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Jurgen Klopp pays tribute to ‘Liverpool and coaching legend’ Gerard Houllier: ‘He will never be forgotten here’

 (AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has paid touching tribute to “true Liverpool and coaching legend” Gerard Houllier, insisting he will “never be forgotten” at Anfield.

News of former Reds boss Houllier’s passing at the age of 73 was confirmed earlier on Monday.

The Frenchman’s death has led to an outpouring of grief and memorable tributes from across the world of football and particularly at Liverpool, whom he guided to five major trophies - including a memorable treble in 2000-01 - in a six-year, 307-match stint in charge on Merseyside between 1998-2004.

Liverpool said they were “deeply saddened” by Houllier’s passing, while a host of former players including Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, Jamie Carragher and Robbie Fowler have also paid their respects, along with former co-manager Roy Evans and Houllier’s former assistant manager Phil Thompson.

Now current Liverpool manager Klopp has also paid tribute to the late Houllier on behalf of the squad, hailing his influence and character.

"It is really, really, really a sad day,” Klopp told Liverpool’s official website. “I didn’t know Gerard too well – I met him a couple of times, but in those few moments he created a relationship with me which was really special.

“He is a true Liverpool legend and he is a true coaching legend. He was really influential in the game. A great coach, but a human being who gave you a really warm feeling when you were around him. For all of us it is a big loss and a really sad day.”

Houllier also coached the likes of Lyon, Paris Saint-Germain, Lens, Aston Villa and the French national team during a lengthy managerial career, while more recently he had been working for the Red Bull group as their head of global football and also as technical director at women’s football clubs Olympique Lyonnais Feminin and the USA’s OL Reign.

He will be fondly remembered at Liverpool for his own trophy success following a down period in the club’s illustrious history and also helping to rebuild and lay the foundations for future triumphs, including the remarkable 2005 Champions League win in Istanbul.

Klopp revealed that one of the first messages he received after being appointed as Brendan Rodgers’ successor in 2015 was from Houllier, whom remained supportive and full of advice.

"The way he described it, Liverpool was his club, his real club where he probably felt still connected more than any other clubs," Klopp added.

“He was a really, really, really nice and gentle person. I miss him now already. Maybe the only good thing you can say in the moment is he will never be forgotten here.”

Discussing how fans will remember Houllier at Liverpool, Klopp said: "Of course, they will remember [the trophies] – but I hope they will remember him as well as a man who gave his all for this club and changed the fortune of the club in difficult times.

“I am not sure, I was not here, but he brought this club back on its legs. He started in kind of maybe a strange situation as one of two managers, but made the best of it – that was his character, obviously – and then became very, very influential.

“I think, if you want to remember him, you have so many things you can remember – and that’s probably the best thing you can say about a person.”