Klopp’s exit from Anfield is a heart-breaking one for fans across the globe to take as he’ll soon return to his native Germany alongside wife Ulla Sandrock.
The pair – who met at Oktoberfest in Munich – have been married since 2005 and have been active members of the community with Ulla committing her time, effort, and money to the local area.
The children’s novelist made a “substantial” donation to the Formby Community Football Club during lockdown back in 2020 which allowed for food and medicine deliveries at a time when many were struggling.
She provided consistent support to the community where she also handed out £1,000 worth of food vouchers to staff at Waitrose shop in Formby as a “thank you” with the Liverpool Echo understanding 20 separate £50 vouchers for the store were passed by the Liverpool manager’s wife to the staff that were present on the shop floor at the time.
It was down to Ulla that Klopp’s reign at Liverpool has lasted as long as it has after the 56-year-old admitted her desire to remain in England prompted him to sign a contract extension in 2022.
Speaking at the time, Klopp joked that he was being a “good husband” by honouring the wishes of his wife by lengthening his deal to 2026 despite initially aiming to leave the club in 2024.
He said on Liverpool’s X account: “There’s something to announce. Like last time some will like it, some will not like it too much. If you don’t like it, stop watching now.“I stay for another two years… and only me. No, all my coaches will as well, which is the most important actually. Why? Is now the question. Because Ulla wants to stay and as a good husband what are you doing when your wife wants to stay? You are staying.
He then added: “The most important contract I signed in my life was the one with Ulla. And that’s why it start again, because actually we sat at the kitchen table and Ulla said ‘I can’t see us leaving in 2024’. I said ‘what?’. That’s how it all started and when that started I thought ‘let’s have a think’.”
Liverpool reaction to Jurgen Klopp’s Red Bull move is disappointingJurgen Klopp’s association with the Red Bull group has been a hot topic this week. During the international break, the legendary Liverpool manager found himself in the crosshairs of criticism.
One irate Borussia Dortmund fan on a popular Reds-related social media account declared him “Dead to me”, while back in Germany, the 2020 Premier League winner was harshly dubbed “as fake as his teeth”.
Rival fans saw this apparent shift as the evidence they’ve been waiting for; proof that the jovial, bear-hugging Klopp isn’t quite the virtuous everyman he’s often portrayedportrayed.
The enthusiasm some Liverpool-centric fan accounts showed in amplifying anonymous anger towards a former manager who provided them with some of their most memorable moments as supporters was also a disappointing aspect.
However, during a two-week gap without the current Premier League leaders in action, it’s no surprise to see the content machine churning by any means necessary.
Klopp has always been true to himself, never pretending to be anything other than who he is. The media often painted a caricature of him during his time in Liverpool, especially whe the team was winning and his infectious smile lit up Anfield.
However, those who interacted with Klopp regularly over the nine years knew that there was more to him than just the jovial character.
He had a fiery and combative side that was displayed as much as his cheerful demeanor, reports the Liverpool Echo.His laughter was genuine, but so were his stern reprimands and disagreements.
Essentially, Klopp is human and any perceived fall from grace is purely in the minds of rival club supporters. His decision to join Red Bull as their new global head of soccer has been likened by Liverpool fans to Alan Partridge shrugging in an internet meme.
In Germany, Red Bull’s involvement in football is met with greater opposition due to their lack of traditional heritage in the sport.
Leipzig, their most successful European football venture, is viewed as completely inauthentic by fans in Klopp’s homeland. The multi-club model is becoming increasingly common in today’s football landscape.
So much so, that Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, are looking to follow suit.This hasn’t been met with open arms by all Reds fans, but it hasn’t led to a mass return of season tickets or widespread protests either.
It’s interesting to note that FSG waited until Klopp announced his departure at the end of the season before ramping up their efforts to expand their portfolio.
The 2019 Champions League winner’s new role has been met with mild surprise, given how quickly he’s returned to football following his emotional farewell at Anfield.
However, any criticism of Klopp this week seems to be coming from those who have little interest in Red Bull and its associated clubs in Germany, Austria, New York and Brazil.
In a world where top-tier leagues are embroiled in legal battles with their champions and countries with questionable human rights records are allowed to own beloved community assets, Klopp has always represented more wholesome and traditional values, even if these were largely projected onto him by others.
For many, he’s the football manager who received praise from the World Health Organisation for his COVID-19 messaging, a man who dismissed any idea of supporting right-wing politics, and a German native unafraid to voice his disapproval of Britain’s decision to leave the European Union.
His authenticity is what garnered him such admiration from certain circles. This might shed light on why some are genuinely disappointed by Klopp’s new career move.
However, in a sport that is increasingly disconnected from reality, it’s important to remember that not all wrongs should be judged equally.
