Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk highlighted the things that makes Jurgen Klopp special as a manager of the club
Virgil van Dijk explained what makes Jurgen Klopp special as a Liverpool manager and a beloved figure around the city. Klopp announced that he is stepping back from the managerial role at the end of the current season.
The announcement shocked Liverpool fans around the globe, many of the young fans have seen Liverpool nurture under him. Many fans have likened the departure of their beloved manager to losing a loved one from their family.
The 56-year-old built a culture that balanced success with the development of young players into quality players with great character. He established himself at the centre and connected the fans, staff and players with passion and a positive mentality.
Speaking on The Rest is Football Podcast (h/t YouTube), Van Dijk expressed the things that make Klopp special for Liverpool. He said:
“His [Klopp] charisma, you know, but also the way he coaches, the way he gives confidence to the team. The way he applies his energy towards the team and also to the fans and to the club but also you know it’s a special thing I think what I’ve seen to be a manager of Liverpool football club. You know you need to be more than just a good coach, you need to understand the city, the culture, and the history of the club and live and breed being on top of you know the Liverpool football club.”
Liverpool appointed Klopp in 2015 to replace Brendan Rodgers in the middle of the 2015-16 season after a poor start. He inherited a team that recently lost legendary captain Steven Gerrard and star forward Luis Suarez.
The German faced the daunting task of challenging high-spending Premier League clubs with a restricted transfer budget. He gradually built the team into a title-winning force by making astute signings and turning fans from “doubters to believers”.
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Liverpool won the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup twice under his guidance. Van Dijk and the rest of the players are fighting for the Premier League and the Europa League to give Klopp the farewell he deserves. Rest assured the city of Liverpool and the Reds fans around the world would feel the emotions for months after Klopp bids farewell to Anfield.
