One of the men, an Everton, had been at Anfield the previous afternoon to watch a defeat in the Merseyside derby that would send the club he supports to the relegation zone of the Premier League. The other, a Liverpool man, was also present. Their relationship reminds us that empathy still exists in this part of the world. Continuing to feel bad for 24 hours afterwards, the Evertonian had accepted the invitation of Liverpoolian to relax and talk about something else. And so it was, until one of the bar staff spread the remote control and switched the TV to a channel showing the replay of the match. The couple wondered if there was an escape from football. Could it get worse, one of them asked? Then Jürgen Klopp came in with Mark Kosike’s agent. The Liverpool man approached, asking Klopp if he appreciated what happened in his team’s exhausting 2-0 victory. The answer? Something like, “I could not go through it again…” Even Evertonian laughed. Klopp has a sense of place in Formby, where he can live a normal life in relation to the environment. On these long walks in the pine forest and on the beach, he usually holds his hood, but people recognize him because of his height of 6 feet and 3 inches, as well as the company he has. Klopp loves Emma’s dog and when he is at home, the couple is inseparable. Klopp’s relationship with Liverpool to continue (Photo: Paul Ellis / AFP via Getty Images) It’s such a city, Forbes. People know everything about its famous inhabitants, but they keep their distance most of the time. The stories, however, spread quickly. At the start of the pandemic, it was not long before it spread: Klopp and his wife Ulla toured the doctors’ offices in the area and quietly handed out Waitrose vouchers to the receptionists to redistribute among colleagues. With that, financing a weekly store was something less that NHS staff had to think about during the most difficult period of their careers. It was Ulla’s idea, obviously, and it’s ultimately her opinion that matters most to Klopp. Six to eight weeks ago, he turned to her in their kitchen and asked her if she wanted to live this way for a while longer. Instinctively, Ulla said yes, but the experiences from the away goal at the Etihad Stadium in view of Liverpool’s match with Manchester City earlier this month helped to strengthen her point of view. When Liverpool supporters spotted her and started singing I Feel Fine, the Beatles song recently played in honor of her husband, the smile that followed was a mile wide. Sometimes, the family members of footballers and coaches look forward to escaping such situations, but she really realized that then it would be impossible for her husband to leave such an action. It was planned for the couple to return to Germany in 2024, but the house that Klopp and his wife are building there will not be finished until then. COVID-19 also made Klopp think again. The pandemic made him feel like he had lost 18 months of his career, given the obstacles he faced on the pitch. The world in which he worked during this period also made him think about what life would be like after Liverpool, possibly in semi-retirement – and without the regular contact with the sport he loves and the close relationships he brings. Last summer, he took almost eight weeks off due to the European Championships and that gave him time to do many of the things he wanted to do, including family visits and travel. This brought a period of reflection where he was able to get his head around the 2020-21 season, one that almost collapsed in the midst of the probationary personal circumstances of his mother’s death back in Germany. The club he served, he ended up, let him breathe, but key people were also there to hug him when he needed to. In conclusion, he felt that the people at Liverpool cared for him and perhaps he had not reciprocated their kindness because he was very disappointed with his performance as coach. Klopp with his staff in the background, who also stay with him. From left to right: Peter Krawietz, Pep Lijnders, Vitor Matos, John Achterberg, Jack Robinson and Claudio Taffarel (Photo: Andrew Powell / Liverpool FC via Getty Images) As Liverpool’s 2021-22 campaign reached a point of incredible opportunity, he began to think about his next move. Klopp expected to talk to the club about his future next autumn, but a fortnight ago, with Liverpool approaching an unprecedented quadruple, he realized it would be a good time to start contact rather than six months away when the mood could have changed. Klopp called his agent and asked him to contact John W Henry, the main owner of Fenway Sports Group (FSG), to see if he would be interested in talking about extending his stay in Merseyside. From afar, the FSG was thinking of trying to persuade Klopp to stay on and start talks in the fall, but chose to give him space – wisely – because he did not want to distract him at a critical time of the season. The FSG was also concerned that he might end up feeling stressed and this could have a negative impact on his judgment. In the end, everything was done on Klopp’s terms. The owners of Liverpool wanted to move fast, especially when they realized that he was not asking for extra money for himself. Klopp’s contract has not changed – it has just been renewed. The boss has a special message for you ❤️ ❤️ pic.twitter.com/T4vFwYFN9p – Liverpool FC (@LFC) 28 April 2022 From the initial call from Kosicke, it would take just two weeks for the bureaucracy to be finalized. During this time the only question mark for Klopp concerned his staff. If some wanted to move on, then maybe the result was different, but everyone was fully involved. Collectively, the new terms are said to be worth around εκατο 2 million £ more for Klopp’s team. For Klopp, securing the future of first team coach Pep Linders was crucial because he is the youngest in the group and Klopp believes his energy and talent help those around him. Kosicke arrived in Liverpool on Sunday, ready for meetings the next day. By the time he entered the doors of Freshy’s saloon with his spokesman, Klopp knew the pub would remain in his area for a while longer. It is believed that there is no termination clause in Klopp’s contract, rather an understanding that he can say he does not want to do in the last year. If he still feels he is wanted, however, he will see it – and it is not considered that anything is written in the agreement that the 54-year-old can leave for other clubs or the national team. From here, there are more offers for FSG settlement. Mohamed Salah and Santio Mane’s contracts are due to expire on the same day in 14 months and Klopp would like to stay both. He may find a way to persuade new sporting director Julian Ward to help ensure that this happens. Yesterday’s developments are not related to the departure of Ward’s predecessor, but Klopp’s relationship with Michael Edwards – albeit constructive – had a different dynamic, given the longevity and antiquity established by the outgoing executive. With Ward taking over, Klopp’s life within the club is likely to become smoother. There were some concerns inside Liverpool that Klopp’s long farewell could be distracting. It would be reported every week, a countdown that no one in the club could keep in control. How will this affect the players and their attention and efforts? In the history of football, few farewells of the same nature have ended happily. Staying for two more years offers clarity about what will happen next. Existing players discussing their future will know who to work with if they agree to terms. Salah says the stalemate in his contract is more than just money. Surely, he will be more willing to go on with a coach who helped him become a superstar. In the meantime, there will be no awkward discussions with agendas or possible signatures when asking questions about the medium- to long-term plan in Liverpool. Klopp currently has most of his best players tied to long-term contracts, watching them go through their heyday. Meanwhile, the newest talents are developing beautifully, although the full results of the new training area of the club have not yet been felt due to the logistical challenges of the pandemic. Deep down, he may not have been ready to hand over the kingdom he built to anyone else. (Photo: Andrew Powell / Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
