JURGEN NO.1 PICK

JENS LEHMANN believes Germany would welcome back Jurgen Klopp with open arms.

The Liverpool manager is under contract until 2024 and has been in the Anfield hot seat since 2015. He secured Champions League glory in 2019 and followed that up with a historic Premier League title last season.

The English top-flight triumph follows on from his two Bundesliga titles with Borussia Dortmund in 2011 and 2012.

Lehmann, 51, who was capped 61 times by Germany, says Klopp remains a hero in his homeland.

And the former Arsenal goalkeeper (above) reckons the national team could beckon. “I don’t know if it’s a national pride, but it’s good to have a German coach in the Premier League who seems to be the best

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of all of them,” said Lehmann. “Germans call him ‘King Klopp’ because he was so successful with Dortmund. We all think he’s the best coach in the world.

“He is quite humble as well because he knows his strength is managing people. “And for weaknesses he’s detected in himself, he’s supported through his staff. “When he’s 60 he may do it, but probably not now.

“But it is hard to judge with his personality if he’d be happy only to coach every few months.” Klopp has previously hinted that he fancies a return to Germany once his current Kop deal ends. A move to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich could be a natural fit. But Lehmann, a title winner at Dortmund in 2002 and Premier League champion with Arsenal two years later, says a switch to the Allianz Arena might not suit Klopp.

He added: “People would not remember him for being a Bayern coach. It would be for Dortmund and Liverpool.”

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