Sir Alex Ferguson has called Jurgen Klopp “one of the most gifted managers in world football” ahead of the German’s 1,000th game.
The Liverpool manager, 55, will reach the landmark when his team welcome Graham Potter’s Chelsea to Anfield on Saturday afternoon. His managerial career has lasted for nearly 22 years after long spells with Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and now the Reds.
Klopp has won 12 trophies as a manager – including the Premier League title and Champions League – and legendary Manchester United boss Ferguson has paid tribute to his contemporary by releasing a statement through the League Managers Association.
“I’m delighted to welcome Jurgen Klopp to the LMA 1,000 club,” said Ferguson. “Jurgen is undoubtedly one of the most gifted managers in world football and the dedication and passion which Jurgen brings to the role is inspiring to anyone aspiring to a career in football management.
“The many trophies he has already won in his career, including in recent seasons the Champions League and the Premier League with Liverpool, confirm his status amongst football’s elite.”
Klopp started his managerial career with Mainz in 2001 and achieved promotion to the Bundesliga three years later. He moved to Dortmund in 2008 and guided them two Bundesliga titles and the Champions League final in 2013, which they lost to Bayern Munich.
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Klopp succeeded Brendan Rodgers as Liverpool boss in 2015 and has restored them as a European heavyweight. He’s won seven trophies at Anfield to be named the LMA Manager of the Year twice. The latter trophy is named in Ferguson’s honour.
Although Klopp has achieved plenty of success in England, he’s enduring a difficult campaign with Liverpool. The Reds are ninth in the Premier League table – 10 points behind Newcastle in fourth with a game in hand – and have a long injury list.
They’ve already been knocked out of the Carabao Cup and face a tough FA Cup tie at Brighton in the fourth round next weekend. Klopp will not be looking forward to that after his side were hammered 3-0 by the Seagulls in their most recent Premier League game.
Liverpool’s challenge in Europe is even harder, as they must overcome holders Real Madrid in the last 16 to stay in the Champions League. Victory against Chelsea – who are 10th in the table – on Saturday afternoon will give the Reds a huge boost.
Although his team are struggling, Klopp has expressed his delight at reaching 1,000 games in management. He told reporters: “I have done the job I love for the clubs I love. I am blessed, 100 per cent. That’s what I feel. I’ve never thought about these kind of numbers.
“I never thought I would be allowed to do it for that long. But somehow, it went really quickly… The beard is now really grey! It was not the case when I arrived here… I’m not sure if that is because of the age or because of Liverpool! It [the landmark] is a massive thing.”
