Advertisement

3 things spotted from Jurgen Klopp's first training session since Liverpool exit including reunion

Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund legend Jurgen Klopp attends a training session prior to the farewell match for Lukasz Piszczek and Jakub Blaszczykowski.
-Credit: (Image: Photo by Hendrik Deckers/Borussia Dortmund via Getty Images)


Liverpool legend Jurgen Klopp has been pictured in a Borussia Dortmund training session ahead of the German side's farewell match for club favorites Lukasz Piszczek and Jakub Blaszczykowski. The ex-Reds boss is set to return to the touchline for the game on Sunday.

Piszczek and Blaszczykowski were two of the most iconic players at Dortmund during Klopp's storied tenure in which they won the Bundesliga title twice. Only Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen have won the German league since Klopp departed in 2015, doing so impressively last year.

Klopp racked up an impressive 180 wins out of 319 games with Dortmund, clinching two Bundesliga titles and the German Cup. He came tantalizingly close to securing Champions League glory in 2013 losing to Bayern Munich in the final at Wembley.

READ MORE: Rio Ngumoha's early glimpse of Liverpool potential immediately grabs attention
READ MORE: Supercomputer predicts Liverpool's Champions League outcome with huge knockout tie vs Arsenal

Here's what Liverpool.com spotted as Klopp was back at Dortmund. He looked in a great mood ahead of Sunday's double testimonial.

Jurgen Klopp and Nuri Sahin catch up

Nuri Sahin, once a Liverpool midfielder under Brendan Rodgers, never made much of an impact at Anfield, where he was often deployed out of position. But at Dortmund, where he is now the head coach, the German-Turk is very well thought of.

Still only 36, Sahin has retired from playing and become an impressive young coach, where he is following in Klopp's footsteps. It will be fascinating to see how he gets on — and perhaps one day he could make a return to Anfield in a different capacity.

Peter Krawietz back in Dortmund too

It was not only Klopp who was back involved with Dortmund, with his trusted assistant Peter Krawietz also taking part in the training session. They will presumably both be on the coaching team for Sunday.

The pair have worked brilliantly alongside one another for some time and one of Klopp's best attributes was his ability to delegate tasks and ensure he wasn't taking on too much himself. Krawietz, alongside the likes of Pep Lijnders, was crucial to that.

Jurgen Klopp and Peter Krawietz were both back at Borussia Dortmund.
Jurgen Klopp and Peter Krawietz were both back at Borussia Dortmund. -Credit:Photo by Hendrik Deckers/Borussia Dortmund via Getty Images

German in relaxed mood

Klopp has had plenty of time to relax since leaving Liverpool and he looks great for the holidays that he has had. The German barely had a second to breathe when he was in charge of the Reds but looks rejuvenated — and certainly not like he is ready to make a return to coaching full-time yet.

The former Liverpool boss has not retired but has always maintained that he will only come back and work again after a full year off. That means there are plenty more events like the testimonial on Sunday that he can be involved in — and there is plenty more padel to be played!