'Anfield emotion is what Klopp needs to thrive'
Jürgen Klopp will thrive with the help of the 'great emotions' of Liverpool fans, according to the man who gave him his first opportunity in management with Mainz 14 years ago.
Christian Heidel, a director at the German club, saw enough in the new Reds boss to appoint him as head coach when he retired from playing in the summer of 2001.
Klopp's commitment to the club was never in doubt given he had spent his entire 12-year career there, but the move still represented something of a risk given his lack of managerial experience.
Heidel's foresight was rewarded, however, with the new boss taking Mainz into the Bundesliga for the first time ever in just his third season in charge.
Klopp has since earned a reputation as one of Europe's top coaches thanks to his exploits at Borussia Dortmund, and his former colleague is sure he has both the skills and personality to succeed again at Anfield.
"If you’ve coached in Mainz before, then in Dortmund, then maybe Liverpool is the only club left to coach! Many, many great emotions – that’s what Kloppo needs and I think that is part of the reason he chose to go there," he told LFCTV.
"I think everybody knows he’s an exceptionally good coach. We had great success in Mainz under him, his story with Borussia Dortmund is probably known all over the world - and that’s why Liverpool can be excited about someone who will give everything to make them better as a football team.
"And the person Jürgen Klopp is someone who never forgot where he came from, namely from Mainz 05.
"To this day he always returns to his roots and visits, even if we’re not the least bit comparable to Dortmund or Liverpool.
"This says a lot about the character of Jürgen Klopp, who is still a very dear friend of mine, and I wish him all the best in Liverpool."
Despite the significance of his role, Heidel refuses to take credit for Klopp's meteoric rise in recent years, and says he is simply happy to see his old friend succeed.
"I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m proud [of appointing him], after all there was also a little bit of luck involved in all that," he added.
"I’m just very happy for him, that a boy who played football in Mainz, who became head coach in Mainz, who then went on to become Bundesliga champion and play in a Champions League final, now moves into one of the most famous stadiums in Europe at Anfield.
"And I’m pretty sure that the people in Liverpool will love him because he’s just the right type of guy for Liverpool."
Klopp's confidence and charisma were evident during his first press conference as Liverpool boss, with his self-deprecating description of himself as 'The Normal One' catching on quickly.
And it is the 'aura' - as Heidel describes it - that the 48-year-old possesses that helps him to convince both players and fans to buy into his methods, the Mainz chief explained.
"Kloppo is a very intelligent man, his English is alright – and I’ve heard, in Liverpool they speak English just like the Bavarians speak German over here, so I’m sure he will manage to communicate," he continued.
"After all, Liverpool too is an international team, and before him there were other foreign coaches who did alright.
"I think he can do it, he just has this aura that can excite people, not just the players but everybody around him and I’m pretty sure that in a couple of days, maybe a few weeks, Jürgen Klopp will be a household name in the entire country."