Jürgen Klopp facts for kids

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Jürgen Klopp

Klopp with Liverpool in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Jürgen Norbert Klopp
Date of birth	(1967-06-16) 16 June 1967 (age 58)
Place of birth	Stuttgart, West Germany
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Striker, defender
Youth career
1972–1983	SV Glatten
1983–1987	TuS Ergenzingen
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1987	1. FC Pforzheim
1987–1988	Eintracht Frankfurt II
1988–1989	Viktoria Sindlingen
1989–1990	Rot-Weiss Frankfurt	0	(0)
1990–2001	Mainz 05	325	(52)
Managerial career
2001–2008	Mainz 05
2008–2015	Borussia Dortmund
2015–2024	Liverpool
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jürgen Norbert Klopp (born 16 June 1967) is a German football expert and former manager and player. Many people think he is one of the best football managers in the world. Since January 2025, Klopp has been the Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull GmbH.

Klopp played most of his football career for Mainz 05. He started as a striker but later played as a defender. After he stopped playing in 2001, Klopp became Mainz's manager. He helped them get promoted to the Bundesliga in 2004. After Mainz was relegated in 2007 and couldn't get promoted back, Klopp left in 2008. He was their longest-serving manager.

Next, he managed Borussia Dortmund. He led them to win the Bundesliga title in 2011. Then, in a record-breaking season, they won both the league and the German Cup (a "domestic double"). Klopp also guided Dortmund to the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League final. He left in 2015, again as their longest-serving manager.

Klopp became Liverpool's manager in 2015. He led the club to the UEFA Champions League finals in 2018 and 2022. In 2019, they won the Champions League, which was his first time winning it and Liverpool's sixth. His team finished second in the 2018–19 Premier League with 97 points. This was one of the highest points totals ever for a team that didn't win the title.

The next season, Klopp's team won the 2019 UEFA Super Cup and Liverpool's first 2019 FIFA Club World Cup. Then, they won Liverpool's first Premier League title, scoring a club record 99 points. These achievements earned him the FIFA Coach of the Year award two years in a row (2019 and 2020). In 2022, Klopp won both the EFL Cup and the FA Cup. He won another EFL Cup in 2024 before leaving Liverpool that same year.

Klopp is known for a tactic called Gegenpressing. This means that when his team loses the ball, they immediately try to win it back. They don't fall back and wait. He has said his teams play "heavy metal" football. This describes their intense pressing and strong attacks. Klopp has mentioned that Italian coach Arrigo Sacchi and his former Mainz coach Wolfgang Frank influenced him a lot. Klopp believes emotion is very important in football. He is famous for his excited celebrations on the side of the field.

Early Life and Playing Career

Jürgen Norbert Klopp was born on 16 June 1967 in Stuttgart, Germany. His mother was Elisabeth and his father, Norbert, was a traveling salesman and former goalkeeper. Klopp grew up in the countryside in the village of Glatten. He started playing football for local clubs like SV Glatten and TuS Ergenzingen. Later, he played for 1. FC Pforzheim and three clubs in Frankfurt.

Klopp's father introduced him to football. As a young boy, Klopp supported VfB Stuttgart. He once wanted to be a doctor but felt he wasn't smart enough. While playing as an amateur, Klopp had part-time jobs. He worked at a video rental store and loaded heavy items onto trucks.

In 1990, Klopp joined Mainz 05. He played there from 1990 to 2001. Fans loved him for his attitude and commitment. He started as a striker but became a defender in 1995. In the same year, he earned a degree in sports science. He retired as Mainz 05's top goal scorer with 56 goals.

Klopp felt he was better suited to be a manager than a player. He said he had "fourth-division feet and a first-division head." He closely watched his managers' training methods. He also studied to get his Football Coaching Licence.

Managerial Career

Mainz 05: First Steps as a Manager

In 2004, Klopp led his former club, Mainz 05, to Bundesliga promotion.

After retiring from playing for Mainz 05, Klopp became the club's manager on 27 February 2001. His first game was a 1–0 win against MSV Duisburg. Klopp won six of his first seven games. Mainz finished 14th, avoiding relegation.

In his first full season (2001–02), Klopp guided Mainz to a 4th-place finish. He used his favorite pressing tactics, but they just missed promotion. Mainz finished 4th again in 2002–03, missing promotion on the last day. After two close calls, Klopp led Mainz to 3rd place in 2003–04. This meant they were promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time ever.

