Jurgen Klopp is widely regarded as the man who laid the foundations for Liverpool’s current dominance, but he was unable to reap the full rewards of his work at Anfield
Ex-Liverpool forward Peter Crouch has suggested Jurgen Klopp may have felt “hurt” witnessing the club’s Premier League title triumph under new management. The Reds secured the top-flight trophy in their debut season with Arne Slot at the helm, clinching the title with five matches to spare to marking a dream start for the Dutchman.
There were initial concerns about potential teething problems Slot might face after stepping into the shoes of one of the Premier League’s most celebrated coaches. However, after his switch from Feyenoord last summer, Slot swiftly conquered England’s top tier and instantly carved his name into Anfield’s history books.
Naturally, he took over a far more gifted squad than the one Klopp inherited back in October 2015, a fact that won’t be lost on the German. And Crouch, 44, hinted there might be a part of the legendary Reds boss that wishes it was him who had ushered in this latest success, having played such a pivotal role in restoring the club to its current glory.
“It must hurt him a little bit,” said Crouch on the latest episode of That Peter Crouch Podcast (via the Liverpool Echo). “I know he won’t say it publicly… when he sees Arne Slot [celebrating] in front of the Kop.
“It was quite emotional, I thought. Watching them all lined up in front of the Kop, kind of looking at them going, ‘That’s my team.’ I don’t care who you are – that hurts. You’re like, ‘Well I should be there.'”
The fact Klopp left Liverpool a year before his contract was due to expire suggests there may be truth to this assumption. He chose to end his tenure early having cited burnout and the need for a prolonged break.
Klopp’s legacy remains unblemished as the manager who signed Liverpool legends like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, both of whom have pledged to stay at the club beyond this summer. Meanwhile, Slot appears to have profited from Manchester City’s collapse and the likes of Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, and Bournemouth making up ground.
In a somewhat clumsy comparison, host Chris Stark likened the situation to seeing an ex-partner “thriving” with someone new. And that feeling might motivate one to move on and build a new legacy, as Klopp might do with another club, according to recent speculation.
There have been murmurs that Klopp = who won every major trophy with the Reds during his tenure – is growing restless as Red Bull’s Head of Global Soccer and is considering a return to coaching. Having taken on the role in January, he is already being linked with a potential coaching comeback in the near future.
Real Madrid are reportedly one of the few clubs who might be able to tempt Klopp. The Spanish giants face a potentially trophy-less season, piling pressure on Carlo Ancelotti to clinch La Liga as their last shot at silverware.
A move to Madrid might be seen as a betrayal by some Liverpool fans, especially after their contentious defeat to Real in the 2022 Champions League final. However, Klopp would find a familiar face in Trent Alexander-Arnold, who announced his departure from Anfield this week and is expected to join Real this summer.
Ancelotti, 65, has another year left on his contract in Madrid, and it would be surprising if he were let go this summer. Even if Real end the season without a title – excluding the UEFA Super Cup or Intercontinental Cup – the Italian has likely earned the right to see out his Bernabeu stay on his own terms.
Football would certainly benefit from Klopp making a swift return to management. And it would be almost poetic if Liverpool’s resurgence to Premier League dominance served as the catalyst for that comeback.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
