Jur not top of the Kop!
SHANKS STILL NO.1 BOSS
IT IS not even close.
When it comes to naming the greatest manager in Liverpool’s illustrious history, Jurgen Klopp is lucky to scrape into the top three, let alone be all-time No.1.
Bill Shankly romps home as the best ever, with Bob Paisley coming in second and Klopp fighting out third spot with Kenny Dalglish.
That is the surprising, yet overwhelming verdict, of a number of Anfield legends polled on exactly where current boss Klopp stands among his much-heralded predecessors on Merseyside.
Among those quizzed for a new book on Klopp, titled ‘The Boss,’ are the club’s former England stars Ray Clemence, John Barnes, Steve McManaman and Michael Owen.
None chose the German ahead of Shankly – the man behind the Reds’ rise to the summit during the 1960s and early 70s – or his bootroom successor Bob Paisley, who ensured their dominance continued unchecked for another decade.
Sure, Klopp is poised to rewrite the Premier League record books, with Sadio Mane and Co. on course to lift the title with the highest points total ever – if and when Project Restart begins.
And yes, in addition to the Holy Grail of the Reds’ first Championship in three decades, he has also bagged the Champions League and Club World Cup.
However impressive Klopp’s haul is, it is not sufficient to match or eclipse the glorious feats of Shankly and Paisley.
At least, that’s how Clemence views it. He puts the ex-Borussia Dortmund coach third, behind Shankly and Paisley.
In our exclusive excerpt, the ex-Anfield keeper, 71, who won five league titles under Shankly and Paisley, said: “I hear it said Klopp is the new Shankly and can fully understand why. Klopp’s a fantastic, fabulous manager.
“But there can only be one No.1 Liverpool manager – and that’s Bill Shankly.
“Klopp is doing is an amazing job and it will be interesting to see what he achieves.
“But, no, I’m not going to compare him to Shanks. I lived with Shanks for seven years, worked with him every day and then played under Paisley. I knew what made Shanks tick.
“For me there’s only one founding father of the modern-day Liverpool and that’s Shanks.
“He built the foundations of everything you see today. He built teams, carried on by Paisley, that won things for fun for more than 20 years. That’s beginning again under Klopp.”
Between them, Shankly and Paisley lifted nine League titles.
The latter, who masterminded six of those from 1976-83, also won the European Cup times.
Little wonder that Barnes, an integral part of the successes under Joe Fagan and Dalglish post-Paisley, echoes Clemence’s words. The only difference is he dumps Klopp out of third for Dalglish.
Barnes, with 314 Liverpool appearances from 1987 to 1997, said: “Give Klopp a few more years and who knows? But, as of today, not enough to overtake Bill or Bob!”
Klopp, 52, does come second with former Reds aces Alan Kennedy and David Fairclough.
Aside from that, he is third in six selections, failing to register in three.