‘He changed our lives’ – Liverpool supporters’ groups pay tribute to Jürgen Klopp

This is what Jürgen Klopp said at his first press conference as Liverpool manager in October 2015.

The eight and a half years since then have of course been glorious, full of fun and trophies and wonderful memories. The German’s place in Anfield folklore is well and truly secured.

But as he bids an emotional farewell, let’s ask this question: what do people think of Jürgen Klopp now he’s gone?

We asked Reds fans around the world for their views…

Justin – Official Liverpool Supporters Club, New York

Jürgen Klopp would be a good fit in New York City. To get here, you have to be serious, you have to outsmart your opponent, and you have to engage with us. If you give us all you have, we will give you all we have. He has given us all he has and will receive all we have for eternity.

Rishabh – OLSC Delhi

Nine years have passed since this charismatic leader and none of us are really ready for this farewell. Jürgen Klopp always had that warmth and aura that made you think everything was going to be okay, you know? He was always pragmatic but emotionally driven, something that worked very well for fans and owners. We have been treated to some of the greatest moments of our lives, all because of him.

It was an honor to see him on the sidelines, so animated and passionate, as if nothing could ever go wrong. Even when we had a bad result, the boss had his way of making us feel better with his words. Absolutely gutted to see him go. Football will never be the same after what we have witnessed in the last decade with Jürgen in charge. You’ll never walk alone, Kloppo!

Matías – OLSC Buenos Aires

Klopp’s presence felt like meeting a new best friend, someone who is always there for you with a smile and open arms, making you feel special and that all they do is make you happy . I felt all this without knowing him personally – only the great manage to do that! – and together we felt that we were honoring this badge again, playing with passion and living football with joy. Klopp is football’s last great romantic.

Paul Machin – The Redmen TV

“Following you, huh?”

10 May 2018 Liverpool Player Awards and a moment that changed my career forever.

For context, the sun is shining and spirits are high. The Reds booked their place in the Champions League final in Kiev and as the players and their partners, serenaded by Liverpool’s hot new musician Jamie Webster, made their way down the red carpet, there were smiles everywhere.

Anyone who’s ever worked a mixed area (or red carpet, its far more fabulous cousin!) will know it can be tough at times, fighting for space in line and trying to get guests to stop for a quick interview. Today, though, it’s bliss, with Roy Evans, John Aldridge and Gini Wijnaldum all stopping for a happy banter. However, during this last interview it happens. Halfway through my conversation with the Reds’ Dutch dynamo, the gaffer, Jürgen Klopp, walks by.

“Jürgen, hello,” I mutter and he nods back. It’s a beautiful moment, but inside a small part of me spits a curse that I missed the chance to catch him for a few words. The interview with Gini continues, but a few moments later, Jürgen reappears, leans forward and, with a small glance at the camera, says those words.

And what can I say? Me, with, at the time, eight years and hundreds of hours of experience talking and interviewing people on camera. With what wonderful and incomprehensible answer do I reply?

“Jürgen! NOOOOO, seriously?!”

Journalism at its best, ladies and gentlemen.

I had more questions to ask Gini, but really, my brain was a mess and it took every ounce of professionalism I had left to finish the interview without passing out.

Those words stuck with me though. This was Jürgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool, the current manager of Liverpool, with just a few words managing to justify everything we had done at Redmen TV since its beginnings as a limit. Wayne’s World parody in the back room of my house.

I left that night 10 meters tall. In the following years, we would cross paths a few more times. We spoke in depth that summer after Kiev, again after winning the 2019 Champions League, I ended up buying him a beer at the Managers Awards that year, culminating in him even inviting us to come and I interview him before his final. game of this season.

All of these interactions were longer and special to me in their own ways, but none of them meant more to me than those four words.

“If the boss is looking at this, we must be doing something right…”

Dan Nicolson – BOSS Night

The exit from the Olympic Stadium in Athens in 2007 after our defeat in the Champions League was tense, disastrous and bitter. It was exactly how you’d expect it to feel after losing the biggest game in club football.

Eleven years later, in 2018, I walked out of another Olympic stadium, this time in Kiev, having just witnessed another final loss.

But the contrast could not have been stronger. This was a defeat on the field, but a mere stumble in the journey. And Jürgen was the catalyst and reason for our positive attitude.

When the videos emerged the next morning of him dancing and drinking into the wee hours after the game, he wasn’t just like us – he was US!

The spirit of the tens of thousands of Reds who gathered in Shevchenko Park before that match and the spirit displayed afterwards on hundreds of terraces, The Kop, subsequent fan parks and in thousands of pubs around the globe can be summed up in those videos. of a giddy smiling Jürgen, even in the throes of defeat.

Supporter culture is at its best when the fans go hand in hand with their manager. There is no better example in world football of this, for me, than the bond Jürgen has created with our supporters and, just as importantly, our city and its culture over the last nine years.

His enigmatic energy, his emotions, his desire, his human side, and his sincerity poured out of him on the sidelines for us fans, and we hopefully mirrored it right away.

It’s sad that his time has come to an end, but we will have memories and trophies that will last a lifetime.

He left the club and our fanbase in a better place than when he found it. His legacy will live on, both on and off the field.

Benedetta Tello – OLSC Italy

Truth be told, I have struggled with depression for several years; and when Jürgen joined, it was probably at an all-time high. If it hadn’t been for the manager of my club, I wouldn’t have had anything worthy or happiness to look back on; 2019 would have been just another empty year, but instead we won the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup. 2020 would have been even bleaker, but instead we won the long-awaited Premier League.

He is responsible for some of the happiest memories of my life, a life I wasn’t sure I would ever live. I honestly don’t know if I’d be here typing this if he wasn’t there. I owe Jürgen Klopp more than I can express in words.

Nunzio Esposito, OLSC Italy

You gave us our dignity back. You have brought Liverpool back to where it belongs. You gave people hope and confidence. And you kept your promise. But above all, now we know that even in football, nothing dies, everything changes. We didn’t stop at Shankly, we didn’t stop at Dalglish and we certainly won’t stop at Klopp. You made us believers.

Aldo Meola, OLSC Italy

I never felt so lost until I heard of your departure, Chief.’ However, you’ve always taught me how to deal with feelings that don’t make me feel comfortable. I’ve always been a believer and now I’m just a better one. You promised, you delivered, you made us all happy and I could never be more grateful. I can proudly say that from now on I will be able to say to others: “Jurgen told me, you know…”

Jesus Gil – OLSC Bilbao

He changed our mentality and changed our lives both footballingly and emotionally. Jürgen is Liverpool FC and Liverpool FC is Jürgen. “Boss Tha”, Jürgen. Thank you Asko Klopp Sir (that means “Thank you very much, Mr. Klopp” in Basque!)

Tore Hanson – OLSC Norway

Jürgen Klopp changed everything, but not only by winning trophies. Yes, winning the league and the Champions League, all the fantastic players and the games, it was massive and something we will never forget. But it is the man, his presence and personality, that we will remember and miss most. We will never forget the way he connected with us supporters, just like the great Bill Shankly. He gave us hope and something to believe in even in the dark days. He changed Liverpool FC and us fans forever! Thanks, Jürgen!