Jürgen Klopp visibly holds back tears during his final press conference.
Jürgen Klopp's time at Liverpool will reach its conclusion on Sunday. It's guaranteed to be an emotional occasion as the German manager's impact at Anfield Road has been significant. When asked about his parting ways with the Reds during a recent press conference, Klopp found it challenging to hold back his tears.
Pretending that everything was normal, Klopp smirked, but the truth was far from it. He ran his fingers through his hair, and his voice wavered while addressing his final game as the Liverpool FC manager, the 491st with the Reds. "We've had a great time," said Klopp reminiscing about his experience leading up to his last game. "I'll never forget any of these days because I met the most incredible people. I did it for the greatest team I could've dreamed of. In the most extraordinary city."
There will undoubtedly be tears in the upcoming game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday (5 pm/Sky and live on ntv.de). No doubt about it. It'll be a heartfelt goodbye, just like in Mainz and Dortmund. A moving farewell, specifically in Liverpool, where fans have grown incredibly fond of the charismatic coach. A party was held on Thursday evening for Klopp and his squad, and he described it as the "most intense week of my life."
"The Kop", the world-famous stand filled with Liverpool fans, will be recognizing the adored German, as they usually do. Fans will scream Klopp's name louder than any player, and they'll be singing The Beatles hit "I Feel Fine", with revised lyrics for Klopp, a version that would be fitting for the occasion. "I'm so happy that Jürgen is a Red. I'm so happy he delivered what he said," they'll cry out. "I'm so happy that Jürgen is a Red. I'm so happy he delivered on what he promised."
Goodbye to "The Normal One"
Jürgen Klopp has indeed done that. He's surpassed the high hopes placed upon him when he joined Anfield Road in 2015. Klopp led the Reds to the Champions League title in 2019, ending their 30-year trophy drought the following year when he secured the club's 19th league title.
Rather than glorifying himself, though, Klopp has always referred to himself as "The Normal One" as opposed to the widely popularized "The Special One", Jose Mourinho. This also translated to the fans, who started wearing Klopp masks and shirt with the coach's portrait. Even Molson Coors Brewing Company produced "Believers Brew" as a tribute.
The nearly nine years as a resident of the island have left an undeniable mark, even on Klopp himself. Now 56-years-old, having declared his departure in January, Klopp looks forward to taking a break from the soccer world. "I just want to recover," he told "The Anfield Wrap". "I don't know how I'll feel, but I will." Klopp plans to relax and spend time with his wife Ulla, travel, and catch up with friends outside of soccer. This aspect of life has been neglected for far too long.
For now, Klopp has put his soccer career on hold. Managing Mainz to a Bundesliga promotion, guiding Dortmund to two championships, and his accomplishments with Liverpool have been quite taxing, demanding up to "26 hours a day, seven days a week" from the manager. That was his life, but he acknowledges the limitations, stating, "It can't be everything in my life."
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Source: www.ntv.de
