12 February 2024 , 21:02
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Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has claimed Jurgen Klopp is more of a legendary manager than Arsene Wenger due to his success in the Champions League.
Klopp has announced he will be stepping down as Liverpool manager at the end of the season, having won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup during his time at Anfield. Wenger, meanwhile, won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups with the Gunners.
However, he was never able to lift the Champions League, with Arsenal losing the 2006 final 2-1 to Barcelona after goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was sent off in the first half. And as a result of Wenger never winning the Champions League, Souness believes the fact that Klopp has makes him more of a legend.
"I think that one competition, whether it's me overvaluing it or not, but I think there's so much hype and interest and glamour surrounding the Champions League nowadays – Klopp has won it as well," Souness said on talkSPORT.
"It was the first time that Liverpool had won it [the Premier League] in 30 years. I just think it's a unique group to be in. To be able to say you're a manager who has won the Champions League, I think that puts you in a legendary category."
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It is not the first time Souness has downplayed Wenger's achievements, having claimed back in 2022 that the former Arsenal boss' legacy does not compare to Sir Alex Ferguson's or Pep Guardiola's.
"I think he had a fantastic 10 years, but he did inherit the best back-five arguably in world football," he told talkSPORT. "He had a knowledge of French football when France produced the best group of players in the history of French football and he had an insight before anyone else did.
Souness believes Klopp is more of a legend than Wenger (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)"For 10 years they were the real deal, then for another decade I don't think he came anywhere near that. I think [the greatest legacy] goes to Fergie, he built three or four teams, his legacy is the largest.
"Pep has definitely bought something different into our game, the playing out from the back was creeping into the game but it was a surge when he arrived, with pitches improving you could do that more.
"Central defenders and full-backs were never entirely comfortable taking the ball in their own box, but the game has evolved and everyone now does it in the higher leagues, I would say he has had a major, major influence on where the game has gone."
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