'Jurgen Klopp, Shankly and Dalglish - outsiders who fully embraced Liverpool'

26 January 2024 , 16:44

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Jurgen Klopp said he was going to stand down as Liverpool manager at the end of the season (Image: PA)

If a football fan is lucky enough to be blessed with the perfect manager they secretly believe the love affair will last forever.

It’s why I was heartbroken when Bill Shankly suddenly resigned as Liverpool boss in the 70s and desolate when Kenny Dalglish did the same in the 90s. Hearing about Jurgen Klopp today shocked and saddened me, but this time I understood.

I pictured the broken figures that Shankly and Dalglish had cut at their resignation press conferences brought about by the relentless stress they piled on themselves, recalled how Klopp had at times seemed drained and spent over the past year, and knew that the job was mentally murdering him. And that it was time to set aside the oppressive demands of a fanatical fan base and put his health first.

Like Bill and Kenny, Jurgen was an outsider who fully embraced Liverpool and its people: their passion, their principles, their bloody-minded pride.

He lifted the club back to the pinnacle of the English and European game, playing a brand of rock ‘n’ roll football that took us on a wondrous journey and left us with many glorious memories.

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He made Kopites believe again. And he stayed true to the spirit of the club and to himself. Which makes yesterday’s honest decision as understandable as it is painful.

One thing is for certain though, with four trophies left to play for this season, the next four months will be one storming end to his time at Anfield.

Danke Jurgen.

Brian Reade