Jürgen Klopp shares most emotional reflection yet on what Liverpool means to him
Jürgen Klopp has opened up on what Liverpool means to him as he prepares to bid farewell to Anfield this summer.
The German will bring an end to nearly nine years at the club at the end of the current season. Klopp has just two more games in charge — at Aston Villa next Monday, and at home to Wolves on May 19.
That final Anfield outing is certain to be an emotional occasion for all involved, with the club that Klopp helped return to the pinnacle of world football getting one final chance to serenade him as manager.
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Ahead of his farewell, Klopp has been reflecting on his time at Liverpool in an interview with Kelly Cates for the club. The 56-year-old summed up what it means to be manager of the Reds, and why it is unique to any other side.
“When you win one time with Liverpool, it is worth as much as five with another club,” he said on a bonus episode of Expedia's 'Finding Liverpool'.
“Experience a good moment is really good, experience a good moment with a lot of people together it is a completely different level and the same with the bad moments. So that is really special.”
Klopp arrived back in 2015 having left Borussia Dortmund, citing the need for a sabbatical after seven years in charge. The opportunity to manage the Reds though proved too good to turn down as he cut his break short.
“Looking at that in 2015, it feels like I have been here for 25 years,” he said. “It was just positive, I was really looking forward to it. I was super excited about the opportunity.
“We wanted to go to a different country, we wanted to move to England. And obviously we didn’t regret it for a second. I could have grown up here. I’m not a city person, I grew up in the countryside.
“I knew I will love being here. We felt at home here. We felt blessed.”
Having taken over from Brendan Rodgers and with the side struggling to break out of a mid-table existence, Klopp was tasked with restoring the Reds to its former glories. He did just that, winning the Champions League and a first league title in 30 years, as well as restoring Liverpool as a force in European football.
Now, having delivered on his promise to turn fans back into believers, Klopp is preparing to wave goodbye, with the club’s message ringing in his ears.
“We gave Liverpool the best time of our life and the other way around as well. That’s the best thing that I take from here, that I’m obviously allowed to think that I will never walk alone ever again in my life.”
Liverpool.com says: We really aren’t ready to say goodbye yet. Klopp has turned Liverpool’s fortunes around during his time at the club, and he has meant so much more to the city than just football. Every story has an ending though, and this one is certain to be an emotional one.
Expedia and Liverpool FC present a special journey with Jürgen Klopp. Watch all 'Finding Liverpool' episodes on Expedia Live. expedia.co.uk/sports/liverpoolfc