Jurgen Klopp leaves an incredible legacy and his 'seismic' departure has left even his rivals devastated
As Jurgen Klopp bids farewell to Liverpool, football will lose one of the great managers of all time.
In his nine seasons at the club, klopp He has won eight trophies, but his enthusiasm and skill have brought so much more to the fans and the city.
Although few could have predicted how extraordinary he would become when he arrived from Borussia Dortmund all those years ago, no one will forget him now.
A nine year journey
When Klopp took the reins in October 2015, in his first game in charge he achieved a goalless draw against Tottenham, an indifferent result that overshadowed the revolution he was about to embark on.
Since his first season at the helm, Liverpool not having finished lower than fifth place in the first division.
The team that would win the Champions League just four seasons after Klopp joined, he had absolutely no players in common with the team he started his first game in charge.
Read more on Jürgen Klopp
He starting eleven he chose To face Spurs in their first match were: Simon Mignolet, Nathaniel Clyne, Alberto Moreno, Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho, Adam Lallana, Lucas Leiva, Emre Can, Philippe Coutinho, James Milner and Divock Origi.
The German then moved from the 4-2-3-1 system of his first season to a 4-3-3 formation that better facilitated fantastic new signings such as Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
His eventual front three from Mane, Roberto Firmino and Salah would become a formidable prospect as the trio currently have a combined total of over 400 goals for Liverpool.
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And it wasn't just in attack where Klopp made a big improvement.
Liverpool conceded 50 goals in their first season, only the eighth best figure in the league.
Incorporate players like the left back Andy Robertson in 2017 and central Virgil Van Dijk in 2018, in addition to elevating the right back Trent Alexander-Arnold Through the ranks and into the first team in 2016, it meant Liverpool's defensive record improved rapidly under Klopp.
They conceded 42 goals in his second season in charge, before reducing them to 38 and 22 in the following seasons.
In their title-winning campaign, they conceded 33 goals, the lowest of any team.
Klopp's kings of Europe
When Liverpool won the Champions League in 2019, it was hard to believe that just a year earlier it had been that same team that had suffered such a heartbreaking defeat. Final defeat 3-1 to Real Madrid.
The 2018 defeat hit the team hard, but afterwards, there were no tears in Klopp's eyes.
Instead, it was a video of Klopp singing: “We swear we'll stay great, we'll bring it back to Liverpool!” which best summed up the coach's response to his defeat.
Klopp said at the time: “I know I will be there again. “I'll try to get through to the next final again and then we'll turn around.”
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And they did it.
Liverpool's European triumph was the culmination of a remarkable campaign in which they narrowly edged out of their group.
The highlight was the semi-final against Barcelona: the Spanish team won 3-0 in the first leg, but the two goals from Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum saw the Reds complete one of the greatest comebacks in history.
Their 2-0 final victory over Tottenham was clear demonstration that Klopp's genius simply could not be suppressed.
30 years later: Klopp's Premier League victory
There was a lot of talk about Klopp Premier League Victory 2020 with Liverpool that may have seemed a bit disappointing.
Chelsea's 2-1 victory over Manchester City was ultimately the result that sealed victory for them or for the club, who asked fans to stay home and watch the trophy being lifted from home while the pandemic restrictions of COVID continued to limit the world.
But what was not disappointing was Liverpool's play.
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They got 99 points in their 38 games; Only Man City have scored more points in a single season, when they amassed 100 points in 2017/18.
Liverpool's glory was inevitable, finishing the season 18 points ahead of Man City, setting a record that saw them go 44 games unbeaten in the season.
At the helm was Klopp, the man who finally ended the club's wait for the Premier League, bringing down the curtain on 30 years of pain and longing.
“A great loss”
Klopp has earned the respect and admiration of many big names in football and his departure announcement sparked great excitement.
His rival on the field, but his friend outside, the Manchester City coach pep guardiola was among those who paid tribute to Klopp's legacy when his departure was announced.
He told ITV: “I was shocked by the news and felt like a part of Manchester City would lose something. “We can't define our period here without him and Liverpool, it's impossible.”
And talkSPORT's own people have also joined the ranks of those who praise the work that Klopp has done for the club.
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Simon Jordan reflected on how monumental this loss would be for the club.
He said: “This is as seismic as Shankly leaving, Paisley leaving and the managerial changes. Because the dressing room culture really has been inherently built around Jurgen Klopp now and his ability to engage with fans and build a team. “. that he plays in a unique way. “It's a big loss for the Premier League.”
And the Liverpool legend turned expert Graeme Souness He also showed his respect to the coach who leaves the club with such fond memories.
He said: “When I look at Jurgen Klopp, he fits perfectly at Liverpool, because he is in this, in that, he is aggressive, very emotional, confrontational – he is everything Liverpool fans love.
Even Klopp's sworn enemies can't help but praise him.
Former boxer and lifelong Everton fan Tony Bellew He has grudgingly expressed his respect for the German on more than one occasion.
He he told talkSPORT in 2019: “You have to be happy mate, you can't hate someone like Liverpool because you look at what they are doing.”
He added: “I would love to hate (Klopp), but you can't even hate him because every time you look at him, he makes you smile.”
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