End of an Era: Jurgen Klopp

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21 May 2024

FootballLiverpool

Before getting on with the blog I just want to mention that writing this piece took a long, long time, it was on my mind since Klopp announced his retirement so please even if you’re someone who isn’t really interested in Football try to stick around till the end and maybe you’ll learn something new. For the uninitiated Jurgen Klopp one of world football’s greatest ever manager has announced his retirement after a 9-year stint at Liverpool and this article is basically a short tribute to honor his Liverpool journey, so strap in and enjoy my version of this beautiful story!

Intro

The title of this blog was supposed to be “This is Anfield!” as if I’m slamming my desk being proven right with Darwin Nunez in the banner image celebrating after scoring a banger against Wolves in their final home game along with Klopp lifting the coveted Premier League trophy and the home fans serenading him by singing “One Kiss” by Dua Lipa.

What a sight that would have been… but sigh I’m too old to daydream now and certainly don’t believe in fairytales any more. I’ve been watching football for a decent amount of time now and as an Indian it can be hard to keep up with the European leagues especially with the time constraints. I’ve sunk in ungodly amount of hours watching late-night fixtures, managers explain their dogma, players talking shit and much more, but if someone were to ask me what was the favorite moment that I witnessed this would definitely be up there:

This is what legacy looks like, this is what victory sounds like, what passion feels like, the ambience, the aura of this resounding stadium is why we watch football, moments like these transcend the game itself and form perpetual memories for any supporter and this is exactly what Jurgen Klopp has earned Eternal Respect.

Inception

Time to roll back the years and begin this article by going back to where it all started, Klopp’s arrival at Anfield in 2015/16. I honestly don’t remember this time, as I was not into football back then and I guess it would take a couple more years before I even started taking interest in football. After a horrid start to Borussia Dortmund’s 14/15 season which even saw them lurking around the drop zone at a point, Klopp announced in April that he’ll be leaving the club in the summer. On the other hand Liverpool also faced a disappointing start to their 15/16 season and had to sack Brendan Rodgers midseason, and just like that action met opportunity and the Liverpool management were somehow able to sign Klopp on a 3-year deal as he was officially announced a few days later.

Introducing the “Normal One”

Klopp’s first press conference was imbued with energy and hope, both of which were nowhere to be found in the Liverpool dressing room in the past one year. Where successful managers came in with inflated egos (Mourinho I’m looking at you ) with the promise that they will take their team to the apex, Klopp came in as a normal, humble guy with the hope that he’ll enjoy his work in England as much as he did in Germany and described himself as the “Normal One”. He said something which stuck by every Liverpool supporter and made them believe once again:

It’s not so important what people think when you come in, it’s much more important what people think when you leave… and please give us the time to work on it.



I don’t wanna say we have to wait for the next 20 years… I know when I sit here in 4 years I think we would’ve won 1 title in that time, I’m pretty sure. 

Klopp’s first press conference in England

Building from scraps

Even though Liverpool miraculously finished second in the league a couple of years ago, they were still lacking star players and a sense of belief that they can achieve something as a team. A lot of fans had lost hope in the team, the manager and the staff, and there was no sense of identity within the club, their public perception deteriorated over time and no rival club really saw them as a threat. A slight simmer of hope which fans clung on to also died after the departure of Suarez and Sterling in the coming seasons, which meant another awful start to the season before Klopp arrived and the bottom line was simply that "this squad is nowhere near good enough" to challenge for titles. The challenge here wasn’t just to manage a below-average side, it was also to induce a psychological shift among the players and fans that they can challenge for titles, this change in mentality as he described was to transform everyone around him from “Doubters to Believers”.

Klopp’s first playing XI at Liverpool

At this point it was simply a question of Pragmatism over his Footballing Philosophy or the other way around, and with Klopp’s first game in-charge he made sure his message was loud and clear, that there is only one way and that is his way. And even though he drew his first game away to Tottenham 0-0 he introduced his style of high intensity football as they covered more ground than they did before in the whole season.

