Jürgen Klopp's tale of magnificent triumph had an incredible beginning.
Two decades ago, Jürgen Klopp achieved what he still considers his biggest accomplishment in his coaching career. At the time, the Mainz trainer led his team, FSV, into the Bundesliga. This journey was a fascinating football tale filled with two upsetting precurses.
"If I ever lose a negative word about Mainz 05, then I want you to hit me hard with a rod on my leg," Jürgen Klopp once said - unknowingly enhancing the excitement of his time at Bruchweg Road. Now, after thirty-three years as a coach who's taking a break, people reminisce about the initial significant step in Jürgen Klopp's successful career at Mainz.
For Jürgen Klopp himself, this - despite the numerous triumphs he would reach afterward - will always be an unforgettable event.
In truth, he recently confirmed that the Bundesliga promotion with FSV Mainz 05 will remain his greatest victory. Klopp's reasoning seems reasonable, yet it's no less impressive considering his remarkable career history. However, this reflection of the story's climax in May 2004 aligns with the person Jürgen Klopp has always been.
To comprehend this, we must also acknowledge that FSV Mainz 05 had unsuccessfully attempted to earn promotion in the two preceding years. They nearly achieved it in the previous season, losing to Eintracht Frankfurt by a mere goal difference. Therefore, the excitement of the 2003/04 season did not last for long, as they slipped to fourth place before Energie Cottbus, missing out on the promotion. Many Mainz fans still remember the celebrations on that day as the pinnacle of their lives.
Thus, Christian Heidel's statement is no surprise: "If we are sober again, we will sign new contracts." The entire promotion drama tale has a pinch of tragicomedy for Mainz striker Michael Thurk. He had opted for a different club - none other than Cottbus, who ultimately finished fourth and took the promotion.
Klopp wouldn't be Klopp if he didn't give his goalscorer a promise on the day of promotion: "If he's not so lucky, we'll take him back. He deserves it." And true to his word, Thurk returned to Mainz in the winter break.
Klopp enjoyed a sense of unwavering security with deployment assurances during his FSV reign, as Heidel asserted: "Kloppo will always be our coach. We will descend together, if necessary." Klaus Hafner, a former stadium announcer for FSV Mainz 05, captured the essence of Klopp's status excellently: "I once said, 'Jurgen Klopp can sell a double bed to the Pope.' And it represents the Klopp phenomenon exactly." It was no surprise that Klopp exuded confidence and aggression after promotion, proclaiming, "Our goal is to bring fun, passionate football to the Bundesliga and offer our fans a spectacle."
This didn't always pan out as planned, but Mainz managed to reach the UEFA Cup by the end of the inaugural season, thanks to the UEFA Fair Play ranking. A notable incident during their UEFA Cup matchup with Sevilla showcases what a deep imprint that promotion made on Klopp. He candidly said to the reporters, "The coach phoned me and asked what color we have."
Three years later, Klopp bade farewell to his trenchant supporters at Mainz's marketplace in an emotional speech: "You made me everything I am. That's the truth!"
His former friend from these days, Christian Heidel, noted recently: "Jurgen Klopp wasn't born in Mainz, but it's Mainz that feels like home to him and this club holds a very special place in his heart. Even though he's won the Premier League with Liverpool FC, he knows within five minutes of a Mainz 05 game how they played. That's a unique connection." It's no surprise that this success story started at Mainz with Klopp's "greatest achievement," the Bundesliga promotion.
