Jürgen Klopp

[Alex]

Hes still on 5 Live over here.

[labourRed]

He sounds like an old school commentator, I could listen to them all day

Yup, five live rights of passage.

He's also a Liverpool fan. From Northern Ireland.

[Gingawaria]

1 year ago today we started to get a little bit excited!

[frank the tank]

What a brilliant appointment. It is a bit like the Rafa experience 12 years ago - the difference being that Klopp is now in a much more competitive environment....

What Klopp has managed to do in the summer transfer window is brilliant.

And although we don't have the best players in the league - either squad or first 11 - it will be very interesting to see how far the team spirit and workrate that Klopp has instilled in the team can take us.

[Charly]

Yup, five live rights of passage.

He's also a Liverpool fan. From Northern Ireland.

Yes... him and Stuart Hall... I wonder what happened to him?

[Yozza]

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/718104/Liverpool-Jurgen-Klopp-Premier-League-Dejan-Lovren-Pepijn-Lijnders-Ian-Ayre-News

I'd post the text but my ****ty first gen iPad won't allow me!

[Bender]

Yes... him and Stuart Hall... I wonder what happened to him?

Your joking aren't you?

[Yozza]

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp Uncovered: What impact has the German made at Anfield?

IT IS 12 months on Saturday since Jurgen Klopp arrived at Liverpool and began the task of leading the club forward. A bright start to the season has dared fans to dream of the title. Express Sport looks at the past year from differing perspectives...

The coach: Pepijn Lijnders

I was not nervous when he arrived because he stands for modern, total football. I just looked forward to working with him.

That first week was full of emotion – a hard week. There is a famous saying: “Be quick but don’t hurry.” That’s exactly how he is constructing our ‘specifc way of play’.

We want to become a team in which everyone is a front player and everyone is a defender. Basically, everyone is responsible for everything. With a club like Liverpool you need to delegate and create trust.

That’s why better people make a better team. He ignores what is beyond his control and by influencing and developing his staff he indirectly influences all the players.

The force of character is cumulative. In the moments we need leadership, Jurgen gives direction. An example of this was Villarreal away (in the Europa League semi-final, fi rst leg) and losing in the last minute.

The players and staff were really down and surprised. The moment Jurgen came back in the dressing room he changed everything in five minutes. We could leave the stadium knowing we were going to attack them at Anfield like they had never been attacked before.

Sometimes to influence the next game the first five minutes directly after the match are more important than the fi ve days leading into this next game. [Liverpool won the return 3-0].

The Executive CEO Ian Ayre

The external view may focus on Jurgen’s energy and emotion but the reality is he is an extremely dedicated guy who values the input from other people.

So someone like assistant manager Zeljko Buvac will have a profound effect on what we are doing and – whether it is me, the owners, the other coaching staff, the scouts or the commercial department – Jurgen is a real listener.

It’s not true to say we invested everything in him. He is extremely collaborative. He is prepared to have the debate. He will say his piece and stand his ground, and so he should, but he is a grown-up and he is prepared to accept that not everything will be as he wants.

When you come to a football club from another country and another league, it is very difficult to be accepted. To get so many people behind him so quickly is great testament to the person he is.

Whatever happens on the football pitch in the future only time will tell, but I don’t think you could pick a better character to fit this club. Seeing that unfold has certainly given me satisfaction.

It is a massive challenge and won’t be without its ups and downs but in terms of did we get the right man for the job? There is absolutely no question. That stands out a mile.


The Player: Dejan Lovren

He is a perfectionist and so everyone wants to be like him.

You want to give perfection during training and give 100 per cent on the pitch. It is great to see how intense he is on the touchline.

He is really emotional and shows that in every part of the game. There are a lot of things that I have learnt from him but he is not just a good manager, he is a good man.

I will never forget he gave me a couple of days off when I had a problem with my daughter and she was ill and in hospital. She needed an operation.

It was at the time of the Augsburg game away in February and he said to me, ‘Go to Croatia. Be with your daughter’. These things are big for a player. He showed his personality then.

The Ex-Manager: Gerard Houllier

It is not easy for a foreign coach coming into a new country. It is a different type of football and a different culture, but the Premier League is exciting as well because there is a culture of effort among the players.