Klopp’s Footballing Philosophy & Style of Play

I’ll just start with a quote from Ralf Rangnick about the importance of a coherent Footballing philosophy:

What is the job of a Football Head Coach or Manager?…



To have a clear idea of how my team should play, this can be a bit of Pep Guardiola style or the Diego Simeone style, these are all variations where some coaches like more technical players while some prefer more intense, hardworking players. But what they all have in common is that they exactly know how this kind of football that they want to play, how it looks like… they have in their brains the video of the perfect game and the job of a football coach is to transform this idea into the heads, hearts, brains, veins of your players.

For Jurgen Klopp his style of play is in a way a reflection of his own personality as he himself defined as “lively” and “entertaining”.

Having memorable games in a row, that people really wanna see the next game, you leave the stadium and you can’t wait to see the next game and for me that is what football should be. And when you can do this very often you will be successful 100 percent.



- Jurgen Klopp

Style of Play: Orchestra vs The Heavy Metal

This is one of the finest interviews from Jurgen Klopp from when he was in-charge at Borussia Dortmund, where he was asked to draw an analogy between his style of play and Arsene Wenger’s brand of football. This single most iconic line where he contrasts between the two by saying “His style of play is more like an orchestra, passing the ball, organized football… but I like the Heavy Metal more.” 

“Heavy Metal Football” is a term that vividly captures his distinctive style of play, emphasizing intensity, energy, and relentless pressure. The goal is to create as many chances as possible through persistent counter-pressing to get hold of the ball as soon as you lose it.

Gegenpressing & Quick transitions

Gegenpressing is a German term which loosely translates to Counter-Pressing which is an imperative part of Klopp’s philosophy. The idea is to press the opponent in numbers higher up the pitch and win the ball back in advanced areas to quickly create quality chances by catching the opposition off guard. But counter-pressing has been a staple part of the game since a very long time, so what makes Klopp’s Gegenpress so distinctive? The key idea of Klopp’s play style here is to disrupt the opponent build-up, force unnecessary errors from the opponent on the ball by quickly closing down on him in numbers so that he can’t find an outlet and eventually lose the ball.

This quote from Pep Lijnders (Liverpool’s Assistant Coach) really sums it up:

Our idea of pressing is not to force them one way, not to force bad passes our idea of pressing is to steal the ball, to attack and to create chances.

In this short clip below Jurgen Klopp himself articulates why he thinks “Gegenpressing is the best playmaker” and how winning the ball back in advanced positions means creating a good chance is just a matter of one key pass with his approach. 

Transitions are also a key part of Klopp’s philosophy which explains the various trade-off’s that are involved in this high risk, high reward approach. Every time you commit numbers forward trying to suffocate the opposition in their own half you run the risk of getting exposed by open spaces in your own half, so what player profiles fit Klopp’s system to minimize this risk and gain maximum reward? This question brings me to my next point…

Klopp’s Player Profiles

When thinking about the greatest teams of all times who were triumphant over long spells in football, we often picture World-class technical players who have the ability, the natural gift to be prolific consistently, to influence the game with their silky touches and play near-perfect passes with their immaculate vision. When thinking about midfield trios we often think of Xavi-Iniesta-Busquets or Modric-Kroos-Casemiro or even Pirlo-Seedorf-Gattuso(if you’re a boomer) but what if I tell you a midfield of Jordan Henderson, Gini Wijnaldum, Fabinho, James Milner, Alex-Oxalade Chamberlain and Naby Keita is enough to dominate football at its zenith by winning the Champions League and the Premier League, if someone told me this today I wouldn’t believe them either.

  • This might seem odd at first because respectfully none of these players are really creative in the final third but all of them have something in common and that is their work rate, their aggression on the pitch, the intent to close down on opponents to win the ball back and that is exactly what Klopp prefers: Highly athletic and hardworking players over technical players who know how to execute his instructions, players who wear their hearts on their sleeves, players who are persistent pressing machines.
  • This is the reason why Energy and Intensity are the main mantras of a Klopp team and this is what makes them so interesting to watch.

We ran through walls for him… and that was his very least demand, that you work, that you run for him, for the team. And there’s something about that makes you feel at ease as a player… if you give your best the rest kind of takes care of itself.

