Liverpool should watch closely as Jurgen Klopp sends fresh message to old club's new head coach

After Jurgen Klopp had high praise for recently appointed Borussia Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin, calling him a "super" coach in the making, Liverpool should be watching closely. The former Reds man and Dortmund stalwart with, two stints at the Bundesliga club, has now stepped up as its new head coach after Edin Terzic left.

Ex-Dortmund gaffer Klopp is nothing short of optimistic about Sahin's managerial future, having expressed his excitement over the 35-year-old's capacity to transform into a top-notch coach. "At 35, Nuri is a very young coach, but so was I," Klopp remarked while speaking to Bild. "I definitely believe that after his outstanding career as a player, he will also become a super coach. Of course, I wish him the greatest success at BVB."

In stepping into the position formerly held by Terzic, Sahin takes charge after Dortmund secured a fifth-place finish and a Champions League final appearance, where it was edged out by Real Madrid. And while Klopp's conviction in Sahin's abilities is undoubtedly influenced by the memorable partnership they shared during their successful spell at Dortmund, they are not misplaced.

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With Sahin amassing 274 appearances for Dortmund, he rejoined them as an assistant in January. Previously he had thrived as a player under Klopp, snagging both the Bundesliga title and Player of the Season accolades in the 2010/2011 campaign, though his time at Anfield was not as effective as he struggled to make an impact.

Post-Borussia Dortmund days saw Sahin taking a leap to Real Madrid, with Klopp's blessing and the promise of a lifelong friendship. When his Spanish chapter faltered, Sahin found solace in a return to Dortmund, courtesy of Klopp's unwavering support. While he didn't really get the chance to show it at Anfield, Sahin was an intelligent and clever midfielder - the exact kind of footballer who you might expect could become a top-class coach.

In a May 2021 interview with Goal, Sahin sung Klopp's praises, particularly for the Liverpool manager's heartening blend of human touch with tactical acumen, and it has become clear since that his principles have been influenced by the German. "There is no doubt about his coaching - he is very good," said Sahin, adding: "But what I love most about him is that he's human. He touches you on a human level... This is what I loved about him and what I learned about him."

Having hung up his boots, Sahin swiftly moved into management with Antalyaspor back in 2021, impressively staving off relegation to lead them to a respectable seventh-place finish. His exploits in management earned him a spot back at Dortmund as an assistant and, upon Terzic's exit, Sahin has now ascended to the helm as head coach.

It will be fascinating to see how well Sahin does at Dortmund. If he does well, there is no doubt that Liverpool will take notice. The Reds won't want to be looking for another new head coach for a long time, but if Sahin impresses as Klopp's former side, as the German seems to think he might, he could easily become an option for the future.