Sunday 1 April 2018 22:24, UK
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp reflects on a selection of firsts from his career in football with Soccer AM's Fenners.
From humbles beginnings as a striker turned defender, to walking out at Anfield for the very first time as Liverpool manager, the charismatic German looks back on some defining moments...
It was VfB Stuttgart. But I couldn't afford a proper shirt so my grandma knitted a jumper with a big red stripe across it. It was great, if not a little itchy! I loved it.
I played for Mainz, it wasn't a great game. But we won 2-1, I didn't score but made a goal with a cross. I was a striker until I was 25. I came to the Bundesliga when I was 23 so had two years before they started thinking they should use this very tall, immobile player in another position. I didn't care though, I only wanted to play.
It came from a cross from the right, probably. The goalkeeper tried to make a save. I was not a lot but I was quick, surprisingly quick for a really tall player. The 'keeper was waiting for the ball and I came from behind, took one touch and put it in the goal with a second touch. I really thought it was the start of something big! I was always lively when I celebrated, I always looked angry and bit my teeth!
I have probably had a few moments. I cried in 1997 when we [Mainz] kind of had a final. We don't have play-offs in Germany but by coincidence, we had third versus fourth against Wolfsburg in the second division. We needed to win to go up while a draw was enough for them. We spectacularly lost 5-4 and there was no penalty shootout!
A few weeks later after my first season as a manager we needed a draw on the last day of the season and we lost the game and didn't get promoted. After that, I felt the full responsibility for all of these people having been so close to what felt like a once in a lifetime chance.
Yes, that was against MSV Duisburg. They made me a manager in Mainz because they couldn't find anybody else - seriously, that's the truth, I have no problem with that. I played on Sunday, the manager took me off and I was the manager on Monday. MSV Duisburg were fighting for promotion and we were fighting against relegation and we won 1-0. There were big celebrations and that is when everything started.
I never wrote things down that I thought were interesting as a player. I always believed I would keep the important things in my mind and forget all the rest. It felt like I was better prepared for my first team talk than anything else in my whole life. The most influential manager I ever had, Wolfgang Frank, had a team meeting, I remembered that and used it as a basis. It was about the last five per cent being very important on top of the 95 per cent everyone was investing. I loved it, to be honest.
We lost 4-0 with Dortmund!
Absolutely special. To be 100 per cent honest, I love the history of the club and Liverpool. Being at Anfield in the dug-out, seeing the sign, going down the stairs, going up the stairs and standing really close to the other manager is really special, although I thought it was strange how the other manager could hear everything I was saying!
But it's an incredible feeling. When I won things in the past I didn't feel proud but in that moment I felt a little bit proud to have the opportunity.
We lost! That was the first very unfair moment because we were clearly better but we didn't score and then Wayne (Rooney) scored after a set piece. Then we had to go home. It was not nice. I don't have many memories from the league games against United, but what was really exceptional was the Europa League matches that season.
When we played them at home we didn't smash them but we won the game and there was a fantastic atmosphere - crazy good. I loved it. We won and think that's how football should be; you could feel everyone was involved, everyone wanted to help and push.
Then we went to Old Trafford and I was like 'wow, not too bad as well'. It's a good stadium and the result was massive. It's a big rivalry and I like that, I had that with Dortmund and Schalke. I don't hate anybody, it's just football - let's live it and enjoy it. As long as we keep it in football, I love it.