Jurgen has brought a new impetus to the whole club.

I like his attacking philosophy and I like the way his team stays in the opposition half to try and win the ball. It is a very demanding type of football but it is spectacular and entertaining.

And I like the way he shows protection and affection to his players. Maybe he needs another year to win – we rebuilt in 1999 and had success in 2001.

But he will win trophies for Liverpool. He will get there. I have no doubt. He is a true competitor and that transfers to players.

The Supporter: Andy Heaton from The Anfield Wrap fans’ podcast and website

It’s easy to get carried away by Jurgen Klopp, his personality, presence and clever turn of phrase is a perfect fit for a fan base that needs a messianic figure to identify with and get behind.

Despite last season’s campaign ending on a whimper, what marked the close season was not the naval gazing that has too often accompanied the summer months over the past decade but a real sense of anticipation for what the new season would bring.

The fog of inertia and lack of firm direction has surrounded the club for over a decade.

This has dissipated and while the journey to restore Liverpool to its former glory is a long one, it feels like we can finally see the path.

Fight, grit, determination, aggression, a commitment to attack and a distinct lack of bull**** has bridged a discernible gap between the pitch and the stands.

The atmosphere at Anfield now is at as high a watermark as the madness of 2005. From doubters to believers? You bet.

[cream]

Best manager in the league bar none.

[Bender]

Best manager in the league bar none.

Best?Let's win something trophies and titles first.

[Yozza]

Best?Let's win something trophies and titles first.

As much as I love Kloppo

[Vermilion]

There's only one other manager that can stand as being a rival for best manager in the league, and i'm not talking past glories either, they mean nothing on the pitch in the present day, as we well know.

For me Klopp and Guardiola are the two stand outs, in the way their teams play, how they handle their players, the media, everything, but how much their teams usually cost is in Klopps favour imo, the football his teams play for the money they cost in comparison to Peps.

Sure Jose has won lots, but his recent form doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

Out of two i name as being the best, Obviously Klopp wins it with his personality.

[Doc_Piptorious]

There's only one other manager that can stand as being a rival for best manager in the league, and i'm not talking past glories either, they mean nothing on the pitch in the present day, as we well know.

For me Klopp and Guardiola are the two stand outs, in the way their teams play, how they handle their players, the media, everything, but how much their teams usually cost is in Klopps favour imo, the football his teams play for the money they cost in comparison to Peps.

Sure Jose has won lots, but his recent form doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

Out of two i name as being the best, Obviously Klopp wins it with his personality.

Much as I cannot stand the whinging toerag, his recent form in terms of winning silverware does stand up to scrutiny.

The last time he managed a team to winning a league title was in 2015 and his team won a domestic cup that year.

The last time Jurgen lead a team to a title was in 2012, a year in which Mourinho also lead his team to a league title. Jurgen also won a domestic cup in 2012 and all his teams have won since then is the German version of the Charity shield. He has led teams to major finals in the time since then but not won any of them.......yet.

Jurgen's recent form also has his team slumping badly (final season with Dortmund) and Mourinho's has this too (final season with Chelsea).


Right now Jurgen looks the better bet to me ( and I hope that Mourinho has finally become nothing more that a toxic element to any club he is at), but in terms of track records (both recent and overall) Mourinho's cannot be dismissed all that easily as he always ends up at clubs with the resources to bankroll potentially "easier" ways out of slumps and when he is not in paranoid mode he is a very effective manager.


Of course come the end of this season we may well be able to point to a more clear cut decision in favour of Jurgen, and I hope to Odin that we are because I genuinely feel that he is the man to bring number 19th to Anfield during his reign, but right now the whinger's track record, even over recent seasons, does stand up to scrutiny.

[Vermilion]

Feels like decades ago since Jose was any good.

Must be enjoying it too much.

Was Madrid too, and it wasn't all great considering the resources.

Anyway, i stand by my main point, that right now, Klopp and Pepe are the better managers in the Premiership.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Feels like decades ago since Jose was any good.

Must be enjoying it too much.

Was Madrid too, and it wasn't all great considering the resources.

Anyway, i stand by my main point, that right now, Klopp and Pepe are the better managers in the Premiership.

And I wholeheartedly hope that you get proven right


Well in relation to Jurgen anyway