- Adam Lallana about Klopp

Embracing Chaos over Control

Just like all the other top teams, the goal is to create an ample amount of chances in every game, but unlike other top teams Jurgen Klopp wasn’t very dogmatic with his approach, where others chose to play with control in high profile games Klopp embraced the unpredictability of football to disrupt their natural game plan.

In possession phases and in between transitions the unwavering game plan was to quickly get the ball higher up the pitch as fast as possible, which made them one of the most vertical teams in all of Europe. Even though the idea is pretty single-minded, there are a multitude of ways in which they achieve this: channel balls, through balls, long balls into the box, crosses from wide areas and even balls over the backline, the players were adept at providing service from every part of the field. And when you combine this with prolific forwards you get an everlasting supply of goals.

Developing World Class Fullbacks

Another key ingredient of Liverpool’s success comes from developing their world class fullbacks, where other teams rely on their creative players to play more centrally Klopp uses their fullbacks higher up the pitch as wide playmakers in the form of Trent-Alexander Arnold and Andrew Robertson. This is because the front-three in Klopp’s system is usually very narrow which enables the fullbacks to be brave and work the flanks higher up the pitch. And when these two are at their best, nobody can stop Liverpool from dominating games.

Robertson and Trent pushing forward in possession whereas the front three is narrow

Andy Robertson and TAA at top in the All Time PL Assists List by defenders.

If you look at both of their career trajectories none of them were world class players before, Andy Robertson came from Hull City who were relegated into the Championship the year prior to his signing and Trent was just an academy prospect from Liverpool, but both of them flourished under Klopp and formed the best fullback partnership in the modern era. In fact, Robbo wasn’t even signed as a first choice fullback for Liverpool, he was considered backup for Alberto Moreno who was their regular starter, but after being injured midway through the season, Robertson got his chance and he proved his mettle. From literally nothing he earned his spot in Liverpool’s first team with his work ethic and pressing intensity and in no time he became a menace on the left flank offensively, constantly swinging in crosses for the frontline, but was also smart and athletic enough to contribute defensively. 

This is the reason why I always credit Klopp and his coaching staff on how they adapted their game to get the best out of these players.

Incredible Man Manager

We talked about intensity and work rate as the core principles of Klopp’s philosophy, but these things are so easy to talk about for someone watching from the sidelines, it is when you realize that some of the Liverpool players have to play around 40–50 club games a season as well as tend to their international duties. With fixtures coming in thick and fast every week it is hard to give your best and to maintain the same energy levels in each game. So how does Klopp manage that?

I try everything to be as successful as possible, I live 100% for the boys, with the boys and what we do for the club and all that stuff.

Jurgen Klopp has time and again emphasized on building a healthy culture within the clubs he has managed, for him football is not just about tactics on a board, he has a much more emotional connect with the players, his coaching staff and even the people who work at the club. Forming strong interpersonal relationships with the players and giving them the tactical freedom on the pitch means the players wanted to work hard for him, he made them believe in a cause and wanted everyone to express themselves on the pitch.

Welcome to Anfield, "It’s not over yet"

Anfield has been the home of Liverpool FC for more than a century now and holds a lot of significance for any Scouser, it is way more than a football stadium, it is a cultural landmark in Liverpool and for Liverpool FC fans it is their identity. Anfield has also proven to be one of the most hostile atmospheres for any away team and produced a number of historical matches, players and coaches alike have always found it difficult to produce the same kind of performance at Anfield as the ambience is so “electric”, so “intimidating” it almost feels as if Liverpool have a twelfth player on the pitch and that is their fans.

I remember watching this episode and couldn’t help but think how frightening it looks from the perspective of the away players in and out of the stadium, the sight of 60,000 fans singing to “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and chanting for their team in unison regardless of how they are performing, I guess this is why people always say “At Anfield nothing is impossible”. And for Jurgen Klopp this is all he needed as he said: 

The only reason I’m able to do my job is because the people show so much passion… I know I’m responsible for the performance, but the people are responsible for the atmosphere.

- Jurgen Klopp

An absolute bonkers statistic about the influence of fans can be judged by the fact that since the start of the 2017/18 season, they’ve only lost two (Premier League) games at Anfield in front of fans (Leeds in October 22/23 & Crystal Palace this season)

And without fans, they lost six consecutive league games at Anfield between January and March of 2021 (Burnley, Brighton, City, Everton, Chelsea and Fulham)! This is the biggest proof that fans have had a huge say alongside Klopp in making Anfield an impenetrable fortress.

