With Jürgen Klopp entering his final season in charge of Liverpool, it is fair to say that the manager distinguished himself as one of the most prominent figures in the history of the "Reds." Over eight full seasons and seven trophy wins, he achieved a remarkable feat: winning every elite competition in which Liverpool participated at least once.
Klopp began his rebuilding work at Liverpool in 2015, when he was directly responsible for bringing in extremely important players such as Mohamed Salah, Alisson, and Virgil van Dijk. All of them became pillars of an enormously successful Liverpool. And even after such a long spell, Liverpool supporters would probably have been ready to keep Klopp in charge of their team for at least another nine years.
A Difficult Start, but Promising Work Paid Off
In his very first season at Liverpool, the manager nearly achieved success in the Europa League. Defeat to the powerful Sevilla, a recognized force in the competition, showed that the path to glory would require considerable effort. And that is exactly what happened: the Klopp Era had to wait four long years to celebrate its first title. The inaugural triumph, however, arrived spectacularly in the 2018/19 Champions League season and ended the Reds' 13-year wait for the trophy.
Victory in the continental competition gave Liverpool the right to take part in the Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup, both of which the Reds also won. The world title, secured in a contest against Flamengo, and the Super Cup victory, decided on penalties against rival Chelsea, culminated in the club reaching the height of international glory in the 2018/19 season. Liverpool had once again become English football's leading force, something that had not happened since Steven Gerrard's time.
Dominance in the English Championship and the Contest with Pep Guardiola
Despite conquering Europe and the world in 2019, Jürgen Klopp still lacked a major domestic title. To secure one, the German manager would face an enormous challenge in Pep Guardiola, one of the greatest managers in football history. The two were responsible for exceptional duels and, in doing so, raised the Premier League to a new competitive level.
To give an idea of this, the two managers were responsible for the four highest point totals in the competition's history. The tactical contest between Manchester City and Liverpool contributed significantly to global football, elevating it to the status of the leading match between teams worldwide in recent years, even though the clubs did not have an established historic rivalry.
In terms of trophies, it can be said that Klopp managed to overcome this enormous challenge. He won the Premier League in the 2019/20 season with a historic campaign, recording 99 points over the course of the competition. In the 2021/22 season, Klopp gave Liverpool another year of glory: this time, the team excelled in England's cup competitions. After witnessing Pep Guardiola's Manchester City dominate for an entire year, the Reds emerged as the main protagonists in the domestic knockout tournaments.
A Painful Farewell for All Football Fans
Jürgen Klopp was an unquestionable leader at every team he managed. Digesting his departure should therefore be a slower process for players and supporters. Liverpool should remain a competitive team with quality players, but it may still take time for the new manager to adapt and perhaps escape the "Ghost of Jürgen Klopp."
The German manager was a reference on and off the pitch, both for the results he achieved and the charisma he showed in interviews. Those of us who love football hope Klopp's sabbatical does not last too long and that he returns to the touchline at another major club.
