Jurgen Klopp: The Match Made in Heaven
As Jurgen Klopp’s farewell tour comes towards its final leg, a question is on the mind of the whole footballing world, ‘What is Klopp’s legacy?’
However, a more specific question still needs to be asked, what is Jurgen Klopp’s legacy on the city of Liverpool?
For a man to win everything available in club football and to turn an organisation around in less than a decade, he must be special, and to Liverpool fans, Jurgen Norbert Klopp is much more than that.
He is a man that calls himself an “adopted scouser”, a man that’s fallen in love with a city and its people, and a man that stands as a “father figure” for many.
Ste Hoare is the head of operations at the Redmen TV – a fan social media channel.
He said: "Although he's been a great football manager, he's also been a great man. And if he'd only been one or the other, he probably wouldn't be as loved as he is.”
The German transformed the club from head to toe, taking them from a 6th place finish and floundering mid-table to a first league title in 30 years, but also with values that line up with the city, some could say it was a match made in heaven.
Hoare said: “He's a very likeable man. He's also, with scouse people and people in Liverpool, I think we're all having a bit of humility.
Photo by Matthew Graham
Photo by Matthew Graham
“Not being perfect, because he's not perfect. He's not. And a bit of humour as well. Scouse humour is something that we're all renowned for, and Jürgen's got all of those.”
Klopp signed for Liverpool on the 17th of October 2015, after an extremely successful stint at Borussia Dortmund and after announcing his plans to leave on the 26th of January 2024, the German’s time at Liverpool is coming to an end.
Any manager looking to fill the void left by Klopp will have an impossible task in the eyes of many fans, as he took the Reds from mid-table mediocrity to World Champions.
Hoare noted: “We wanted a new manager to come and deliver trophies.
“Liverpool are a massive club but they weren't performing like a massive club, they weren't acting like a massive club. And under Klopp, they've won the European Cup, they've won the Premier League.
Photo by Matthew Graham
Photo by Matthew Graham
But away from football, Klopp has become a figurehead in the city, championing causes that align with Liverpool’s socialist views.
Hoare said: “They might not always like everything Jürgen does, and the way he acts and the way he says, but you can't help but respect him.”
The Liverpool boss hasn’t only had an impact on the red side of Merseyside, but also the blue.
Liverpool Echo Everton correspondent Joe Thomas explained: “Liverpool is a city that is about more than football, but football is probably its beating heart.
“And I think that if you have people at the top of those organisations that align themselves with the city, and champion the causes of its people, and I think that strengthens the city and strengthens the region.”
Klopp throughout his time at Liverpool has talked about several political topics, such as Brexit, where he said there needs to be another referendum, calling for people to be given the correct information.
He has also commented on the welfare state rules. Jurgen said: “I believe in the welfare state. I’m not privately insured, if there’s something I will never do in my life it is vote for the right.”
The German was also a huge voice pushing the Covid-19 vaccine, amidst doubts by anti-vaxxers, he said: “I don’t take the vaccination only to protect me, I take the vaccination to protect all the people around me.”
The Reds’ boss also immersed himself in the culture of the club, players not being able to touch the famous ‘this is Anfield’ sign until they have won silverware, implementing a culture from top to bottom of the club that has seen youth prospects develop, but also rejecting to speak to journalists from the Sun due to their reporting of the Hillsborough disaster.
Photo by Matthew Graham
Photo by Matthew Graham
Thomas added: “He spoke up at a time when the city has been dealt such severe blows, such as the Conservatives program of austerity, which has ripped apart the social fabric of Merseyside.
“Also, I think he's also been a champion of causes such as the Campaign for Justice and Accountability over Hillsborough.”
This cause, of course, is extremely important throughout Liverpool and his support truly highlights how he embodies the spirit of Liverpool.
Alongside the success on the pitch, Klopp has helped transform the city in an economical vein too.
Connor O’Neill, the Liverpool Echo’s central sports editor, said: “Tourism has probably never been as high and obviously the success on the pitch has helped create this.
“People want to come to city which means the economy is being boosted. This creates an enormous effect in the city from an economy point of view because the interest in the club is so high.”
The void Jurgen Klopp will leave will be massive, not just for Liverpool Football Club, but for the city as a whole.
However, his time here will have a long-lasting effect.
Hoare said: “I take my son to the game now and my son's nine years old. In 20 years’ time, when he's 29, I'm sure he'll still be telling his kids, I saw Jürgen Klopp's team, just like my dad would say to me, I saw Bob Paisley's team play. I think it'll be that.”
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