Klopp crowned LMA’s ‘Manager of the Year’
Following a first Premier League title in 30 years
for Liverpool and a near record 99 league points, manager Jurgen Klopp has been
announced as the League Managers Association’s Manager of the Year ahead of
Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder and Wycombe’s Gareth Ainsworth.
Klopp’s Liverpool career includes winning the UEFA Champions League last season, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup and then the Premier League this season which just leaves an FA Cup title from his achievements with the Merseyside club.
Having a look at the names of previous winners Klopp has moved amongst a list of legends of the game, however with all the European title and the league title currently in the Anfield trophy cabinet he is justifiably amongst those greats.
"I saw who won it before, some really big, big Liverpool names involved - not only Liverpool names - like Bill Shankly I think, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny [Dalglish] whose name seems to be all over the trophy. Brendan [Rodgers] also won it, which was well deserved,” Klopp told Sky Sports News.
"But the name on this is Sir Alex Feguson's and I know it's not 100 per cent appropriate as Liverpool manger but I admire him, not to say I love him.”
Klopp was quick to praise the rest of his coaching unit following the awarding of the Manger of the Year accolade.
“I’m absolutely delighted to get this wonderful trophy, it’s really wonderful.
“I have to say thank you to a lot of people - and I know it is easy to say - but I am here on behalf of my coaches.
"I'm okay as a manager, but they make us a really special bunch of football brains and I love to work with them together. Pep Lijnders, Peter Krawietz, John Achterberg, Vitor Matos and Jack Robinson - it's a pleasure. I could carry on with the list because we have so many great people here who make it happen.
"To my players, all of you who I have worked together with, I take this and I love it for all of us. Thank you very much, a very special season with a very special award at the end. Thank you I am really honoured to get it."
Having a look at the names of previous winners Klopp has moved amongst a list of legends of the game, however with all the European title and the league title currently in the Anfield trophy cabinet he is justifiably amongst those greats.
"I saw who won it before, some really big, big Liverpool names involved - not only Liverpool names - like Bill Shankly I think, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny [Dalglish] whose name seems to be all over the trophy. Brendan [Rodgers] also won it, which was well deserved,” Klopp told Sky Sports News.
"But the name on this is Sir Alex Feguson's and I know it's not 100 per cent appropriate as Liverpool manger but I admire him, not to say I love him.”
Klopp was quick to praise the rest of his coaching unit following the awarding of the Manger of the Year accolade.
“I’m absolutely delighted to get this wonderful trophy, it’s really wonderful.
“I have to say thank you to a lot of people - and I know it is easy to say - but I am here on behalf of my coaches.
"I'm okay as a manager, but they make us a really special bunch of football brains and I love to work with them together. Pep Lijnders, Peter Krawietz, John Achterberg, Vitor Matos and Jack Robinson - it's a pleasure. I could carry on with the list because we have so many great people here who make it happen.
"To my players, all of you who I have worked together with, I take this and I love it for all of us. Thank you very much, a very special season with a very special award at the end. Thank you I am really honoured to get it."
Klopp’s side have a longer break than those teams that are still in the Champions League, Liverpool were eliminated by Atletico Madrid in the round of 16, and they will be back to try and defend their title from 12 September.