Mainz had the smallest budget and stadium in the league. Still, they finished 11th in their first top-flight season (2004–05). Klopp's team finished 11th again in 2005–06. They also qualified for the 2005–06 UEFA Cup but lost in the first round to Sevilla. Mainz 05 was relegated at the end of the 2006–07 season. Klopp stayed with the club. However, they couldn't get promoted the next year. Klopp resigned at the end of the 2007–08 season. He had 109 wins, 78 draws, and 83 losses.

Borussia Dortmund: Winning Titles

Starting Strong at Dortmund

In May 2008, Klopp became the new manager of Borussia Dortmund. He signed a two-year contract. Dortmund had finished 13th the season before. Klopp's first game was a 3–1 win in the German Cup. In his first season, Klopp won his first trophy with Dortmund. They beat Bayern Munich to win the 2008 German Supercup. He led the club to a sixth-place finish in his first league season. The next season, Klopp helped Dortmund qualify for European football. They finished fifth, even with one of the youngest squads in the league.

Klopp at a press conference before Dortmund's title-winning 2010–11 season

After losing their first game of the 2010–11 Bundesliga season, Klopp's Dortmund team won 14 of their next 15 matches. They were at the top of the league by Christmas. They won the 2010–11 Bundesliga title on 30 April 2011. This was their seventh league title. Klopp's team was the youngest ever to win the Bundesliga.

Back-to-Back League Wins and European Final

Klopp and his team successfully defended their title, winning the 2011–12 Bundesliga. They earned 81 points that season, which was a record in Bundesliga history. Their 28-league match unbeaten run was also a record. On 12 May 2012, Klopp won the club's first ever "domestic double." They beat Bayern Munich 5–2 to win the 2012 DFB-Pokal final. Klopp said it was "better than [he] could have imagined."

Dortmund's league form in the 2012–13 season was not as good. Klopp said his team would focus on the UEFA Champions League. Dortmund was in a tough group with Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Ajax. But they didn't lose a game and finished first in the group. Dortmund faced José Mourinho's Real Madrid again in the semi-finals. They won the first game 4–1 at home. Even with a 2–0 loss in the second game, Dortmund made it to the final.

On 23 April 2013, it was announced that Dortmund's key player Mario Götze was moving to rivals Bayern Munich. Klopp was annoyed by the timing of the announcement. Dortmund lost the final 2–1 to Bayern. Dortmund finished second in the Bundesliga that season.

Final Years at Dortmund

At the start of the 2013–14 season, Klopp extended his contract until June 2018. Dortmund finished the 2013–14 season in second place. In January 2014, it was announced that striker Robert Lewandowski would also join Bayern Munich. Dortmund won the 2013 DFL-Supercup that season. They were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

Klopp left Dortmund at the end of the 2014–15 season.

Dortmund started the 2014–15 season by winning the 2014 DFL-Supercup. After a difficult start to the season, Klopp announced in April that he would leave the club at the end of the season. He said the club deserved a manager who was "100% right." He denied being tired or having contact with another club. His last match was the 2015 DFB-Pokal final, which Dortmund lost 3–1 to VfL Wolfsburg. Dortmund finished seventh in the league. He ended his time with 180 wins, 69 draws, and 70 losses.

Liverpool: European and Premier League Glory

Joining Liverpool and Early Success

On 8 October 2015, Klopp became Liverpool manager. He signed a three-year deal. In his first press conference, Klopp called Liverpool a "special club." He said he wanted to win trophies within four years. He famously called himself 'The Normal One,' playing on José Mourinho's 'The Special One' nickname.

Klopp after winning against Middlesbrough on the final day of the 2016–17 season, securing fourth place.

Klopp's first game was a 0–0 draw against Tottenham Hotspur. His first win came against AFC Bournemouth in the League Cup. Three days later, he got his first Premier League win, beating Chelsea 3–1. On 28 February 2016, Liverpool lost the League Cup final to Manchester City on penalties. On 5 May, Klopp led Liverpool to their first European final since 2007. They beat Villarreal in the Europa League semi-finals. In the final, Liverpool lost 3–1 to Sevilla. Liverpool finished the 2015–16 season in eighth place.

On 8 July 2016, Klopp and his coaching staff signed new deals until 2022. Liverpool qualified for the Champions League for the first time since 2014–15. They did this by finishing fourth in the 2016–17 Premier League season.

Winning the Champions League

Klopp's team finished fourth in the 2017–18 Premier League. This meant they qualified for the Champions League again. With new defenders like Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson, Liverpool's defense improved a lot. Klopp led Liverpool to their first Champions League final since 2007. They beat Manchester City and Roma to get there. However, Liverpool lost the final 3–1 to Real Madrid. This was Klopp's sixth loss in seven major finals.

