How does Jurgen Klopp compare to Liverpool FC’s greatest managers?

It is hard to think of a coach who has been more influential in European football over the past decade than Jurgen Klopp.

Schooled in the art of gegenpressing by Wolfgang Frank during his early days at Mainz, Klopp defied the gulf in resources to turn Borussia Dortmund into a continental powerhouse between 2008 and 2015.

His performance was enough to convince Liverpool to come calling when he left the club. And the rest, as they say, is history. Klopp joined a club jaded by years of underachievement and near misses. Now, the Reds are among the best teams in the world, and they remain in the hunt for a famous quadruple this season.

Many people have been betting on Klopp’s charges winning the Premier League this season and it is easy to see why. At the mid-season mark it seemed that Manchester City had all but secured the title. However, Liverpool has since put together a staggeringly good run of form, pouncing on each of the Cityzens’ slip ups to close the gap on the top to just six points – the Reds have a game in hand too, and still have to play City in April! Premier League odds seem to reflect this, as Liverpool have a 3.75/1 chance of winning still.

Regardless of whether or not Klopp gets his side over the line domestically this season, he is destined to go down in history as one of the best managers to ever prowl the touchline at Anfield. The question is, just where does the German rank in the pantheon of great Liverpool coaches?

Bill Shankly

Bill Shankly is probably the most legendary manager in the club’s history. He arrived at Anfield with Liverpool languishing in the second tier with a derelict stadium and little hope of turning things around. Yet, by the time he departed 15 years later, they were among the most revered sides in the land.

After guiding the Reds to the First Division in Shankly took just one season to settle in before Liverpool lifted the top-tier title too. A host of trophies would follow over the years, but Shankly’s influence extended far beyond results the pitch.

His pressure of the board was instrumental in convincing them to not only invest in Anfield, but also in a state-of-the-art training ground too. In addition, Shankly’s connection to the supporters is legendary. To this day the Kop still belts out his name on matchdays.

The main reason for fans loving him so much was his razor-sharp Scottish wit and propensity for an amazing one-liner. Here are some of his most famous zingers:

• “Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don't like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that.”
• “This city has two great teams - Liverpool and Liverpool reserves.”
• “The socialism I believe in is everyone working for each other, everyone having a share of the rewards. It's the way I see football, the way I see life.”

The comparisons between Klopp and Shankly are evident and have been written about at length elsewhere. And while it is difficult to compare managers across eras, we are not convinced the German has quite trumped Shankly’s incredible legacy just yet.

Bob Paisley

Another legendary manager who is still held in high esteem in the red half of Merseyside is Bob Paisley. For years, he worked as Shankly’s assistant and when his boss announced his departure after the victorious 1974 FA Cup final, Paisley was handed the top job.

To say it was an inspired appointment would be some understatement. Paisley rose from being the junior partner to be one of the most successful coaches in English football history. During his nine-year stint at Anfield he won six league titles, three European Cups, a UEFA Cup and three League Cups.

He also helped develop some of the best players in the club’s history including Kenny Daglish, Alan Hansen and Graeme Souness. Once again, Klopp has some way to go before he can match this trophy haul…

The future: Steven Gerrard

For now, while Klopp is undoubtedly one of the best managers Liverpool have ever had, he is not quite held in the same esteem as Paisley and Shankly.

But what about life after the German? Is there someone waiting in the wings who could succeed Klopp and challenge the legendary duo.

One candidate who may fit that brief is Steven Gerrard. As a player Gerrard spent almost his entire career at Anfield, winning it all other than a Premier League title. Since retiring he has impressed in managerial stints at Rangers and more recently at Aston Villa.

In the past he has made no secret of his desire to manage at his beloved Liverpool one day. On the surface he seems perfect too. We cannot wait to see how he fares when he inevitably arrives at Anfield.