Day 103

26/06/2020 Friday, Sunny with early morning shower

LFC won the league title last night! First in 30 years.

Klopp's winning style led to Liverpool transformation

Simon Evans

(Reuters) - Liverpool’s Premier League triumph will forever be associated with the charisma, drive and passion of their manager Juergen Klopp yet those individual qualities belie a style of management that shuns autocratic control.

Klopp took over a club without a league title since 1990 and still shaken by the way they allowed what would have been a maiden Premier League crown slip out of their hands under Brendan Rodgers in 2014.

The German’s instant impact was to inject much-needed confidence, belief and enthusiasm into the club.

“Because it felt a little bit like a depression here, I think it made sense to be extremely lively,” he said. That was certainly evident from his early months in charge.

“Don’t act like you know everything and be ready to admit that. It’s not a real philosophy, it’s just my way of life,” said Klopp in a recent club interview.

“Have strong people around you with better knowledge in different departments than yourself.”

This was exactly the approach Klopp took from the outset.

He made clear that he was not going to micro-manage every aspect of the club. When an official asked him what time he wanted the bus to leave with the team before a game, his response was: “Why are you asking me?”

Previous managers may have always decided such matters but Klopp was saying two things with that response: firstly, he had bigger things to worry about but, more importantly, other people better knew the answer to that question.

Premier League management has moved away from the old-school idea of the ‘boss’ who handled transfers and contracts, bus schedules, training routines, as well as tactics and selection.

Yet Klopp takes delegation more seriously than most.

There has been a focused recruitment on expertise in the analysis and sports science departments too, where again, Klopp operates largely on a ‘need-to-know’ basis.

When Klopp gets key information, he is gifted in presenting it to the players in a concise and effective manner and frequently does it himself rather than leaving it to the men with the tablets.

“His knowledge of when to give information and when not to, of what to give and what not to, is just at a different level,” said Liverpool analyst Mark Leyland.

The 52-year-old Klopp is quick to put his arm around a player and is hailed for listening as well as instructing but that relaxed or caring approach can mask his tougher side.

So is he a ‘player’s manager’ or a demanding leader?

Klopp has no doubts: “It’s both — friend and drill sergeant.”

It is a winning combination.