Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has undertaken the formidable task of selecting his personal Mount Rushmore of football's greatest ever coaches, naming an iconic quartet that includes two legendary figures from the Premier League era.
Klopp's Monumental Quartet
The German, who now serves as Global Head of Soccer for Red Bull, compiled his shortlist during a recent discussion, deliberately omitting his own name from consideration. Klopp immediately pointed to Johan Cruyff as his first and most foundational choice, hailing the late Dutch master's unparalleled influence on how the game is understood and played.
"Johan Cruyff, [the] most influential football coach I have ever heard of," Klopp stated. "The way he saw football, the way he understood football, is just second to none."
He then turned to his great modern rival, Pep Guardiola, placing the Manchester City boss alongside Cruyff for his transformative tactical vision. Klopp, who finished his coaching career with a winning head-to-head record against Guardiola but only beat him to one Premier League title, has frequently expressed his admiration for the Catalan's genius.
Ferguson's Legacy and a Liverpool Legend
The selection then became "really tricky," according to Klopp. For the third spot, he chose Sir Alex Ferguson, the iconic former Manchester United manager who secured 13 Premier League titles. Klopp cited not only the Scot's phenomenal success but also his personal fondness for him.
The final decision proved the most difficult, with Klopp weighing up several illustrious names. He acknowledged the claims of modern greats like Carlo Ancelotti and Liverpool's most successful manager, Bob Paisley. However, he ultimately awarded the fourth place on his footballing monument to Bill Shankly, the foundational figure who rebuilt Liverpool Football Club, winning three league titles and two FA Cups between 1959 and 1974.
"I heard so much about them, never saw them," Klopp said of Shankly and Paisley. "But yes, I want to see Bill Shankly on the Mount Rushmore. That's it."
Notable Omissions from the List
In narrowing his list down to just four, Klopp's choices inevitably meant snubbing several other all-time greats. Most prominently, Jose Mourinho, a fellow multiple Champions League winner, did not make the cut. Similarly, Carlo Ancelotti, the current Real Madrid boss and the most decorated manager in Champions League history, was mentioned but ultimately left out of the final selection.
Klopp's Mount Rushmore, therefore, celebrates a blend of profound influence, sustained domestic dominance, and club-building legacy, offering a unique insight into what the former Liverpool boss values most in football management.
