76 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
“HERE HE IS!”
It is a measure of Jür-
gen Klopp’s popularity that when Megan Rapinoe
and Alex Morgan, world soccer stars in their own
right, attended FIFA’s recent awards gala in Milan,
they did not go out of their way to meet Lionel
Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo—but they did make
a boisterous beeline for Klopp, the 52-year-old
German, now in his fifth season at Liverpool, who
today may be the best coach in any sport. At the
very least he’s the most charismatic, a fist-pumping
force of nature who smothers players in bear hugs
after games, which these days almost always end
in victory. Entering 2020, the reigning Champi-
ons League winners had claimed a stunning 58
Premier League points, winning 19 of 20 games.
J RGEN
HAPPY, SHINY
L OVEFE ST
THE MAGNETIC MANAGER JUST WANTS TO MAKE CONNECTIONS...
K LOPP ’S
BY
GRA NT
WA HL
PHOTOGRAPH BY
JAN KRUGE R /
GETTY IMAGES
