Ulla Sandrock's Enduring Liverpool Connection as Klopp Readies Anfield Comeback
The football world is abuzz with the news that Jurgen Klopp is set to make a poignant return to the Liverpool dugout, less than two years after his emotional departure from the managerial hot seat. While fans eagerly anticipate seeing the charismatic German back in the technical area, the occasion holds particular significance for his wife, Ulla Sandrock, who forged a profound bond with the city during their near-decade long residence.
A Manager's Homecoming and a Wife's Home City
Klopp's upcoming appearance will see him team up with fellow Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish as part of the coaching staff for a Liverpool Legends XI at the end of March. Serving as an honorary ambassador for the club's official charity, he will oversee a squad featuring former captain Steven Gerrard in a fundraising match against Borussia Dortmund for the LFC Foundation.
This marks a notable step back into the Anfield fold for Klopp, who announced his Liverpool exit in January 2024 and took charge of his final game at the conclusion of the 2023/24 season, passing the baton to successor Arne Slot. Despite vowing never to manage another Premier League side, he has remained within football's orbit, taking on a role as Red Bull's global head of soccer in 2025.
The German tactician maintained a respectful distance from Anfield until the end of the 2024/25 campaign, when he returned to witness Slot's title-winning side in person after they had secured the Premier League crown. Now, his return to the technical area he occupied for nearly nine years promises to be an emotional moment for all connected with the club.
Ulla Sandrock's Merseyside Legacy: Beyond the Dugout
While Klopp's professional achievements at Liverpool are well-documented, his wife Ulla's contributions to the local community reveal a different dimension to their Merseyside story. Married since 2005 when Klopp was managing Mainz, Sandrock embraced Formby as her home, becoming an integral part of the local fabric.
Her community spirit shone particularly brightly during challenging times. During the 2020 lockdown, she made a significant donation to Formby Community Football Club, supporting grassroots football when it needed it most. Furthermore, the Liverpool ECHO revealed that she distributed £1,000 worth of food vouchers to supermarket workers during the Covid-19 crisis, specifically targeting those who served her at her local Waitrose branch in Formby.
A staff member familiar with the gesture remarked, "This was an incredible thing to do. Typically, Ulla didn't want to make a fuss, or receive any recognition, and just wanted people working in shops to get the recognition they deserve."
The Personal Influence Behind Professional Decisions
The Klopps' connection to Liverpool extended beyond public gestures, with the couple frequently seen at neighbourhood pubs in Formby where they had settled. This deep-rooted bond with the city meant that Klopp's decision to eventually depart Anfield was not taken lightly, with Ulla's perspective playing a crucial role in his career trajectory.
Speaking in 2022 after extending his contract until 2026, Klopp revealed the domestic conversation that preceded his commitment: "The most important contract I signed in my life was the one with Ulla. And that's why it started again, because actually we sat at the kitchen table and Ulla said, 'I can't see us leaving in 2024.'"
He continued, "I said, 'What?' That's how it all started and when that started I thought, 'Let's have a think.'" Although Klopp ultimately stepped away in 2024 regardless, his wife's influence had already secured several additional years at the Liverpool helm.
As Klopp prepares for his dugout return this spring, the occasion represents more than just a footballing reunion. It marks a homecoming to a city that both he and Ulla Sandrock embraced as their own, where her quiet philanthropy and community engagement created a legacy that extends far beyond the touchlines of Anfield.