To improve the team, Klopp signed more key players. These included midfielders Naby Keïta and Fabinho, forward Xherdan Shaqiri, and goalkeeper Alisson.

Klopp led Liverpool to two Champions League finals in a row (2018 and 2019), winning the second one against Tottenham Hotspur.

Liverpool started the 2018–19 season with their best league start ever, winning their first six matches. Klopp was charged with misconduct for running onto the pitch to celebrate a late winning goal against Everton. Liverpool ended Christmas Day four points clear at the top of the league. A 4–0 win against Newcastle United on Boxing Day extended their lead to six points. This was Klopp's 100th win as Liverpool manager. His team also set a record for fewest goals conceded at this point in a top-flight season.

Liverpool finished the season as runners-up to Manchester City. They won all of their last nine matches and scored 97 points. This was the most points ever for a team that didn't win the title. They were unbeaten at home for the second season in a row.

Klopp during Liverpool's Champions League victory parade

Liverpool had a great run in the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League. They finished second in their group and then beat Bayern Munich in the knockout stage. They won their quarter-final against Porto. In the semi-finals, Liverpool faced Barcelona. After losing the first game 3–0, Klopp's team made an amazing comeback. They won the second game 4–0 at Anfield, even without key players like Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino. This was one of the greatest comebacks in Champions League history. In the final against Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool won 2–0. This gave Klopp his first trophy with Liverpool and his first Champions League title.

Winning the Premier League

Klopp celebrating Liverpool's victory in the 2019 UEFA Super Cup

Klopp's team started the 2019–20 season by playing Manchester City in the 2019 FA Community Shield, losing on penalties. As Champions League winners, they played Europa League champions Chelsea in the 2019 UEFA Super Cup. Liverpool won 5–4 on penalties, giving Klopp his second trophy with the club. In the 2019–20 Premier League, Liverpool won their first six matches. Klopp was named Premier League Manager of the Month for August.

On 23 September, Klopp was named The Best FIFA Men's Coach for 2019. He also joined the Common Goal movement, donating 1% of his salary to charity. On 11 October, he won Manager of the Month again for September.

On 30 November, Liverpool equaled a club record of 31 league matches without defeat. They broke the record a week later. On 10 December, Klopp signed a contract extension until 2024. In December, he won his third Manager of the Month award. On 21 December, he led Liverpool to their first FIFA Club World Cup trophy. This made them the first English team to win the Champions League, Super Cup, and Club World Cup in one period.

Liverpool ended 2019 with a 1–0 win against Wolves. This extended their unbeaten home run to 50 matches. Klopp won his fourth Manager of the Month award for December. On 11 January 2020, a 1–0 win against Tottenham Hotspur extended Liverpool's unbeaten run to 38 league games. On 1 February, Klopp's team won 4–0 against Southampton. They were 22 points clear at the top, the biggest lead ever in English top-flight history. Klopp won his fifth Manager of the Month award for January.

On 24 February 2020, a 3–2 win against West Ham United saw Liverpool equal records for most consecutive wins (18) and most consecutive home wins (21). On 7 March, a 2–1 win against Bournemouth set a new English top-flight record of 22 consecutive home wins. On 25 June, Klopp's team won the Premier League title with 7 games left. It was the club's first league title since 1990. Liverpool set several records, including most consecutive home wins (23). They also had a 44-match unbeaten run in the league. Liverpool finished the season with a club record 99 points. Klopp was named LMA Manager of the Year and Premier League Manager of the Season.

Domestic and International Success

After winning their first three league games of the 2020–21 season, Liverpool lost 7–2 to Aston Villa on 4 October 2020. This was the first time Liverpool conceded seven goals in a league match since 1963. On 22 November, Klopp led Liverpool to a club record 64th consecutive league match unbeaten at Anfield. On 17 December, Klopp was named the Best FIFA Men's Coach for the second year in a row. On 20 December, he won the BBC's Sports Coach of the Year.

A difficult period in early 2021 saw Liverpool drop to eighth place. Many key defenders were injured. However, the team rallied and went undefeated in their last ten league games. They finished 3rd in the league. Klopp relied on new defensive players like Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams. Klopp also got his first win at Old Trafford, home of arch rivals Manchester United.

Klopp celebrating Liverpool winning the domestic cup double in a trophy parade in 2022.

