Jürgen Klopp and the job of England manager

Which makes Jürgen Klopp perfect for the job of England manager, as well as the antithesis of the identity that surrounds the job…

JÜRGEN Klopp and the England job is fundamentally hard to dispute.

His presence in any capacity is hard to poop because he is Jürgen and all the magic he brings.

However, you give up on the mere suggestion of attaching it to the narratives of things coming home. You want anyone but him to lead the wanderer of a nation through the front door to warm appreciation and appreciation.

Let’s be clear, Klopp seems intent on the year off he promised. The cries of tabloid and broadsheet writers are just the bellows behind. A fanciful longing for a slice of good times and common sense. A once and for all ditching of Marks And Spencer’s latest men’s summer range.

I wasn’t surprised by that. For all the cries of hypocrisy at those who hate the man simply because of his love and affiliation with Liverpool Football Club, they still crave every aspect of him.

Up and down they yearn for the punch, welcoming manager, “Allez Allez Allez” infused support as they witnessed what Liverpool and Klopp did together.

No, we didn’t invent these things. I also plagiarized aspects of the culture I built. But those who criticized the loudest were often the most envious.

For a nation so bereft of hope and identity, Klopp is, in some ways, the only figure capable of bringing it back from the brink.

This was, as the recent Anfield Wrap audio documentary Jürgen’s Journey reminded us, a place we found ourselves.

We forget how divided it was. How Klopp had to redistribute much of his work to unite a stadium and supporter base that simply did not believe its glory could ever return.

He did this by making Liverpool feel partisan across borders. We were divided to do it our way. In “to enjoy life”, as repeated several times in the audio archives.

In so many ways, the same cannot be said for the England national team. Why? Because it’s England and every semblance of what screams England is right. Perhaps justifiably so with the ever-present personal wealth they boast. Not so with contrasts with his perennial sense of underachievement and sad-sack routine.

I’m not denying Les from Dagenham or Lee from Hull the chance to experience something like Jürgen Klopp because they like watching football shirtless or I think Nigel Farage makes some good points.

That sterile generalization is actually unfair to a multicultural country that stands behind the concept of a national sports team. It is unfair to the reality that international football can still act as a force for national pride and positive representation.

I would worry about the fit because of the imperial savior complex this country would attach via the national media. I’m already rolling my eyes at the lazy war puns and school giggles at the prospect of actually liking a German, which for the great statesmanship of England strangely remains a thing.

Mostly I would worry about Klopp. Someone who found the rigors of local journalism in Liverpool a pointless merry dance at times.

I’m thinking he’s attending Football Federation tables or being sold by the senior committee during the long standoff between international breaks.

Everything Gareth Southgate and Roy Hodgson were, Jürgen Klopp certainly isn’t.

Mostly, I’d err on the side of caution as England right now feels like a full-time project. He would need the boost to go to the Kop after West Brom in 2015 by the time Liverpool lift the European Cup and all.

Support for England, like all international football, is sporadic. It relies on small bursts of giving enough shit to celebrate. The finalists and winners of this year’s European Championships will have to chase each other in the future. The growing lack of energy from the players is worrying.

Even the most ardent England fans, with their collection of retro 90s home and away shirts, simply cannot support it full-time because there is nothing to support.

I was never convinced that Klopp would step onto the international stage for this very reason. If he does, he might want to avoid a place that requires so much tactical and cultural surgery without being able to work day-to-day with players, staff and supporters.

But still, even after my prosecution record against the mere notion of it, I can’t argue against it. The reason remains that he is Jürgen, and his experience makes life better. He allows you a different perspective. He remains effervescent in his approach which in turn creates a sense of youth and positivity in you.

I want it to be Liverpool’s for all time. I want to immortalize him in this legend, while he struggles to play Padel and go to Jamie XX’s concerts.

I love the fact that I’ve had it and everyone wants it, a case in point, and yet I can’t find it in me to want to refuse someone the same.

Finally, you get the feeling again that the world needs more people like him. And that he is truly unique. If they ever happen to become manager of the England national team, smile and know they’re in for a ride.

Know that he does it with love. To make things better.

Dan

Buy Dan Morgan’s book ‘Jürgen Said To Me’ about Klopp, Liverpool and the making of a city…

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