It’s January 27th - here's a bonus episode after we woke up yesterday morning to the news that Jurgen Klopp will leave Liverpool at the end of this season. Shock, sadness and maybe a little reflection on this amazing 9 year journey. I’m Paul and I’m joined by Justin and Daz to offer some immediate reflections and maybe some perspective (maybe).
Start with our initial reactions:
‘The loss of a man who can make a set of players far greater than the sum of its parts is a huge loss’
What he shared with Roger Bennett about how he viewed success - making the world you are in better than it was before.
In hindsight he seemed too relaxed at his Thursday press conference, and his acceptance at Bournemouth that VAR would not intervene because it was Tierney.
What had tired him out - PGMOL? Game scheduling, the Deloitte money list, playing against nation states? UEFA at the 2022 final? Pre-season tours? German press talked about the job of a premier league manager being harder than that of someone in the Bundesliga.
The man himself:
‘He made us all feel that we’re not alone, that we’re all part of something. That we weren’t individuals with individual purpose, but that we’re all in “this” together. The “this” I speak of is simply the possibility that dreams can happen in reality. That together we will always be bigger than just one of us. That shared joy is the only joy that matters.’
Neil Atkinson talked about his connection to the City of Liverpool - such a grounded person, with a belief system that fits well in the very left leaning Scouse republic.
Jamie Webster said he was a better human being than a football manager and that is saying something because I believe he’s the best football manager in the world
Attributed to Raffa Honigstein - he’s ruined it for other German managers as he does everything so well - the managing, coaching, PR, press conferences
Our best memories - too many for this brief pod:
Boom - all of the last 9 years
Barcelona, 2019 UCL win, the post match interview after City lost at Chelsea
96th minute Divock winner against Everton, the Parade in 2019
His appearances in Nivea commercials
Looking ahead
Generational managers do not just come and go. Does this doom his successor to failure? Absolutely not. Jurgen Klopp has left us in a good position. The squad is rejuvenated with talent everywhere.
Examples of Ferguson and Wenger being replaced with managers who were a poor fit for what they needed.
Shankly and Dalglish examples.
The next 4 months - how should we approach it?
Ultimately, ‘we’re so glad that Jurgen was a Red’. We plan to have an episode tomorrow, reflecting on the Norwich game and a big part of that will be how the players and crowd reacts to the news. Thanks to Justin and Daz. And thank you dear listener for joining us.
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