Klopp to Liverpool: Germany reacts
This week has been the week of Jürgen Klopp. Not just on Merseyside, and not just in the British newspapers. In Germany, too, the football world has gone bananas over Klopp's impending arrival in the Liverpool dugout.
'The last German to make this many headlines in England was the Pope', commented Die Zeit this week. But Klopp's countrymen are just as excited by his new position as the British are.
Bild sent a reporter to Liverpool to keep track of all the latest developments this week, while Der Tagesspiegel ran a live blog keeping their readers up to date on Thursday.
The romantic image of Liverpool has made Klopp the more than suitable candidate in the eyes of most Germans. Die Zeit went on to write that the German manager was tailor made for the Anfield job.
'Liverpool are in a similar situation to the one Borussia Dortmund were in when Klopp took over in 2008,' the weekly newspaper remarked, adding 'the British have loved Klopp since his Dortmund side played unpretentious, British football in their Champions League run in 2013'.
Speaking to German Sky on Thursday, Augsburg coach Markus Weinzierl echoed the same sentiment: "He's an emotional guy who fits the club and the stadium perfectly," said Weinzierl.
"I think he'll be just as successful in the Premier League as he was with Dortmund."
Dortmund's Mats Hummels also voiced support for his former boss, saying that Klopp will succeed at Liverpool because he 'eats, lives and breathes football'.
Liverpool have a relatively strong following in Germany which dates back to their European Cup clashes with Borussia Monchengladbach in the 1970s. Several German clubs, including Borussia Dortmund, now play 'You'll Never Walk Alone' before home fixtures.
The official Liverpool fan club in Germany is 'German Reds', who boast around 300 members. Fan club chairman Ralf Lehmann told the Mail that he, like most Liverpool fans, was delighted that the club had hired Klopp, and that he too was optimistic about the future.
"The main thing is that he's going to bring the passion back to Liverpool," said Lehmann.
"Brendan Rodgers was a good guy, but you got the feeling we were resigned to mid table. If there's one manager who can return Liverpool to title winning ways, it's Jurgen Klopp."
Lehmann added that, while Liverpool fans shouldn't expect too much too quickly, he thought Klopp would have no problems dealing with the pressure of the Premier League.
"It could be that the expectations are too high, but Klopp knows how to deal with that. We can't expect too much from him in the first few months," he added.
Some doubts have been raised in England and Germany as to just how much Klopp can get out of the current Liverpool squad, even if the players take to him. Lehmann hopes that Klopp's presence can lure a few more Germans to Anfield.
"It would obviously be great to get someone like Marco Reus or Thomas Müller, but we have to be realistic, and see who's available and how much money we can spend, particularly given how much we've spent in recent years," he said.
"From a German point of view, it would be fantastic to see another really big name from the German national team playing for Liverpool, because we haven't had one since Didi Hamann.
"Emre Can is on the right road, and I hope he can hold down his place. Again, if there's one man who can help him do that, it's Klopp."
This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.