Seven great Jürgen Klopp moments in seven years at Liverpool

FeatureSeven great Jürgen Klopp moments in seven years at Liverpool

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By Glenn Price

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Jürgen Klopp today celebrates seven years as manager of Liverpool FC.

It was on this day in 2015 that the German became Reds boss to begin a memorable, trophy-filled journey on Merseyside.

Look back on seven great moments during his reign so far that show Klopp the man and world-class manager he is…

  • 'Boom!'

"The best word I can say what will describe this is... boom!"

That's how the recently appointed Klopp chose to describe his side's 3-0 win over Manchester City at Anfield in March 2016.

An all-encompassing moment from a post-match interview, it was a sign of things to come.

There would be plenty more laughs to come from the boss, along with booming performances from his team that could down any opponent.

The comeback against Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League at Anfield will stand out as the beginning of the club's journey back to the top.

The 'boom!' times were coming.

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  • Securing a seat at the top table

In order to win football's biggest prizes, first you must qualify for them.

Klopp and his players fulfilled their ultimate objective of securing a top-four Premier League finish – and therefore a route into the Champions League – on the final day of the 2016-17 season.

Middlesbrough were beaten 3-0 to confirm a satisfying end to Klopp's first full campaign at the club.

Afterwards, he spoke of the importance of securing a place in Europe's premier club competition.

Klopp said: "I think in the last 10 years Liverpool was not part of it too often, three years ago once only maybe.

"We should try everything to change this, we have to make steps and the step for us to be around the best teams in the world because we are one of the best clubs."

The platform had been established and Klopp was determined to build on it.

  • Goals, goals and more goals en route to Kyiv

Scoring five goals in the first 69 minutes of a Champions League semi-final tie will never be the norm.

Klopp's 2017-18 edition of his Liverpool side should forever be remembered for their swashbuckling, attacking approach that led them to club football's biggest game.

A free-scoring display at Anfield against an AS Roma side put the Reds on course for the final in Kyiv, becoming just the second side in Champions League history to score five in a last-four leg.

Mohamed Salah was scoring goals at a record-breaking pace in his first season at the club and part of the devastating forward line of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

Full-throttle Jürgen Klopp football at its very best.

  • Full of dignity and love

Klopp was magnanimous and loving in his first six minutes as a European champion.

After defeating Tottenham Hotspur in the 2019 Champions League final, the boss' first instinct was to console his counterpart, having been in that exact position 12 months earlier.

Then he blew a kiss to his family in the stands before embracing anyone and everyone who played a part in delivering the club its sixth European crown.

"This is maybe the best night of my life professionally," he said minutes later.

Watch: Klopp's brilliant uncut reaction on the final whistle in Madrid

Liverpool were on the brink of delivering their first league title in 30 years in March 2020 – until the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

Football, and the world in general, stopped.

Klopp, as is his way, opted to look at the bigger picture when the Premier League announced it had paused all activity.

He said: "I’ve said before that football always seems the most important of the least important things. Today, football and football matches really aren't important at all.

"Of course, we don't want to play in front of an empty stadium and we don't want games or competitions suspended, but if doing so helps one individual stay healthy – just one – we do it no questions asked.

"If it's a choice between football and the good of the wider society, it's no contest. Really, it isn't."

The title was eventually lifted on an emotional night in July, as Klopp and his players further cemented their place in Liverpool folklore.

  • An incredible achievement against the odds

No matter how bad it gets, you can always expect Klopp and his squad to pick themselves up. More than ever, this was displayed in 2020-21.

The Reds battled injuries, the pandemic, empty stadiums and a six-game losing run at Anfield during their defence of the Premier League title.

An heroic recovery led to a 10-match unbeaten finish to the league season – culminating in the return of 10,000 fans to Anfield for a win over Crystal Palace that clinched third place in the standings.

That achievement, understandably, felt massive to the boss.

"Finishing the season in third is incredible," he stated. "I can't believe it."

  • A kitchen-table discussion leads to a new deal

"We sat in the kitchen at the table and Ulla said, 'I can't see us leaving in 2024.'"

A discussion at home with his wife was how the process of Klopp and his coaching staff extending their time at Liverpool began.

Towards the end of a season for the ages in 2021-22, the contracts were signed and the Reds went on to play every game available to them, completing a domestic double along the way.

The journey continues: 'It's a great time to be a Red'

The campaign may have ended in disappointment in just narrowly missing out on the Premier League and Champions League – but Klopp's vision for the future is a bright one.

"We are a club that is constantly moving in the right direction," he said when the news of his extension was announced. "We have a clear idea of what we want; we have a clear idea of how we try to achieve it. That's always a great position to start from."

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