Jurgen Klopp has introduced a Germany ritual that echoes Liverpool's famous 'This Is Anfield' tradition, which he once stopped his players from following until they had won silverware. The former Reds boss was appointed Germany manager on a four-year deal in the summer.
He left his role at Red Bull to replace Julian Nagelsmann following his resignation after a disappointing World Cup. Klopp, 59, had spent 19 months as Red Bull's global head of soccer after leaving Liverpool in 2024 and had emerged as a leading candidate for the national team job.
New Motto Central to Preparations
Germany face Serbia and the Netherlands in the Nations League this month, with Klopp making a new motto central to his preparations. The former Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool manager has installed a poster in the dressing room bearing the words: "For you, for us, for Germany".
In a DFB video on YouTube, he explains: "There is no 'for me' because the national team is not for me, but for you, for us and damn for Germany." Players touch the lettering for luck before matches, mirroring the tradition associated with the 'This Is Anfield' sign at Liverpool.
Earning the Right to Touch the Sign
However, Klopp took a different approach during his early days on Merseyside, insisting his players had to earn the right to touch the famous sign by winning a trophy. Klopp said in 2016: "I've told my players not to touch the 'This Is Anfield' sign until they win something. It's a sign of respect. I touched it when I was manager of Borussia Dortmund but we lost 4-0."
Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum were the only Liverpool players to touch the famous 'This Is Anfield' sign before the Reds' victory over Norwich in 2019. Klopp had barred his squad from following the longstanding tradition of touching the sign on their way onto the pitch until they had won silverware with the club. That restriction was lifted after Liverpool won the Champions League in 2019, beating Tottenham 2-0 in the final.
Klopp's Anfield Exit
Klopp brought his nine-year spell at Anfield to a close after the 2023/24 season. "I have to [say] I will leave the club at the end of the season," Klopp said at the time. "I can understand that it's a shock for a lot of people in this moment when you hear it for the first time, but obviously I can explain it or at least try to explain it. I love absolutely everything about this club. I love everything about the city, I love everything about our supporters.
"I love the team. I love the staff. I love everything. That I still take this decision it shows you that I am convinced it's the one I have to take. It is that I am, how can I say this? I am running out of energy and I have no problem now, obviously, I think I know it for already longer that I will have to announce it at one point. But I am absolutely fine now but I also know that I cannot do the job again and again and again.
"And after all the times we've had together after all the time we've spent together, the things we went through together, the respect grew for you, the love grew for you and the least thing I owe you is the truth. And that is the truth."
