Jürgen Klopp: Who Is He?

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Image via The Guardian
Well, apparently he's the "normal one" but for those of you who don't know a lot about the German's background I thought I'd do a quick rundown of our new manager welcoming him to Anfield. His press conference was simply brilliant and it's clear he's a charismatic and confident leader, the media lapped it up, the fans lapped it up and you can guarantee the players will too. I can't wait for the Spurs game!

 Jürgen Norbert Klopp was born in Stuttgart, he's just gone 48 years old and in his playing days he played as both a striker and a defender. He spent his playing career at FSV Mainz 05 and his love for the club eventually saw him take over as manager in 2001.

 He managed Mainz for seven years and during that time he gained them promotion to the Bundesliga. It was here where he began to show his talent and resilience, taking a club in a difficult situation and building them up.

 Unfortunately for Klopp, Mainz were relegated at the end of the 06/07 season, Klopp remained at the club determined to regain promotion but after his efforts failed he resigned at the end of the following season.
In May 2008 Borussia Dortmund came calling, Klopp picked up some silverware in his first season via the T-Home Supercup and things went from strength to strength for the ex Mainz man. It took Klopp just two seasons to lead Dortmund to their first title in nine years. Again winning the Bundesliga the following season, Klopp had truly stamped his status as a legend, at least for the Borussia Dortmund fans.

 In the 2011-2012 season Dortmund collected 81 points breaking the record for the most points ever accrued in the history of the Bundesliga (unfortunately for Klopp he couldn't basque in this glory for long though as Bayern Munich broke the record again a year later).

 His time at Dortmund came to an end in 2015 after their position in the table had somewhat slid, Klopp announced he would take a sabbatical and the rest as they say is history. He received a phenomenal farewell from the Dortmund fans who still idolise him to this day.

 He oversaw 318 matches at Dortmund which converts to 1.90 points per match.

 There's more to the man than the teams he has managed of course but I suppose we will learn about that side of him more as the season goes on. What is fantastic though is the amount of fans, neutrals and pundits alike who are full of praise for Jurgen. Some are even jealous and I can't remember the last time somebody has envied a manager we have signed!

I asked you on Twitter for your initial thoughts on Klopp after the press conference and here are a few of the tweets I received: