This perfectly encapsulates why Jurgen Klopp is loved by fans.
The German coach became a revered figure at Borussia Dortmund thanks to his high-energy playing philosophy, the team’s success and his own affable nature.
Klopp’s charisma ensured that he became legend at Dortmund and, less than 12 months after becoming Liverpool boss, it appears the same is happening with at Anfield.
In a recent interview with Gabrielle Marcotti on ESPN, Klopp revealed the first thing did once he accepted the position as Liverpool manager. It sums why he’s such a fan favourite, and how he manages to foster a connection between the team and those on the terraces.
Klopp, rather than assess the Liverpool squad, or identify new players, chose to watch a documentary on the Hillsborough disaster – which claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool supporters in 1989 – in an attempt to gain a greater insight into the club’s history.
According to Marcotti:
“When he decided to accept the club’s offer, the first thing he did was watch the Hillsborough documentary. He says he knew about it, but felt he needed to do more. Then he grew more engaged, meeting the families and understanding more not just about the tragedy, but of the 27-year fight for justice that followed.”
Klopp goes on to say how the unity displayed by the families of the victims for 27 years, and the wider community in Liverpool, is what “makes this city special”.
“I love this city for what they did in the 27 years after Hillsborough. The nonstop fight for justice, the way they all stuck together. At the memorial, I heard Evertonians talking about it and how they were affected and the respect that exists.
“You know, it’s easy to say it’s only football, but here there is so much more behind it. In such an awful tragedy, we saw so much unity in a city like Liverpool. I don’t think that’s something to take for granted. There are many other places where it would not happen. That’s one of the things that makes this city special.”
