JURGEN KLOPP has wowed fans as Liverpool manager, turning them from mid-table misfits into arguably the most devastating winning machine in Europe.
But the 52-year-old is the first to admit that he didn’t possess the same “wow factor” as a player – even going as far as to say that he “was not really good.”
Jurgen Klopp would admit that he is far better manager than player
He racked up a not to be sniffed at 340 appearances for Mainz, predominantly as a defender in the second tier – but was not overly complimentary of his own skills.
Speaking to JD’s In The Duffle Bag podcast, the German modestly claimed: “I was a very average player.
“Obviously, I was not really good. But I still played all the time in my championship team and for different reasons obviously, every coach, every manager thought I was an important part of the team.
“I was the engine of the team. If something went wrong I told everybody and if possible, I told them how we can do better or what we have to do more of. I had that role even as a player.”
And those leadership qualities shown on the pitch have seen him subsequently go from strength-to-strength off it.
It felt really natural for me because it was overnight. Sunday, I played. Monday, I was the manager.
Jurgen Klopp
Prior to building his magnificent Champions League-winning Liverpool side, Klopp also had success in Germany with Borussia Dortmund, and before that, at the club he had represented as an “average” player, Mainz.
And on making the transition from the pitch to the dugout, he continued: “A lot of players asked me for advice about life. I was a young father, so I had the problems they had now twelve years before, when I was 20/21.
“I learned how life changes when you become a father. So that’s what prepared me to have that kind of experience, to make the next step to be the coach or manager.
“It felt really natural for me because it was overnight. Sunday, I played. Monday, I was the manager.”
Klopp has appeared to build a remarkable rapport with his players, with a group that seem willing to go to war for their inspirational manager.
And for the Reds boss, getting the balance of the player/coach relationship right is a key element of management. He said: “I’m the boss. I say who plays, I say when we train, I say what we do in training, I decide all these things.
“But in between these decisions, I can be their friend. I always explained it like this.
“I’m a friend of my players, but I’m not their best friend. I’m not the guy who understands everything but I try to.
There are so many different things… I think I need to know them. That makes a relationship. They can talk to me and it’s always important.
Jurgen Klopp
“I don’t pretend I’m interested. I am interested. They know pretty much all about me, about my wife and my sons, it’s important to know who you are working with and it’s important to know why somebody is determined and motivated.
“Where are you coming from? Are you out there to earn money, which is fine, or are you here to make your family proud, or are you here to make a whole country proud?
“There are so many different things… I think I need to know them. That makes a relationship. They can talk to me and it’s always important.”
Another delicate balancing act for a top manager is that of work and life. In a job that can be so all-encompassing, how do those at the very top stay as strong as they possibly can be, mentally?
Klopp has built a strong relationship with his playersCredit: PA:Press Association
Klopp believes it is an evolving process: “I’m still working on it, but it’s much better than when I was young.
“My assistant who is in his mid-30s struggles with it, but it’s normal. At his age, he has no clue how to switch off, to be honest. So it will never stop.
“We have all these ways of self-protecting. You will protect yourself at one point from over working because it cannot constantly be like this – you have to learn to switch off.”
Jurgen Klopp was speaking as part of season 2 of JD’s In The Duffle Bag podcast series. Download from Apple, iTunes, Spotify and A-cast and leave a review to win £500 worth of JD vouchers.
Jurgen Klopp reacts to Liverpool’s first Premier League defeat in 44 matches
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
