Jürgen Klopp has expressed his support for Andoni Iraola as he takes over as Liverpool’s head coach. However, he emphasizes that for a successful long-term partnership to develop between Iraola and the club, a touch of luck will be essential.
During his nine-year tenure at Liverpool, Klopp led the team to numerous trophies, including their sixth Champions League title and breaking a long-standing drought for the Premier League championship. He shocked many by announcing his resignation during the 2023-24 season.
Following his departure, Arne Slot took the reins and initially guided the team back to the top of the Premier League, but he was dismissed after a disappointing fifth-place finish last season.
Earlier this month, Liverpool officially appointed Andoni Iraola as the new head coach, and Klopp believes he can restore the club’s previous success.
When asked about the team’s struggles last season, Klopp told ESPN, “I have no idea. I’m not close enough to assess that. I was genuinely pleased when they won the league the year before, and I can’t pinpoint what went wrong the following year.”
“It was clear that nobody was satisfied with the season, but qualifying for the Champions League is still a significant achievement. Now, with a new manager in place, Andoni Iraola—a fantastic coach like Arne Slot—the key is for everything to come together and work effectively, which sometimes requires a bit of luck.”
Klopp acknowledged that unexpected circumstances can complicate a team’s performance, referring to the passing of Diogo Jota last summer, which impacted the squad. “I can’t quite explain what happened; last season is behind us, and now they can look towards the future.”
Klopp: We ‘witnessed greatness’ with his good friend Salah
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Klopp reflects on having ‘witnessed greatness’ with Mo Salah at Liverpool.
As the head of global soccer at Red Bull now, Klopp shared insights on his friendship with Mohamed Salah since their time together at Liverpool. He praised Salah’s exceptional skills.
Despite their successful collaboration, there were moments of disagreement, including a notable incident during a Premier League match in 2024. “We’re friends now,” Klopp said. “I always aim to be friendly with my players, though I can’t be their closest friend. While we’re working together, there are times they might feel I’m not their friend due to tough decisions I must make. However, we share strong memories and are friends now as he’s competing in the World Cup.”
Klopp, who brought Salah to Liverpool in a record transfer from Roma ahead of the 2017-18 season, noted Salah’s remarkable impact, scoring over 300 goals for the club before departing last season.
“He’s an exceptional player,” Klopp remarked. “His influence is significant, inspiring many beyond just the Arab world. Egypt is a place I may avoid for vacation, as he has made me quite famous there! We’ve been fortunate to have many outstanding players, but Mo stands out especially due to the remarkable numbers he has produced over the years.”
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When asked how to manage a team when a star player like Salah isn’t performing, Klopp said, “It’s easy to pinpoint issues and suggest improvements. But when you work with him daily, you adapt to the situation. I want him to take risks. If he fails, that’s part of growing; without risk, there’s no excitement or progress. Did he perform perfectly every day? Probably not, but I can’t recall a player who did. As a coach, I always saw areas for improvement, but we truly witnessed greatness during his time here.
“And that’s the truth because he often stepped up, scoring incredible goals and making decisive contributions that elevated us. He remains an incredible professional, and nobody is perfect—not Messi, not Ronaldo, and certainly not Mo Salah—but they come closer than the rest of us.”