Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has undertaken the challenging task of selecting his personal 'Mount Rushmore of football managers', a definitive list of the four most legendary coaches in the sport's history. Notably, the 58-year-old German, who now serves as Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull, left his own name off the prestigious shortlist.
Klopp's Definitive Quartet of Legends
Taking to Instagram, Klopp described the selection as a 'really difficult' endeavour. He began with two visionary figures who fundamentally shaped modern football. Johan Cruyff was his first pick, hailed by Klopp as 'the most influential football coach I have ever heard of,' praising his unparalleled understanding of the game.
His second choice was his great rival, Pep Guardiola. Klopp stated you could say 'exactly the same' about the Manchester City boss, acknowledging the immense difficulty of facing his teams. Their famed rivalry spanned nearly a decade in Germany and England, with Klopp edging the head-to-head record 11 wins to 10, though Guardiola claimed more silverware.
The Final Two Spots and Tough Omissions
For his third selection, Klopp turned to Sir Alex Ferguson, labelling the former Manchester United manager 'the most successful of all time' and a figure he personally admires. The final decision proved the most contentious.
Klopp debated including modern great Carlo Ancelotti or Liverpool icons Bob Paisley and Bill Shankly. In the end, he chose the founder of the Reds' dynasty, stating, 'I want to see Bill Shankly on the Mount Rushmore.'
Notable Names Left Off the List
The selection inevitably meant high-profile omissions. Despite Klopp previously calling him 'the most influential person in football Germany has ever had,' German legend Franz Beckenbauer did not make the cut.
Perhaps more surprising for Premier League fans were the absences of Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger, who between them won six English top-flight titles. Their exclusion underscores the intensely personal and debatable nature of such a legendary shortlist, curated by one of the game's own modern greats.
