BOOK REVIEW
Klopp: Bring The Noise by Raphael Honigstein (Sportsbookofthemonth.com price: £12.03, saving £2.96 on rrp)
Released his week in paperback, Klopp: Bring The Noise could be described as a fascinating tale of a work in progress.
That’s not meant to be derogatory towards either the charismatic Jurgen Klopp, two-time Bundesliga winner with Borussia Dortmund, nor author Raphael Honigstein, but one wonders whether the Liverpool manager’s all-out attacking strategies, notwithstanding the recent acquisition of Virgil van Dijk, will yield similar success for Liverpool. Until they recruit a reliable, competent goalkeeper, Liverpool will continue to leak 10-12 points a season despite their play being every bit as exciting as that of Manchester City.
However, it would be churlish to undermine Klopp’s achievements to date and reading this book will give Liverpool fans hope that their man can replicate the success he enjoyed in his native Germany.
An effective centre back at FSV Mainz 05, where he played for more than a decade, Klopp would subsequently become the club’s longest-serving manager, guiding them to the Bundesliga for the first time in more than four decades. His achievements caught Dortmund’s attention and in addition to becoming Germany’s manager of the year in 2011 and 2012, he famously led Dortmund to back-to-back league titles in the same seasons. The following year, his men were unlucky to suffer defeat in the Champions League final.
Klopp could have stayed at Dortmund, his legendary status already confirmed, but the challenge of steering England’s most successful club back to the top was one he clearly relished.
Liverpool supporters adore his passion, commitment, goal celebrations and, most of all, his honesty. They love his style of play which, says Honigstein, embodies the club’s effervescent spirit. Yet while ‘heavy metal’ football might be his stock-in-trade, Klopp comes across as an intelligent, immensely likeable, slightly eccentric character, ie the same persona we see in pre- and post-match interviews.
Liverpool fans will hope that the progress Klopp has made an Anfield since arriving in 2015 will continue. If he buys a decent goalkeeper, Honigstein’s engaging profile suggests there’s every chance that Klopp will emulate the success he enjoyed at Dortmund. If that were to happen, his post-goal dash down the touchline will undoubtedly end in the Kop.
We’ve teamed up with www. sportsbookofthemonth.com and have a copy of Klopp: Bring The Noise to give away. To win, visit www.sportsbookofthemonth.com and answer this question: How many times have Liverpool been crowned European champions?