With Jurgen Klopp tendering his resignation at Borussia Dortmund yesterday, there’s no doubting the charismatic manager would prove a colourful addition to the Premier League should he make England his next destination this summer.
We take a look at some of his most memorable quotes and moments here:
Klopp on Hummels
With rumours that top players could join Klopp in exiting Dortmund, it looks likely that Mats Hummels could finally join Manchester United. Not that Klopp was enamoured by previous rumours, stating:
Klopp on player support
Hummels has been a key component of Dortmund’s success, so much so that when injured, Klopp said “we will wait for him like a good wife waiting for her husband who is in jail”. He’s certainly got a unique relationship with his players.
Klopp on being centre-stage
Klopp is an expert in self-deprecation, once asked about potentially hosting a TV show and conceding that "I’d have maybe presented some kind of afternoon programme where people aren’t all that interested in what you’re saying, and you just stare ahead". But he does like taking centre stage.
Klopp on humility
Klopp came from humble beginnings, brought up in a small village in the Black Forest where “there were 1,500 people when I left, and 1,499 people live there now”. Wherever he ends up next, he’ll miss his old club.
Klopp on Harry Potter
His wife is a childrens' author but he has no time for JK Rowling. “She wrote a book for children. It’s like Harry Potter but it's about football. There's no Harry Potter flying on his fucking stick – just football”.
Klopp on Bayern
He hasn’t let Bayern Munich’s consistent poaching of his top players get to him, stating: “I got more in life than I was ever supposed to get – family, money, football. None of my teachers, or my parents, ever believed this would happen to me. So how can this perfect life of mine be spoilt because they take our players?”
Klopp on weaponry
Although he has been pragmatic when it comes to his rival’s prowess in the transfer market, asserting that “we have a bow and arrow, and if we aim well, we can hit the target. The problem is that Bayern has a bazooka. The probability that they will hit the target is clearly higher. But then Robin Hood was apparently quite successful”. At least he can laugh about it.
Klopp on beating Bayern
His success at Dortmund has been astounding, including defeating Bayern for the first time in almost 20 years – “The last time BVB won here was 19 years ago, when most of my players were still breastfed”.
Klopp on philosophy
His main aim at his next club will be to create an easily-identifiable philosophy, which he certainly succeeded at with Dortmund - "The fans should not only recognise us by our black and yellow jerseys. Even if we play in red, everyone in the stadium should think, ‘Whoa, that can only be BVB'".
Klopp on classical music
His style has often been compared to Arsene Wenger’s and he has been consistently touted as the Frenchman’s eventual replacement at Arsenal. However, Klopp believes there’s a distinct difference in philosophies, stating "He likes having the ball, playing football, passes. It’s like an orchestra. But it’s a silent song. I like heavy metal”.
We take a look at some of his most memorable quotes and moments here:
Klopp on Hummels
With rumours that top players could join Klopp in exiting Dortmund, it looks likely that Mats Hummels could finally join Manchester United. Not that Klopp was enamoured by previous rumours, stating:
"If that's not a bullshit story, I'll eat a broomstick."""
Klopp on player support
Hummels has been a key component of Dortmund’s success, so much so that when injured, Klopp said “we will wait for him like a good wife waiting for her husband who is in jail”. He’s certainly got a unique relationship with his players.
Klopp on being centre-stage
Klopp is an expert in self-deprecation, once asked about potentially hosting a TV show and conceding that "I’d have maybe presented some kind of afternoon programme where people aren’t all that interested in what you’re saying, and you just stare ahead". But he does like taking centre stage.
Klopp on humility
Klopp came from humble beginnings, brought up in a small village in the Black Forest where “there were 1,500 people when I left, and 1,499 people live there now”. Wherever he ends up next, he’ll miss his old club.
Klopp on Harry Potter
His wife is a childrens' author but he has no time for JK Rowling. “She wrote a book for children. It’s like Harry Potter but it's about football. There's no Harry Potter flying on his fucking stick – just football”.
Klopp on Bayern
He hasn’t let Bayern Munich’s consistent poaching of his top players get to him, stating: “I got more in life than I was ever supposed to get – family, money, football. None of my teachers, or my parents, ever believed this would happen to me. So how can this perfect life of mine be spoilt because they take our players?”
Klopp on weaponry
Although he has been pragmatic when it comes to his rival’s prowess in the transfer market, asserting that “we have a bow and arrow, and if we aim well, we can hit the target. The problem is that Bayern has a bazooka. The probability that they will hit the target is clearly higher. But then Robin Hood was apparently quite successful”. At least he can laugh about it.
Klopp on beating Bayern
His success at Dortmund has been astounding, including defeating Bayern for the first time in almost 20 years – “The last time BVB won here was 19 years ago, when most of my players were still breastfed”.
Klopp on philosophy
His main aim at his next club will be to create an easily-identifiable philosophy, which he certainly succeeded at with Dortmund - "The fans should not only recognise us by our black and yellow jerseys. Even if we play in red, everyone in the stadium should think, ‘Whoa, that can only be BVB'".
Klopp on classical music
His style has often been compared to Arsene Wenger’s and he has been consistently touted as the Frenchman’s eventual replacement at Arsenal. However, Klopp believes there’s a distinct difference in philosophies, stating "He likes having the ball, playing football, passes. It’s like an orchestra. But it’s a silent song. I like heavy metal”.