Unleashing Anfield’s true power

Liverpool’s Champions League run of 2018/19 was one of the most miraculous campaigns I’ve ever witnessed in my time, the whole tournament in fact was marked with memorable moments from start to finish but as the dust settled there is that one match that stands tall and made every Scouser explode with joy, it is that Champions League semi-final night at Anfield against FC Barcelona which was one for the history books.

As a Barca fan myself even thinking about this match evokes traumatic memories (no cap ), whenever someone mentions the phrase “Corner taken quickly!” I’m reminded of that dreadful night at Anfield where Barca lost 4–0 despite having the upper hand in the first leg. I remember sleeping early that day thinking that we have a 3–0 lead and there’s no way we lose this game. And when I woke up I was greeted by the most insane comeback possible (moments like these made me question my loyalty as a Barca fan honestly ).

Barcelona who were firing on all cylinders having the likes of former Liverpool stars Coutinho and Suarez along with an equally star studded roster were looking threatening beyond compare. Though Liverpool were no slouch, it’s just that Barca had the world’s best player as Lionel Messi on their side who was also in red hot form and this matchup was hyped to the moon, and trust me it lived up to it.

I really don’t want to talk about this matchup though because it’s 4:30 A.M. as I’m writing this and I don’t want to cry , but you can watch this video where Pep Lijnders breaks down how they made the impossible possible at Anfield:

Transfer Strategy

One of the most overlooked aspects of Liverpool’s resurgence under Klopp has been their transfer strategy throughout the years, it is when you know the context you understand why people love teams like Liverpool so much. Since his arrival in midway through 15/16 he did not get the liberty to choose his own transfers or have a proper pre-season, the next year was going to be very crucial. But where rival teams like Man City and Man Utd. were splurging money on marquee signings from top European clubs, Liverpool relied on signings from mid-table/relegated teams and even free transfers, but even though these transfers were not met with a lot of hype they were needed to play Klopp’s heavy metal football. And not just that season it was a common theme for the Liverpool management that they weren’t really concerned with signing the best talent, but the emphasis was more on “nurturing talent”.

Sure they also made some high profile signings along the way, but they were better known for taking players from clubs who didn’t rate them very well, players like Andy Robertson, Alex-Oxalade Chamberlain and Mo Salah all of which were rejected at one point in their career were now thriving under Klopp’s main team. And Klopp once again proved that his decision-making is as astute as ever with Liverpool securing a Champions League spot in their second proper season, where a new front three announced themselves and Andy Robertson came to light as a world-class left back.

Building a World Class Front Three

We already talked about how Liverpool’s midfield worked hard throughout the game to regain possession and counter-attack quickly, but with any world-class team you need a lethal frontline to finish your chances as at the end of the day the aim of the game is to put the ball in the back of the net. And Liverpool built just that, with Mane, Salah and Firmino they probably had the most exciting front-three in the world. The fact that these three players took almost no time to adapt to each other’s game is living proof of why some things are just meant to be, having different attributes they complemented each other on their pitch really well and scored a plethora of goals under Klopp.

Bobby Firmino was the first one to arrive at Anfield in 2015 under Brendan Rodgers as an attacking midfielder and was instrumental for Liverpool in their 4–1 victory over Man City in Klopp’s first season, this match highlighted his ability to play upfront instead of Benteke as a false 9 because of his linking ability and since then he’s only gone on to improve his game.

Sadio Mane was the next one to arrive a year later in 2016, he was signed from Southampton as the most expensive African player of his time and even though there were some doubts people knew he would fit right in Klopp’s system. Even though he was signed as a right winger he quickly found his place on the left side of the pitch and in coming years he also played as an inside forward which favors his stronger right foot, this ability to adapt over the years and still produce massive numbers made him an all-round player. His world class performances have also contributed to one of the best fan memes of all time linked below: 

I saved the best for the last, as the next one to arrive in 2017 was Liverpool’s club record signing at that time, it was the Egyptian King Mo Salah and in his opening season he took the whole world by storm. His first season saw him obliterating doubters if there were any, as he scored 44 goals and registered 15 assists across all competitions, won the PL golden boot and broke so many records with every game he played that season that I can’t even write it here, so I’ll just link it down. 

https://www.espn.in/football/story/_/id/37493125/mohamed-salah-record-breaking-first-season-liverpool

His amazing performances enabled Liverpool to reach the CL final where they eventually lost to Real Madrid, but his effort didn’t go unnoticed as he registered himself as one of the best wingers to grace the Premier league.

