Jurgen Klopp’s arrival at Liverpool was met with such frenzy that it would only be slightly lazy journalism to compare it to Beatlemania - certainly, Britain was enthralled by the charismatic German taking the reins at Anfield.
With his stylish black-rimmed glasses, preference for jeans over suit trousers, boisterous nature and generous belly-laughs, Klopp’s arrival felt like a coup for the entire Premier League.
And his first press conference after arriving on Merseyside, in October 2015, saw him charm the nation further, with generous sprinklings of humour and confidence. In an era where the cult of personality dominates football management, Klopp is a success story with few equals, having rebuilt Borussia Dortmund to such an extent that they now possess a cult following across Europe.
But how did he do it?
From growing up with his demanding father, through his own mediocre playing career, to developing a playing style blueprint – gegenpressen - that revolutionised modern football, this book takes a shallow dive into Jurgen Klopp’s story. For a man of many words, Klopp could fill several volumes - but this concise, focussed book centres on the key elements of his success. Where he came from, how he built his reputation, and what Liverpool - and the Premier League - can expect from the ‘normal one’.
He claims to be extra ordinary - when, in fact, he is extraordinary.
