The focus of Premier League and world football fans last night should have been on the final matches between Manchester City versus West Ham and Arsenal versus Everton. The final two matches will determine the Premier League champions for the 2023/2024 season.
However, it was the Liverpool versus Wolverhampton match at Anfield that attracted attention and drained emotions. Especially for Reds fans. This match was manager Juergen Klopp’s final match since managing Liverpool for nine years.
The entire Anfield and millions of eyes around the world witnessed farewell to the manager who had changed Liverpool’s face to become respected again after being reduced to a mediocre team. A German man who feels worthy of being an honorary citizen of the City of Liverpool. Friends and foes alike, they will always take their hats off to him.
At the end of January 2024, Klopp announced his intention to leave Liverpool at the end of this season. At that time the world was shocked, but slowly the fans were able to accept the decision. Liverpool at that time was comfortably at the top of the Premier League standings, entered the Carabao Cup final, and was still in the Europa League and FA Cup competitions.
Fans even hoped that Liverpool would be able to win all the titles as Klopp’s farewell gift. But unexpectedly, only the Carabao Cup was able to be won. Finishing third in the final Premier League standings behind Manchester City and Arsenal, as well as failure in the Europa League and FA Cup, seemed to justify the reason Klopp left because he had “run out of gas.”
“I’m running out of energy,” he said at the time. Yes, even though Liverpool in Klopp’s hands has emerged as one of the regular competitors of luxury club Manchester City, fans can certainly feel that Liverpool’s machine sometimes stalls.
The glorious era of the attacking trident of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohammed Salah has become a distant memory. Only Salah still survives, and that leaves a puzzle about his future.
Klopp’s cold hands made Liverpool again a team that opponents feared. Always playing offensively, with a heavy pressing style and often labeled as heavy metal football.
One of the most iconic wins was when he destroyed Barcelona, which at that time was still supported by Lionel Messi. Liverpool made an incredible comeback from 0-3 down in the first leg of the 2019 Champions League semi-final, to a 4-0 win in the second leg in front of the Anfield crowd.
Klopp as a person is also known for his warm personality towards everyone. The world football public will lose one of the figures who made football humanistic and entertaining.
Gary O’Neill, Wolverhampton manager, hugged Jurgen Klopp tightly after his team was beaten by Liverpool in the last match of the season. O’Neill and many other managers will definitely lose rival managers who make them nervous every time they face them.
Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Wolves no longer means anything in the standings. But more than that, the farewell match was a sweet little gift for Jurgen Klopp.
There are very few moments when a coach or manager leaves a club, the fans, players and staff celebrate with great emotion. Especially in the current era of modern football, more and more coaches are leaving due to being fired and of course there are no special events to mark moments like that.
Klopp is different. He deserves a farewell moment like a legend. He deserves a “guard of honor” from the players who love him. He also deserves honor from the supporters who continue to cheer and sing his name.
Jurgen Klopp’s era at Liverpool has ended. But his name will remain forever in the minds of Reds supporters.
Now, Liverpool is waiting for the arrival of Arne Slot, the Dutchman who will continue the baton from Klopp’s hands. A tough task awaits Slot, because it is not an easy matter to continue a team that was once managed by a legend. Danke Klopp, you’ll never walk alone.
ASL
