‘He won the lot’ – Liverpool fan remembers 10 years since Klopp’s appointment

Klopp Appointment Remembered

Dave Hendrick opened The Daily Red by noting “it is 10 years ago to the day since Jurgen Klopp was appointed Liverpool manager.” Hendrick reflected on Klopp leaving the club “16 17 months” ago but insisted “his impact on the club doesn’t feel like it will ever leave.” He compared Klopp’s influence to Bill Shankley, saying future Liverpool managers “will be building on the foundations that Jurgen Klopp put in place at this club.”

The first memories came thick and fast. Hendrick recalled Brendan Rodgers’ exit, stating “Graeme Kelly had told everybody in the week, we all knew Rogers is gone after the derby no matter what.” He explained how “Graeme comes on an Anfield Index podcast… and says, ‘Look, ignore everything else that you hear. Klopp is the next manager of Liverpool’.” Hendrick contrasted Klopp with alternatives, adding “Carlo’s a finisher. He’s not a builder. Carlo’s the guy you get to come in and dabble with the fenue in your house. Jurgen’s the guy you get to build your house.”

Early Chaos Under Klopp

The first match at Tottenham Hotspur was remembered bluntly. “It’s an ugly nil nil draw,” Hendrick said, before recalling “screenshots of that team… have gone round endlessly as people remind younger fans of how bad things had gotten.” He offered no illusions about the initial period: “The league form wasn’t great that first season. There’s no sugar coating that.”

Yet the excitement soon arrived. Hendrick highlighted the wild Europa League ties, declaring Dortmund away and Anfield were “one of the two real standout results… in terms of the madness of the game. Like it was just insanity.” He relived the 4-3 second leg where “Dejan Lovren with his only good moment in the Liverpool shirt” scored the winner. The Norwich City drama also featured: “That game was a stupid game of football… they scored in the 92nd minute and Lallana scores in the 95th minute.”

Rise To European Glory

Moving to the Champions League journey, Hendrick recalled “we get to a Champions League final against all odds, against all expectations.” Defeats and heartbreak followed before Liverpool finally triumphed. He declared with pride, “We win the European Cup. Jurgen Klopp delivers number six.”

Photo by IMAGO

The Premier League title win was described as unstoppable. Hendrick said Liverpool “absolutely pissed through the league” and insisted the dominant spell “will never be replicated. We play 27 games and win 26 of them with one draw. Nobody’s doing that again.”

Right Time To Say Goodbye

Hendrick was clear about Klopp’s exit. “He left at the right time. It was the right decision,” he said. He argued that Klopp “saved this club from going down a very, very dark path.” He also dismissed attempts to diminish Klopp’s success after Arne Slot won the title, stating “other fans… will take that title as something to beat Jurgen with… It does the opposite. It amplifies his legacy.”

Above all, Hendrick signed off with gratitude. “We will all always owe him a massive thank you because he saved this club.”