Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
KLOPP IDOL
Shankly, Paisley, Fagan? Jurgen must be elevated alongside them in the pantheon of Kop legends says Stevie G
STEVEN GERRARD believes Jurgen Klopp has earned the right to be mentioned in the same breath as the Anfield holy trinity of Shankly, Paisley and Fagan.
An astonishing season for the German coach has seen his side hold four major trophies in the same year – and finally end their title hoodoo.
For Gerrard, Klopp is now “up there” among the world’s great managers. He said: “The institution of Liverpool is almost like a religion – people who take the baton off each other to continue the Liverpool way, going back to Shankly, Paisley, Fagan.
“And Jurgen has come and taken all that pressure on his shoulders of one of the biggest clubs in the world, played phenomenal, ferocious football, and won trophies.
“He came with his shoulders back, believing he would deliver success. So he’s right up there with the best Liverpool managers, and the best managers in the world. Fact.”
Gerrard was speaking in a documentary commissioned by Channel 4 and German brewing company Erdinger Weissbrau.
Another German legend, Jurgen Klinsmann, says in the film it was written in the stars his compatriot would bring the title to Liverpool after a 30-year wait.
“The way he won over the people of Liverpool and the way he became one of them, it deserves this end result, this very special title,” said Klinsmann.
Yet Gerrard believes it is far more than fate which finally delivered the Premier League trophy that proved so elusive during his 18-year professional career with the Reds.
Now manager of Rangers, Gerrard worked under Klopp for a season as a youth team coach at Anfield and says an infectious personality is married to an incredible desire which makes players – Gerrard included – willing to run through walls.
“The warmth and the charisma and the smile is Jurgen as a human being, that is his personality. But don’t worry about what’s underneath. There is a fierce drive, a winning mentality,” the former Liverpool skipper explained.
“He makes you feel special and wanted and welcome. Imagine playing for him. I’m almost jealous of the Liverpool players, because I come out of his office after a sit down, and when I walk out of the training ground, I want to walk back in.
“I want to sit with him, to put a kit on and play for him and run for him and play hard – and that’s the reason the players are doing it for him.”
Gerrard revealed he was invited to the title party at Formby Golf Club – near to where he and Klopp live – on the night Liverpool were confirmed champions, but declined.
He said: “I was at home watching it on TV. I thought the right thing to do was be at home with my family and let the players celebrate and enjoy themselves. There was no happier house in Formby than my house.
“I was onboard and all in with Jurgen from day one – from the start he made everyone believe they were about to go on a special journey.
“I was immensely proud when I saw him deliver the title – and there was relief, from waiting so long as a fan and as a player.”