League era. Yet Klopp became the first ever Liverpool manager to win 6 major trophies, managed the team to a record-breaking eighteen consecutive wins in the league, took them to two 90+ points finishes and perhaps greatest of all ended the 30 year-wait for the illusive 19th league title, all with a lower net spend than West Ham across his tenure.
The love Liverpool fans have for Klopp goes beyond trophies and points, it’s the countless memories he’s helped create and it’s the way he just understood, right from day one, the special, unique nature of Liverpool Football Club. Moments like beating Barcelona 4-0 in the Champions League semi-final, Origi’s heroics against Everton, battering United 7-0 and 5-0, a 6th Champions League win in Madrid, comebacks against Dortmund, Newcastle, Norwich, Spurs and Aston Villa. None of these would have been possible without Klopp’s tactics and his ability to turn his players into mentality monsters.
Roma, Hull, Southampton, Schalke, Hoffenheim, Monaco, Newcastle, Lille and Stoke. That’s just some of the teams Klopp signed his players from. Not exactly a star-studded list. For years Liverpool have competed with Pep Guardiola’s billion-pound Manchester City squad. Yes, Liverpool have spent big on certain players, but Klopp’s ability to turn mid-table players into title winners is nothing short of remarkable. Then there’s the growth of youngsters. Trent Alexander-Arnold has gone from a plucky 18-year-old to a world-class right-back with an ability to change games that not many can match, under Klopp’s guidance. Harvey Elliot, Curtis Jones and Jarrell Quansah have all flourished in recent years and look set to become Liverpool regulars thanks to Klopp’s faith in them.
There have been low points of course, but even these have been remarkably rare. Losing three consecutive finals in his first 2 full seasons was not the start Klopp would’ve wanted, but to the fans, it was a sign that the glory days were nearly back. Last year saw Liverpool finish outside the top 4 for the first time in six seasons, showing Klopp’s consistency during his tenure. The turnaround since has been remarkable, largely thanks to an innovative shift of pushing Alexander-Arnold into an inverted full-back role which has seen Liverpool lose just one of their last 33 games in the league. Liverpool look set to challenge for the title again this year and it would be fitting for one of Liverpool’s greatest-ever managers to finish this season with a couple of trophies.
Klopp promised to turn the fans from doubters to believers when he joined in 2015. He has done that ten times over. He’s transformed the team into one that plays dynamic and fluid football that’s been a joy to watch for years. I started school when Klopp joined and I’m leaving University as Klopp leaves so to me, I’ve grown up and matured with this era of Liverpool. Klopp has ensured that Liverpool games are often the highlight of my week as I know for 90+ minutes I’ll forget about any worries I have. When I’ve had low points the joy of watching Liverpool play has given me happiness. Undoubtedly part of why I’ve come to love football so much is down to the success Liverpool has had under Klopp – I’m unsure if I’d have the same level of passion if we’d replaced Brendan Rodgers with Gary Monk, as some bookies suggested we might. But this success has fuelled my obsession and I cannot thank Jurgen Klopp enough for this. Football is more than just a sport, it’s a community bringing people together in an increasingly negative world and it fills a significant proportion of my life that I believe I’d feel lost without. Klopp has brought genuine unfiltered joy to my life alongside millions of other fans across the globe. Thank you Jurgen.
