Jürgen Klopp's arrival at Liverpool in 2015 marked the beginning of a remarkable transformation that culminated in the club's 19th league title, ending a 30-year wait. The German manager, who was not under pressure to win trophies immediately, set about his own 'Project Restart' at Anfield, reshaping the club's culture and approach.
Klopp's leadership style is characterised by delegation and trust in specialists. He has brought in experts such as fitness coach Andreas Kornmayer and nutritionist Mona Nemmer from Bayern Munich, and even appointed a throw-in coach, Thomas Grønnemark, after researching his world-record throws online. 'You cannot have enough specialists around you,' Klopp explained in 2018.
A key factor in Liverpool's success has been Klopp's relationship with sporting director Michael Edwards. Their offices at Melwood are just 10 feet apart, and Klopp often consults Edwards on transfers. This contrasts sharply with the previous regime under Brendan Rodgers, where a 'transfer committee' was synonymous with waste and drift. Klopp, however, has embraced the structure, saying: 'For me it is enough to have the first and the last word, the middle we can discuss.'
The signing of Sadio Mané in 2016 exemplified this new approach. Klopp had regretted not signing Mané at Borussia Dortmund, and rectified that mistake with Liverpool. The club's recruitment has since been marked by supreme talent identification, with players like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk following Mané through the door.
Klopp's willingness to defer to others on transfers, combined with his tactical vision, has transformed Liverpool from a club in decline into champions of England and Europe. As Sir Alex Ferguson once warned, Klopp has revitalised Liverpool, but not in the way the former Manchester United manager anticipated.
