Jurgen Klopp's 3am phone call to Alex Ferguson - and Man Utd legend's response
If there is one thing Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson would have absolutely no time for then it's a phone call from a Liverpool manager telling him they'd just won their first top-flight title in 30 years.
And that phone call coming at three in the morning... forget it. But that's exactly what Jurgen Klopp did when he finally broke Liverpool's Premier League hoodoo and achieved something Ferguson managed a cool 13 times at Old Trafford.
What makes this story more remarkable is that Ferguson was in fact delighted for the German and went on to publicly praise him for the achievement and for winning the 2020 LMA Manager of the Year award in the face of his beloved United's current struggles.
"Jurgen, fantastic," said Ferguson at the time, who went on to mention the infamous late-night call. "I have spoken about Leeds United, 16 years in the Championship, Liverpool, 30 years since winning that league: incredible. Really thoroughly deserved.
"The performance level of the team, really outstanding. Your personality ran right through the whole club. I think it was a marvellous, marvellous performance. I'll forgive you for waking me up at half past three in the morning to tell me you'd won the league. Thank you. But anyway, you've thoroughly deserved it, well done."
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Klopp would go on to name-drop Ferguson upon winning the award, showing the level of mutual respect the managerial titans have for each other despite the obvious rivalry between their respective clubs.
"I am absolutely delighted to get this title," said Klopp in 2020. "There are a lot of Liverpool names on this trophy – Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny looks like he is all over the trophy. Brendan Rodgers, too.
Sir Alex Ferguson praised Jurgen Klopp's achievement (Sky Sports)"But the main name is Sir Alex Ferguson. I know it is not 100 per cent appropriate as Liverpool manager, but I admire him. He was the first British manager I met and we had breakfast together – I am not sure if he remembers but for me, it was like meeting the Pope. I never thought then I would be holding the Sir Alex Ferguson trophy in my hands."
Liverpool fans have only until the end of this season to enjoy Klopp's managerial prowess after he announced this Friday that this will be his final season as boss.
The Reds manager put the decision down to fatigue, admitting he no longer feels he has the energy to operate at the top of his game and needs a break from the sport.
Like Ferguson, he showed his unwavering loyalty by stating he will never manage another English club, but the news of his exit will remain a bitter blow for Reds fans who have got a little too used to glory under his stewardship.
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