AK BACK ON KLOPP
Jurgen a huge hit with Adebayo
JURGEN KLOPP sent Adebayo Akinfenwa a congratulatory video after he helped Wycombe seal promotion to the Championship.
Four years ago, after scoring at Wembley in his final appearance for Wimbledon, the big striker advertised himself as a gun for hire on live TV, telling interested managers to “hit me up on Whatsapp and get me a job”.
The strongest man in football came off the bench to help the Chairboys into English football’s second tier for the first time in their 133-year history in Monday night’s 2-1 win over Oxford in the League One play-off final.
After his cameo at Wembley, Liverpool fan Akinfenwa said: “Let me tell you something, the only person who can hit me up on Whatsapp this time is Klopp – so we can celebrate together.”
And Liverpool’s Premier League-winning boss duly obliged after some of his players, including captain Jordan Henderson, alerted him to Akinfenwa’s invitation.
Klopp said: “Congratulations, I watched the game and I didn’t see the post-match interviews but Hendo or my players told me that you want to get in contact with me on Whatsapp.
“Here we go: Congratulations! I’m pretty sure you were your whole life at least a Championship player and now finally you are there, well done. Great, great victory. Even in these strange times I hope you celebrate, appropriately!”
Akinfenwa, 38, shared a video of himself watching the message on his Twitter page and said: “Klopp, you’re a legend!”
The Anfield chief wasn’t the only person to get in touch from the champions.
Centre-back Virgil van Dijk tweeted: “What a guy! Congrats big man!” and England midfield ace Henderson posted: “Congratulations big man!”
Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth, the country’s longestserving manager at seven years and 295 days, saved the Chairboys from relegation out of the Football League only six years ago.
He thanked Martin O’neill, who led the club out of the non-league wilderness 27 years ago, saying: “Martin O’neill has been fantastic.
“He was the absolute legend who brought this club into the Football League and I got a great text off him before the game.
“It calmed me down that someone of his standing in the game knows what getting to the play-off final means to this club. Little moments like that make all the difference.”