UCFB’s Assistant Head of Global Marketing & Communications Ray Boggiano looks at how Jurgen Klopp has transformed his beloved Liverpool into Premier League champions.
When Liverpool owners John Henry and Fenway Sports Group used the mathematical model of Cambridge physicist Ian Graham to select Jurgen Klopp as the next manager back in October 2015, the club and the squad were struggling to perform under the weight of history and expectation at one of the world’s greatest sports clubs.
The team was languishing in 10th place, had spent a decade being overly-reliant on the individual brilliance of the likes of Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez and Fernando Torres, and needed another complete rebuild to try to bridge the gap between them and their rivals. In his first press conference, Klopp immediately endeared himself to the Liverpool faithful by proclaiming himself as the “Normal One” and setting out the ambition of winning a title within four years.
For the first few seasons, Klopp transformed the playing style to match his own personality and that of the club’s lifelong supporters – emotional. This approach proved incredibly successful in getting the team to a string of cup finals. The side lost the Capital One Cup final on penalties in 2016, the Europa League final in 2016 and the Champions League final in 2018. In years gone by, Liverpool have followed near-misses or surprising cup runs with the departure of key players and managers, and rebuild after rebuild has not led to a sustained improvement and that final pivotal step from nearly men to champions.
Klopp has proved that he is different. His Liverpool side still has that emotional edge, and the ability to play with passion and exhilarating pace. The 4-0 Anfield victory over Barcelona against all the odds is a perfect example of that. However Klopp has evolved his style and added the cold-blooded determination and professionalism that is needed for the consistency for a sustained title challenge. In stark contrast to the semi-final win, Liverpool approached their second consecutive Champions League final with a steely unemotional performance to get the job done and claim their first major title in this new era, less than four years after Klopp set that target.
After missing out on the Premier League by just a point last season, Klopp’s reds have taken their performances to a whole new level this term. Simultaneously setting the record for the earliest top-flight title win in a season, and the latest in a year, Liverpool have finally ended their 30 year wait for the one that they want the most.
As they sit on their perch as reigning European and world champions, and now champions of England, Klopp’s Liverpool have finally embraced the history of the club rather than be burdened by it. ‘We Are Liverpool: This Means More’ is the campaign slogan, and Klopp has lived and breathed it throughout his tenure.
