Above A positive
mood around the
Melwood training
base has brought
everyone togetherhappened. We have a responsibility for the past. But not everyone
cares. If not all your lights are switched on, perhaps it’s easier to
ignore it, but if you have proper morals, if you’re a Christian or
whatever, you can’t.On TAKInG THE LIVERPOOL JOB
BISHOP Liverpool is, for want of a better phrase, a socialist city. I
think you’ve bonded with the people of Liverpool in a way that’s really
special. But I wanted to ask you about your reaction when you were
offered the chance to manage Liverpool. Why did you feel it was right
for you?
KLOPP I knew a little bit about the city because I was here a couple of
years ago for a commercial and I saw the Albert Dock. People told me
about the ongoing regeneration of the city. But I didn’t know much
more. As a football fan, I knew that the club wasn’t in a good
moment and hadn’t been for the previous four or five years, with the
exception of very nearly becoming champions. Of course, I knew
Liverpool had this incredible history of winning trophies both in
Europe and at home.
To be honest with you, I really wanted to bring that glory back to
the club. It was clear to me that the heart of the club was brilliant;
it was like a garden that needed a bit of work to bring the flowers
back again.
I knew that it wasn’t the best team Liverpool had ever had, but I
liked a lot of the players. I really wanted the job. I can’t explain“As I was travelling to meet
Jurgen Klopp, I wondered
what he would be like. He’s
brought great personality
and energy to the Premier
League, but I thought, ‘Is
that all just bravado? Is it
just a show for games, or
will he be different at the
training ground?’
But when I met him, he
wasn’t different at all. He was
so open. It was a joy to be in his
company – especially as a
Liverpool fan.
There has been a lineage of
Liverpool managers, all the way
back to Bill Shankly, who have
had a relationship with the fans.
That has always been pivotal, as
has the relationship between
supporters and players. At times
in recent years, we hadn’t that
understanding, but Jurgen has
bonded with the fans in a pretty
unique way. Nobody has had
that same connection since
Kenny Dalglish was manager.
But that’s not the only thing
he’s achieved. Football is results
driven, so winning the
European Cup was massive –
it got that monkey off his back,
of getting to finals and then
not winning. Now Klopp’s
legacy is secured.
I was there for the
Champions League final in
Madrid. It was brilliant. I mean,
it was a crap game – I really
enjoyed the first minute and
the last couple of minutes. I
hated the rest of it! I was so
tense, but there was such a
sense of relief after the final
whistle. It was brilliant to win,
and not be the team who had
lost successive Champions
League finals. It doesn’t feel
like the apex for this Klopp
team – it feels like the start
of something.
When football is done well, it
looks easy. Sometimes it’s easy
for people to forget that every
guy on the pitch can play
better than every other person
in the stadium. When I’m at
matches, I sometimes hear
fans shouting, ‘You’re s**t!’ at
players. I think, ‘Mate, on his
s**ttest day, he will still be 100
times better than you on your
best day!’
I know how hard it must be
to play at that level. I played in
non-league for Runcorn, Hyde,
Southport, Witton and Winsford.
I played in the Welsh League,
too, for Caernarfon, and it was
bizarre going to the middle of
Wales, playing in little villages.
My brother Eddie made it as
a pro at Chester and Tranmere- he was aggressive, known for
picking up yellow and red
cards, but he was a lot better
than me.
I was never good enough to
be a pro, but I go to Liverpool
matches and now I talk about
football on a new TV show with
Gabby Logan and Peter Crouch.
I can’t believe I’m being paid to
sit and chat about football!
I always say there’s a
hierarchy of jobs: number one is
becoming a footballer, two is a
rock star and three is a
comedian. Being number three
is fine with me.”
John Bishop appears on ‘Back of
the Net’, available on Amazon
Prime Video on Tuesdays after
each Premier League weekend“THE BEST JOBS ARE FOOTBALLER,
THEn ROCK STAR, THEn COMEDIAn ”
John Bishop tells FFT why he ended up going into comedy
rather than football, and explains why Klopp is so special
112 The Managers FourFourTwo.com
JURGEn
KLOPP