The most amazing revelation about this front three was from Ralf Rangnick who had this to say:

Let’s just have a close look at the their(Liverpool) three strikers, they have Salah, Firmino and Mane… three of them from three different countries and all three of them… two of them I had myself (Firmino and Mane), I can tell you all three of them including Mo Salah were not natural born ball winners when they came to Liverpool. They were not the kind of players that people think are “Wow! they pressing machines” no.

So all that things that happened at Liverpool was the job of the coach and their staff, they way they played in the last 3–4 years on that high level, this intense kind of football shows you what is possible and what can happen if a coach with a mindset and a clear idea of how his team should play.

Fan Favourite

Being a Liverpool manager, it’s a hard gig isn’t it because you have to be the best manager in the most competitive league possible and then the extra bit in Liverpool is that you have to be a man of the people.

- A Liverpool fan (The Anfield Wrap)

Apart from his managerial ideas Klopp made a name for himself mostly due to his character and personality, everywhere he worked people were in awe of his infectious positivity and his boundless passion for the game. He single-handedly won over every fan and turned the atmosphere from nervy to optimistic with his congenial smile regardless of the game’s outcome which makes me think he actually has the best set of teeth I’ve ever seen .

I’ve been watching football for a decent amount of time now and even though I’ve seen more triumphant teams like Man City & Real Madrid, I know that Liverpool is the most entertaining football team I’ve witnessed without a shadow of a doubt. In victory and defeat alike they’ve been known to have the most riveting players who give 100% for the manager and for the club. After every game at Anfield he was either seen doing fist pumps when they won or clapping the fans for their unconditional support when they lost.

As I mentioned Klopp’s presence does not end on the field or after the match, he was very emotionally invested in the culture of each club and it’s people around the city. This is evident by the fact that he received huge farewells from all the clubs he managed including Mainz, Dortmund and now Liverpool. All of them were very emotional and heartbreaking for the fans which shows that the work he did will never be forgotten. Also on the the 3rd of November 2022 Klopp was officially awarded the Freedom of the City of Liverpool! which is the highest civic honor bestowed by Liverpool’s mayor and this is what he had to say:

I think he means more than a football manager to the city because one of my jobs is to try to attract people to come here and invest and many people who I’ve met in the office next door they wanna talk about Jurgen Klopp. 



I think he epitomizes the best qualities of this place, even though he’s not from here… he’s an honorary scouser by the way. The same values and principles that are very much part of the Liverpudlian identity are also Jurgen Klopp’s bedrock.

Greatest Modern Day Rivalry

Like every other great tale, the protagonist needs a proficient villain(metaphorically) someone who can match you for every blow and pushes you to become the best version of yourself. In football many people like to equate this analogy with Messi and Ronaldo, but in managerial terms this analogy also fits perfectly between Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola who have been fierce rivals for as long as I can remember.

Control vs Chaos

Locked in an intense rivalry since their Bundesliga days, this battle was again rejuvenated as Liverpool and Man City were always the top contenders in the Premier League. What fascinates me the most is how contrasting their footballing ideologies are, on one hand Guardiola prefers to control games through high possession, organized football using technical players and on the other hand Klopp favors a more direct approach with more vertical passes, constant pressure to steal the ball back using highly athletic players. Even though the core idea is to create as many chances as possible, the way they implement it using different player profiles is amazing to watch, regardless of what kind of football you prefer to watch you can’t deny they are definitely the greatest modern day managers to exist.

