When Jurgen Klopp bids farewell to his career as Liverpool manager at the end of the 2023-24 English Premier League season, he will have left the club a legend.
It would be difficult to name another manager who has led a club on such an enjoyable journey. It’s not just about success, although the German manager has plenty of that. It is also about how he has led the club.
When Liverpool was once the unrivaled English powerhouse Football – Won the 2019–20 Premier League title under Klopp, their first league win since 1990. They did this by setting English top-flight records for most consecutive wins, second longest unbeaten streak and second highest points tally. in English top-flight history.
Consider the club’s explosive campaign in the UEFA Champions League in 2019, which was the club’s first European title win in 14 years. This is easily one of the most exciting, high-octane title races in European Cup history, including a magical 4–0 comeback in the second leg of the semi-final against Barcelona, after losing the first leg 3–0.
who does that? Klopp and his men, that’s what. Klopp, with his wavy mane and his toothy smile, is radiating energy and happiness from the sidelines. Klopp, with his courageous, fearless approach to football, perfectly represented the playing philosophy he made famous – Gegenpressing.
On and off the field, win and lose, he maintains an infectious sense of joy and warmth.
Perhaps this has a direct correlation to the kind of person Klopp is and the biggest legacy he will leave at Liverpool: the next generation of Liverpool football players, groomed through a brilliant academy system that the coach has completely overhauled .
Perhaps its most famous success has been that of local boy Trent Alexander-Arnold, who joined the academy at the age of six and is now one of the best defenders in the world. There’s also Curtis Jones, who joined at the age of nine and now, at 23, is working hard to make the Liverpool midfield marshal position his own.
And two weeks ago, on 25 February, in the Carabao Cup final, where Liverpool defeated Chelsea, we got a glimpse of the future as Klopp effectively fielded an under-22 team.
There was 20-year-old Irish Connor Bradley, who joined Liverpool’s academy at the age of nine, first playing in Alexander-Arnold’s role on the right side of defence, then moving to the right wing with great impact. 19-year-old Bobby Clarke, who managed the midfield for the Reds, was brought into the club’s academy as a 16-year-old from Newcastle United’s youth system. And James McConnell, a constant threat in the box at just 19 (he joined the academy at 14). With 21-year-old Jarrel Quansah, who joined Liverpool at the age of five and is seen as the next Virgil van Dijk, and 18-year-old striker Jaden Dannes (who almost scored), Liverpool Played by six academy graduates. In that final.
There is good reason to believe that before the season is over, we will also see a 19-year-old named Oakley Cannonier, whose left foot is as good as his right, and who is a brilliant striker at the youth level. In 2019, he became famous as the ball boy with quick reflexes who passed the ball to Alexander-Arnold after he was fouled during the famous Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona. Alexander-Arnold immediately passed the ball to Divock Origi to score the fourth and decisive goal.
These are Klopp’s boys, the future of Liverpool and the ultimate legacy of a brilliant manager.
