Jurgen Klopp has cemented a standing alongside the greatest managers to have ever occupied the dugout at Liverpool. There is some illustrious competition on that chart, with the likes of Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley and Kenny Dalglish having enjoyed considerable success over the course of iconic reigns.
Only three bosses in the Reds’ illustrious history have spent more games at the helm than Klopp, which is some achievement in itself. Since his appointment in October 2015, with an SOS call from Merseyside answered back then, more than 430 matches have been overseen by the enigmatic German.
Success
What’s been your favourite win under the boss, so far? 🤔✨ pic.twitter.com/EixD54sUhg
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 16, 2023
For the most part, Klopp has been a resounding success. During his tenure, Premier League, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, FA Cup and League Cup triumphs have been taken in. The 2022-23 campaign was, however, a rare blot on the copybook.
Liverpool ended last season empty-handed and are -175 within English Premier League betting odds to secure a top-four finish in 2024. They are +120 to win one of the four trophies available to them, but -167 to miss out completely once again.
Klopp is fully aware of how bright the spotlight he continues to work under will get if major honors begin to fall out of reach. There is an expectation at Anfield to challenge for the grandest of prizes, with failure never really an option.
Said fate was begrudgingly accepted last season, with the odd murmur of discontent emerging for the first time in a memorable seven-year run. A positive response is now being demanded, with a new kind of challenge being embraced by a coach who has grown accustomed to riding on the top of a sporting wave.
Klopp batted away any suggestion that he could quit last term, saying when questions of his future started to emerge: “I always knew that I would like to stay here. I’m still at the right place here, 100%. And if not, then you have to end it. It would be silly not to. But everybody involved doesn’t see things like that.”
A contract through to 2026 suggests that the man who brought ‘gegenpressing’ to the world will not be going anywhere any time soon. He has never been the kind to back down from a fight and will expect a star-studded Liverpool squad to follow his lead and come out swinging in 2023-24.
With a useful habit picked up down the years of landing major silverware, there is a collective desire to ensure that a drought of sorts lasts no more than 18 to 24 months.
Untouchable?
Jürgen Klopp turns 56 today. He’s won it all:
Champions League 🏆
Club World Cup 🏆
Bundesliga 🏆🏆
Premier League 🏆
UEFA Super Cup 🏆
FA Cup 🏆
DFB-Pokal 🏆
German Super Cup 🏆🏆
League Cup 🏆
Community Shield 🏆 pic.twitter.com/kk3rcHS3kq— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 16, 2023
Klopp is not untouchable, though. He was unable to recover after stumbling out of the blocks in 2022-23, with momentum proving difficult to establish once it had been lost. There has also been plenty of change on Merseyside over the summer, with vastly experienced ranks being given a much-needed refresh.
For now, there is still plenty of credit left in the bank at Anfield. That is, however, no limitless account and Klopp needs to move Liverpool back into the red after briefly slipping into the black.
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