Jurgen Klopp - The end of an era

In October 2015, Jurgen Klopp inherited a Liverpool squad in disarray, sitting mid table in the Premier League. Liverpool had sold Luis Suarez to Barcelona the previous year and looked a shell of the team they were without their Uruguayan talisman. Individuals such as Martin Skrtel, Simon Mignolet and Joe Allen were regular starters when Klopp joined, decent players on their day, but not title-winning quality.

Within two years, Klopp had built a Liverpool team that were able to compete at the highest level again. They had one of the most lethal attacks in the league with Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, attacking fullbacks in Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold and hardworking midfielders, such as Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum. It was this team that managed to reach the Champions League final in 2016, where Liverpool lost 3-1 to Real Madrid.

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Also in that team was Virgil van Dijk, who Liverpool signed for £75 million from Southampton after struggling defensively the previous season. Similarly, after the Champions League final (which they lost due to goalkeeping errors) Klopp signed Brazilian goalkeeper, Alisson from Roma for £67 million. 

This was one of Klopp's greatest attributes, identifying areas that need strengthening and bringing in quality where needed. His quality over quantity transfer policy helped take the club from mid-table to title contenders and significantly helped them in Europe. 

In the 2018/19 season, Klopp's Liverpool side were relentless, 'mentality monsters', who never knew when they were beat. They famously achieved one of the greatest comebacks of all time against Barcelona overturning a 3-0 loss at the Camp Nou, to win 4-3 on aggregate. They then went on to beat Spurs in the final, as Klopp won his first of many trophies for the club, in the form of the Champions League. To add to this, Liverpool were desperately unlucky in the league that season, only losing one game all season but narrowly falling a point short of Manchester City.

After European glory, the league was the main focus for Liverpool supporters, who had been starved of domestic success for 30 years. In 2020, Jurgen Klopp ended that wait, as The Reds won the league by an impressive 18 points ahead of second place, City.

By 2022, Klopp 'completed' English football, winning the FA Cup and EFL Cup, both in penalty shootouts against Chelsea. He also reached his third Champions League Final with the club, agonisingly losing 1-0 to Real Madrid, in a game that his side dominated.

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Not only was Klopp successful in bringing silverware back to Anfield, but he also gave Liverpool an identity that they hadn't had since the Rafael Benitez era. With a high pressing style off the ball and an attacking system built around the genius of Mo Salah, Klopp built a Liverpool team that was entertaining, efficient and ruthless.

But what perhaps Liverpool fans will miss the most about their manager is his passion. Whether it's kicking every ball from the touchline, arguing with the fourth official or running on the pitch celebrating, no one in the stadium cares more than Jurgen Klopp. Which begs the question, will there ever be a Premier League manager to have a bigger connection with the supporters?

As Liverpool fans mourn the man they have worshipped for almost a decade, they must not forget that there is a long way to until the end of the season. With the club still very much chasing the Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup and EFL cup, it's now down to everyone at Liverpool Football Club to give Jurgen Klopp the send off he richly deserves.

Ally Gordon