Starting the 2021–22 season strong, Liverpool beat Manchester United 5–0 at Old Trafford on 24 October 2021. This was Klopp's 200th victory in charge of Liverpool, making him the fastest manager to reach this milestone. On 1 December, Liverpool became the first English team to score at least two goals in 18 straight games across all competitions. On 7 December, Liverpool became the first English club to win all six Champions League group games. On 16 December, Klopp reached 150 league wins faster than any other Liverpool manager.

On 27 February 2022, he led Liverpool to their first domestic final since 2016. They beat Chelsea 11–10 on penalties in the 2022 EFL Cup final. This was Liverpool's record ninth League Cup win. On 28 April, Klopp signed a two-year contract extension until 2026. In the 2022 FA Cup final on 14 May, Liverpool won their first FA Cup since 2006, again beating Chelsea on penalties. Klopp became the first German manager to win the FA Cup. Liverpool finished second in the Premier League and lost the 2022 UEFA Champions League final to Real Madrid.

Completing the Trophy Set and Departure

On 30 July 2022, Liverpool won the 2022 FA Community Shield by beating Manchester City 3–1. This was Klopp's first Community Shield. On 27 August, Liverpool had a huge 9–0 win over Bournemouth. This was one of the biggest wins in Premier League history. On 12 October, Liverpool beat Rangers 7–1 in the Champions League. Mohamed Salah scored the fastest Champions League hat-trick ever. On 5 March 2023, Liverpool had their biggest win against Manchester United with a 7–0 victory at Anfield.

Liverpool narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification at the end of the 2022–23 season. This was partly due to injuries and some players' form. Klopp said they would "make [the Europa League] our competition" for the next season.

On 26 January 2024, Klopp announced he would leave Liverpool after the 2023–24 season. He said he was "running out of energy" and needed a break. He also said he "wouldn't manage another team in England apart from Liverpool."

Klopp led Liverpool to victory in the 2024 EFL Cup final, beating Chelsea 1–0. The week before Klopp's final game was filled with tributes. On 17 May 2024, his last match was a 2–0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield. After the game, there was a special ceremony. Klopp and his team wore special jumpers. He gave a speech, encouraging fans to welcome the new manager, Arne Slot. He even started a chant for Arne Slot. The farewell ended with a singing of "You'll Never Walk Alone" and tears in the stadium. A special event called "An evening with Jurgen Klopp" was held later.

Klopp is no longer Liverpool's manager, but he is an ambassador for the LFC Foundation, the club's charity. He said he would be there if the city needed him. On 31 July 2024, Klopp announced his retirement from coaching.

Manager Profile

Tactics and Style of Play

Klopp is famous for Gegenpressing. This is a tactic where the team immediately tries to win the ball back after losing it. Klopp believes winning the ball back quickly can create more chances than a playmaker. He said, "The best moment to win the ball is immediately after your team just lost it." This tactic needs a lot of speed, organization, and energy. The goal is to get the ball back high up the field to stop counter-attacks.

Klopp's teams often scored many goals. But sometimes, they also conceded goals. However, Klopp improved his tactics. He added more possession-based football and better defense. He also brought in players like Alisson Becker and Virgil Van Dijk. These changes helped Liverpool have their best league start ever in 2018–19.

Klopp was influenced by Italian coach Arrigo Sacchi and his former coach Wolfgang Frank. Klopp said he learned everything about coaching from them.

Klopp believes emotion is very important in football. He said, "Tactical things are so important, you cannot win without tactical things, but the emotion makes the difference." He thinks football is the only sport where emotion has such a big impact.

In his first two full seasons at Liverpool, Klopp mostly used a 4–3–3 formation. He used a front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, and Roberto Firmino. They were called the 'Fab Four' and scored most of the team's goals. Roberto Firmino, a striker, made many tackles, showing Klopp's demand for high-pressing from all players.

How People See Klopp

Klopp is often seen as a leader in modern football's Gegenpressing style. Other managers and players consider him one of the best in the world. Pep Guardiola once said Klopp might be "the best manager in the world at creating teams who attack." Klopp is also praised for building strong teams without spending as much money as some rivals. He focuses on long-term success.

Klopp is also known as a great motivator. Liverpool player Roberto Firmino said, "He motivates us in a different way every day." Guardiola called him a "huge motivator." In 2019, a football official said Klopp had "redefined man-management." He was also praised for his consistent success in European competitions. Jonathan Wilson described Klopp as "a hugely charismatic figure who inspires players."

Klopp is famous for his excited celebrations on the touchline. He was criticized once for running onto the pitch to celebrate a late goal. But Pep Guardiola defended him, saying it was due to "a lot of emotions."

