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11 things we鈥檝e learned about Jurgen Klopp

Under manager Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool Football Club beat a plethora of top European teams to win the Champions League in 2019. And the charismatic German has led his team to so many victories in the Premier League, their lead at the top of the table is the biggest in history. He’s been hailed a football revolutionary, and the fans love him. But how did the boy from the Black Forest become the manager he is today?

Jurgen Klopp, manager of Liverpool Football Club.

1. He grew up in the Black Forest

Born in 1967, Klopp grew up in the Schwarzwald (or the Black Forest) in South West Germany with his two older sisters, mum and travelling salesman dad.

Originally, Klopp hoped to become a doctor but he didn鈥檛 make the grade.

“He spent a sort of classic German, post-war, very happy childhood that centred around friends and just doing stuff outdoors,” says Raphael Honigstein, who wrote a book about the Liverpool manager.

As the youngest of the three siblings, he was also indulged quite a bit.

Klopp himself admits he had no clue about housework and only knew where the kitchen was because of the smell! “They treat me like the prince, that’s the truth,” says the manager.

2. His father instilled a sporting work ethic in him

His father had once dreamt of being a professional footballer but didn’t make it. But he had the same dream for his son and worked him hard.

“He would really drive him forward by almost subjecting him to this brutal sporting regime,” says Honigstein. Klopp was made to play tennis as well as football, and to ski from a young age. His father would even beat him 6-0, 6-0 in tennis hoping for him to eventually improve and hit the ball back. “He was just demanding his son be perfect,” says the writer.

3. He turned to football when he didn鈥檛 make the grades to become a doctor

Originally, Klopp hoped to become a doctor but he didn’t make the grade. So, in 1990 he left home to pursue his other dream and began his career at Mainz 05 football club.

Former teammate Guido Shafer recalls how Klopp was different to the average player.

He was 20 years old when he arrived in Mainz – just married, with children – and he didn’t pursue the classic lifestyle of a football pro.

Whereas his teammates would “have many girls” and go out partying, says Shafer, Jurgen was the opposite: “After the training programme he’d go to his car and drive to his family.”

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Jurgen Klopp grew up in the Schwarzwald (or the Black Forest), near Freudenstadt, Germany.

4. He was a professional footballer 鈥� but not a very good one

On the pitch, Klopp had a good header and he could run like the wind, but that was about it says Shafer.

He was very fast, but better without the ball.
Guido Shafer, Jurgen Klopp's former teammate at Mainz 05 football club.

“To be honest, he had no talents,” says his former teammate. “He wasn’t very skillful; he wasn’t a great dribbler.” He was very fast, says Guido, but “better without the ball.”

Shafer once asked him what a manager would say to the player Jurgen Klopp and he replied, laughing, “Please choose another sport.”

5. He is a Christian

In 2019, one fan had just emigrated to New Zealand and saved up thousands of pounds to go to the Champions League final in Spain when he received some devastating news. He was diagnosed with an incurable illness and he just had just weeks to live.

Klopp recorded a personal message for the fan and ended by saying, “I wish you from the bottom of my heart all the best and I’m Christian, so see you.”

6. He was loved by his teammates but 鈥渁 beast鈥� on the pitch

Klopp was popular with the other players but, somewhat like a Jekyll and Hyde, he would change before their eyes when he got on the pitch.

“The beast woke up in this handsome, intelligent, lovely boy,” says Shafer. “He raised his voice against the referees, against opponents, and against the teammates… During the match he was crazy.”

However, although it was hard to play with him, Shafer admits “he was a real leader.”

7. He went from playing for Mainz to managing them

Klopp and his teammates didn’t earn much money, and the young defender had a family to support. So, when he was offered a chance to manage the team rather than play for them, he grabbed it with both hands – much to everyone’s surprise.

When he was unveiled as the new manager some journalists thought it was a prank, says Honigstein. But the joke was soon on them. “We laughed yes,” says Shafer, but he won the first game, drew the second and was victorious in the third. Jurgen the coach was born.

8. His side-line theatrics have always drawn a crowd

From the off, Klopp was a showman and he drew a crowd. “A lot of fans initially turned up just to see him do his stuff on the side-line,” says Honigstein. “It was so entertaining… You had this former player just going crazy, jumping up and down.”

9. He got Mainz promoted to the Bundesliga

Klopp’s theatrics got results. He got Mainz 05 promoted to the Bundesliga – the top league in Germany.

Shafer describes how there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. “We cried and it was the best day in the history for Mainz 05, and it was because of Jurgen Klopp. He made it. He’s a hardworking genius.”

He recalls how the club partied from Saturday until the following Thursday. “Since this day, the whole country loves Mainz 05 and also Jurgen Klopp.”

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Skyline of the city of Liverpool.

10. He took Borussia Dortmund from the bottom to the top

In 2008, after 17 years with Mainz, Klopp moved on to manage Borussia Dortmund and within a few years they went from the bottom of the league, to winning it. Klopp had done it again.

From the off, Klopp was a showman and he drew a crowd. A lot of Mainz 05 fans initially turned up just to see him do his stuff on the side-line.

11. In their first game under Klopp, the Liverpool team were working harder than ever before

In 2015, Klopp and his family moved to Liverpool. Expectations were high, but Klopp quickly instilled an intensity of play into the team.

Mike Hughes, 大象传媒 Radio Merseyside’s football commentator, was at that first game. “Every one of them I think, without exception, bettered their running stats on that day,” says the journalist.

“The Liverpool players work harder than any other football team I’ve ever seen, and that’s because of the demands and the requirements of Jurgen Klopp.”

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