Super Sunday’s match against Wolves marked Jurgen Klopp’s last as the manager of Liverpool. A journey that began in 2015, during which the team won seven major titles, including its first-ever Premier League.
“If I sit here in four years, I am pretty confident we will have one title,” Klopp said in his introductory press conference as Liverpool manager in October 2015.
The German made a declaration about a team that had not won the Premier League in 25 years, and he delivered on his promise to end the Reds’ never-ending search for the championship, even though it took him a year longer than he had anticipated.
In his first speech as manager of Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp emphasized that the ultimate test of success is not what people think of you when you’re there, but rather what they think of you when you’re gone.
As a beaming Klopp disappeared down the tunnel for the final time as Liverpool manager in front of packed stands on a glorious Merseyside Sunday night, the German was in no doubt about Anfield’s feelings.
Klopp, clad in a red T-shirt with ‘I’ll Never Walk Alone Again’ on the rear and ‘Thank You Luv’, the phrase he closely associates with the city of Liverpool, on the front, was accompanied by roars of appreciation, smiles and plenty of tears.
It was the finale of a nine-year thrill ride summed up by a banner stretching across the full length of The Kop before kick-off that provided a neat three-word summary of Klopp’s reign from first day to last.
Liverpool ended a season that brought third place and a Carabao Cup with a 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers that gave Klopp his 299th victory in 491 games. Of 167 league games at Anfield, he lost only 12.
This was a football match that took place around Klopp, not in front of him.
Indeed, until the celebrations and tributes kicked into gear near the final whistle, the normally highly animated, often agitated, manager was a low-key figure.
Instead of stalking the technical area, Klopp sat with his devoted and trusted lieutenant Peter Krawietz, who seemed satisfied to simply enjoy the final ninety minutes at the stadium where he made history.
On such a special day, Liverpool’s supporters only desired to honour Klopp, whose greatest accomplishments were winning the Champions League in 2019, the team’s sixth victory in the competition, and returning the league title to Anfield for the first time in thirty years the following year.
From the moment thousands of Liverpool fans basked in the sunshine on Anfield Road hours before kick-off waiting to greet Klopp one last time as he took his seat in front of the team coach, this was an occasion that went through the full range of emotions he has brought to the club.
Klopp looked emotional as Anfield belted out You’ll Never Walk Alone, owner John W Henry flying in from Boston, impassive behind his sunglasses, to take a seat in the directors’ box shortly before kick-off, wanting to deliver his thanks to the man who helped him fulfil the dreams he had for Liverpool.
Three sides of Anfield were transformed by mosaics – ‘Danke’ in Anfield Road, ‘Jurgen’ stretching the expanse of the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand, with ‘YNWA’ on The Kop.
Klopp stayed seated, head bowed, clad in a black baseball cap and black T-shirt. The final act of a dramatic sporting story had begun.
In reality, the game was a little more than a pleasant backdrop to Klopp’s farewell with first-half goals from Alex Mac Allister and Jarell Quansah giving Liverpool a deserved 2-0 win.
And then it was time for the finale all Anfield had been waiting for.
He said “I’m so happy. I can’t believe it” before bursting into song as an instrument for passing the Liverpool torch from himself to soon-to-be successor Arne Slot.
If Slot was watching, he might have felt daunted by the task of replacing a manager and personality plenty believe is irreplaceable, but he would have been hugely grateful for such an endorsement from his predecessor, even if it was a musical one.
Preaching to the most converted fanbase in football, Klopp said: “We have you, the superpower of world football. We decide if we are worried or excited. We decide if we believe. We decide if we trust or don’t trust and since today I am one of you and I keep believing in you.”
And then it was time for one final round of Klopp’s fist pumps in front of The Kop, this time accompanied by his support staff, met with the usual staccato roars.
Anfield demanded one final encore of a scene acted out at the end of so many triumphs. Klopp obliged – six for The Kop and three for the surrounding stands.
“I love you to bits,” shouted Klopp, who delivered an optimistic parting shot as he said: “It doesn’t feel like an end. It just feels like a start. Today I saw a football team full of talent, youth, creativity, desire and greed.”
As Klopp pulled out of Anfield late on Sunday night and left Liverpool behind after his long farewell, the curtain closed on an era.