Klopp's Coaching Team

Klopp worked closely with Željko Buvač as his assistant manager from 2001 to 2018. Buvač was often called Klopp's "right-hand man" or "the brain." Buvač left Liverpool in 2018 for personal reasons.

Another important person was Peter Krawietz, an assistant manager at Liverpool. Krawietz worked with Klopp since 1996 as a video analyst at Mainz. He followed Klopp to Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool. Krawietz was known as Klopp's "eyes," focusing on analysis and scouting. Krawietz also left Liverpool at the same time as Klopp.

Pepijn Lijnders, known as 'Pep,' was another assistant manager. He was already at Liverpool when Klopp arrived. Lijnders is more hands-on in training. Klopp called him "a real energiser." Lijnders also left Liverpool to start his own managerial career.

Other members of Klopp's coaching team included Vitor Matos, John Achterberg (goalkeeping coach), Jack Robinson (assistant goalkeeping coach), and former Brazilian goalkeeper Claudio Taffarel.

After Managing Liverpool

In October 2024, Klopp signed with Red Bull as their new Head of Global Football. He started this role on 1 January 2025. His contract allows him to apply for the German national team job if it becomes available. Some people in Germany criticized this move because Klopp had previously criticized the multi-club model used by Red Bull.

On 1 October 2024, Klopp received the Federal Order of Merit. This award was given by the German President for his contributions to democracy and football.

Outside Football

Personal Life

Klopp has been married twice. He has a son, Marc, from his first marriage. Marc has played for several German football clubs. On 5 December 2005, Klopp married Ulla Sandrock, a social worker and children's writer. She has a son from a previous marriage. In February 2021, Klopp's mother, Elisabeth, passed away. He could not attend her funeral due to travel restrictions.

Klopp is good friends with fellow manager David Wagner. They met while playing for Mainz. Wagner was Klopp's best man at his 2005 wedding.

Klopp is a Lutheran and has spoken about his religious faith. He said his faith became more important after his father's death in 1998.

Media and Endorsements

In 2005, Klopp became a regular football expert on German TV. He analyzed the Germany national team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2008. He won an award for "Best Sports Show." He also worked for RTL during the 2010 World Cup, winning the award again.

Klopp's popularity has led to many advertisements. He has worked with brands like Puma, Opel, and German banks. He is also an ambassador for the German anti-racism campaign "Respect! No room for racism." In 2019, he became an ambassador for Erdinger, a German brewery. In 2020, he signed a deal with Adidas. In 2021, he appeared in an ad for Snickers. In October 2024, Trivago named Klopp the face of their new global marketing campaign.

Career Statistics

Managerial Statistics

Honours

Mainz 05

• 2. Bundesliga third-place promotion: 2003–04

Borussia Dortmund

• Bundesliga: 2010–11, 2011–12
• DFB-Pokal: 2011–12; runner-up: 2013–14, 2014–15
• DFL-Supercup: 2013, 2014
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2012–13

Liverpool

• Premier League: 2019–20
• FA Cup: 2021–22
• Football League Cup/EFL Cup: 2021–22, 2023–24; runner-up: 2015–16
• FA Community Shield: 2022
• UEFA Champions League: 2018–19; runner-up: 2017–18, 2021–22
• UEFA Super Cup: 2019
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2019
• UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2015–16

Individual

• German Football Manager of the Year: 2011, 2012, 2019
• VDV Bundesliga Coach of the Season: 2010–11
• Deutscher Fernsehpreis: 2006, 2010
• Onze d'Or Coach of the Year: 2019
• The Best FIFA Men's Coach: 2019, 2020
• IFFHS World's Best Club Coach: 2019
• IFFHS Men's World Team: 2019
• World Soccer Awards World Manager of the Year: 2019
• Globe Soccer Awards Best Coach of the Year: 2019
• LMA Hall of Fame: 2019
• LMA Manager of the Year: 2019–20, 2021–22
• Premier League Manager of the Season: 2019–20, 2021–22
• Premier League Manager of the Month: September 2016, December 2018, March 2019, August 2019, September 2019, November 2019, December 2019, January 2020, May 2021, January 2024
• BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award: 2020
• Freedom of the City of Liverpool: 2022
• Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany: 2024

See also

In Spanish: Jürgen Klopp para niños

• List of English football championship-winning managers
• List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League winning managers
• List of UEFA Super Cup winning managers
• List of FIFA Club World Cup winning managers
• List of DFB-Pokal winning managers
• List of FA Cup winning managers