In terms of H2H record Pep & Klopp have met 30 times in all competitions and Klopp edges past him with 12 wins, 11 defeats and 7 draws in total. Regardless of statistics both of them share a great rapport and praise each other every now and then. In fact, when Klopp announced his retirement Pep told the media that he’ll sleep a bit easier knowing that isn’t there anymore.

The Grand Finale

Running out of Energy?

Fast forward to recent times, the day is 26th of January 2024, after 21 match weeks Liverpool are sitting comfortably at the top of the Premier League with a lead of 5 points and suddenly Liverpool drop an official statement along with a video of Jurgen Klopp saying that he will be leaving the club at the end of the season.

I swear to god I was shook to the core just like every other football fan who just heard this news, why on Earth would an elite manager announce his retirement out of nowhere? In the video however he explains that:

I love absolutely everything about this club, I love everything about the city, I love everything about our supporters, I love the team, I love the staff. I love everything. But that I still take this decision shows you that I am convinced it is the one I have to take.



It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy. I have no problem now, obviously, I knew it already for longer that I will have to announce it at one point, but I am absolutely fine now. I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again.

After listening to what he said in the video it was pretty understandable why he made this decision, you see being a football manager at a top club is certainly of the hardest jobs in the world, considering the amount of press conferences, team meetings, training sessions, personal interviews you have to attend is no joke. Klopp is the kind of manager who wants to give his 100% every single day and if he can’t do it anymore then he certainly doesn’t want to feel like a passenger or prove to be a hindrance to Liverpool’s journey ahead.

The quadruple dream

Since the day he announced his retirement people especially Liverpool fans were very emotional, for some players he was like a father figure for the club, but if the decision has been made that means players would want to give their all in his final season and what better way to send off your manager with a quadruple in his last season.

  • First up was the Carabao Cup, most of the heavyweights were knocked out early leaving only Chelsea in the Cup final in February. Even though Chelsea having were having a rough season where they found it hard to be consistent, they were still the favorites to win because of Liverpool’s injury crisis where half of their first team players were unavailable and young players had to fill in. What happened in this match was nothing short of a spectacle as the game was locked into a stalemate in normal time and was heading into extra time. 
  • Right before the 90 minute mark Klopp took an audacious decision and took out 4 first team players and subbed on 3 players right from the academy to inject some energy into the game. I remember watching this and thinking there’s no way they win now, but the young lads held on to the game and Klopp’s faith in this youngsters was rewarded as an 118th minute header from their captain Virgil van Dijk was enough to seal the deal. The narrative was insane as Gary Neville described “Liverpool’s kids beat the blue billion pound bottle jobs” as eight academy graduates walked out with a winner’s medal that night.

Falling short in the end

With the Carabao Cup in hand the quadruple dream was looking feasible with each day passing, until Liverpool hit a block which shattered their dreams altogether. In close succession they lost the FA Cup quarter final to Man Utd. (should’ve won this one) despite being the better team then went on to lose against Atalanta in Europa league and if that wasn’t enough lost two league games Crystal Palace and most notably their local rivals Everton. After the loss to Everton away from home fans knew that the PL title has slipped from their grasp and Everton fans put salt to their wounds by taunting them with “You lost the league, at Goodison Park”.

As I said in the beginning I don’t really believe in fairytales or happy endings, but I really wanted Liverpool to win some silverware in Klopp’s final season which they did in the form of a Carabao Cup. In the end though, it wouldn’t matter if he won something or not as he has given priceless memories for fans to cherish about and at the end of the day football is much more about winning and losing it is about the difference one man made, the impact he had on people all around the world including me, the narrative he set that “Believe and you will achieve”.

I didn’t make them believe. I reminded them that it helps when you believe. That’s what I think. Everybody was ready to push the train and that’s what we did for eight-and-a-half years.

Final Words

I feel like I must stop here, honestly I have so much more to say, so many more iconic moments to talk about that I can keep writing for hours. I’ve already spent weeks working on this blog and I really hope you enjoyed reading this piece because editing this whole damn thing was an utter nightmare. If you managed to read till the end, I don’t know how to express my gratitude just know that you’re a real one and I hope you have a great day ahead . Ending this blog with one final thing to say:

Danke Jürgen, Danke schön (I hope I wrote that right) and whatever happens You’ll Never Walk Alone.

References & Additional Content