As Jurgen Klopp heads into his last game as Liverpool manager, a huge amount of compliments are coming his way.
Klopp has always declared himself to be someone who does not especially like being showered with praise.
But given the job he has done at Anfield over the past nine years, there’s no getting away from it now. The outgoing Liverpool manager has marked himself out as one of the best in the club’s storied history.
For those lucky enough to have played under Klopp, he has taken on something of a fatherly role. His management is equally about connecting with his first-team squad as players as well as footballers.
This genuine and caring personality is rather unique in the world of 21st century football. And speaking on BBC Sport Football Focus on Saturday, a former Man City player has declared his regret at never playing for Klopp.
Shay Given shares Jurgen Klopp wish
Klopp’s style of management wasn’t for everyone of course. But over the course of such a long time at Liverpool, there were so few players who it didn’t quite work for.
By and large, the players that left the club left because they either weren’t good enough or it was time for them to move on.
The only one we can recall who departed because of a clash with Klopp and his style was Mamadou Sakho.
For former and current players outside of Liverpool, you can understand a pang of jealousy when watching the closeness between Jurgen and his players.
One of those to have ‘loved’ to play under Klopp is Shay Given, who told the BBC that the German’s personality always stood out to him.
“What I was going to mention is what he’s brought to the Premier League, his personality,” said the former City ‘keeper. “When he first came, we’re talking about him on TV or whatever, he’s someone as an ex-player I’d love to have played for. He’s got that personality that you want to run through walls for, or a tackle.”
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Steven Gerrard echoes Shay Given thoughts
Given isn’t the only former player who has been declaring dreams of playing for Klopp this week.
While giving an insight into a team talk the 56-year-old gave him while playing in a friendly match for Liverpool, Steven Gerrard also admitted he’d ‘do anything’ to have played just a year with Klopp.
“I remember siting there thinking to myself ‘I would pay any amount of money and I would do anything for anyone if I could represent this guy for a year,”’ says the Liverpool legend.
“That’s what I was thinking when I was sitting in the room.”
Unfortunately for them, neither Given nor Gerrard will ever experience what it feels like to be one of Klopp’s players. The Liverpool lads should enjoy it while they can too, because it’ll soon be taken away.