Manchester United legend David Beckham has expressed his admiration for the manager of his hometown team’s biggest rival, Liverpool.
“David Beckham has paid tribute to Jürgen Klopp by saying ‘Liverpool fans would kill me’,” global media outlet Tribuna reported on Wednesday (Nov. 21).
“I’m a Man United fan, but I love Klopp,” Beckham, who earned a reputation as a “free-kick master” during his playing days, said in a podcast, “I love his character, his personality and what he brings to the sport,” according to the outlet.
Liverpool is the Reds’ biggest rival, and Beckham is a Manchester United legend. A former United youth product, he was a key member of the 1998-99 season when United became the first English club to win the triple (Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League).
Beckham understood that some Reds fans might be unhappy that he was praising the manager of his hometown team’s biggest rival, but he couldn’t hide his respect and affection for Klopp.
“I would be killed by my Man Utd friends,” he said, “I’m sad to see Klopp go. What he has done for the club and the sport has been unbelievable.”
Klopp is one of the best coaches in the world, something Beckham admires. After successful spells at Mainz and Borussia Dortmund, Klopp arrived in the Premier League in 2015 when he took over at Liverpool.
The Reds were in the doldrums at the time, but under Klopp, they have managed to return to their former glory. In 2018-19, Klopp’s fourth season in charge, the Reds won the UEFA Champions League and became one of Europe’s top clubs.
After winning the Champions League, the Reds went on to top the league in the 2019-20 season, winning their first top-flight title since the Premier League’s inception in 1992. It was a moment that fulfilled a long-standing desire of Liverpool fans to win the Premier League title.
In addition to the Premier League and Champions 카지노사이트 League, the Reds have also won the UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Community Shield, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup under Klopp.
Klopp’s relationship with the Reds ended after the 2023-24 season when he wanted to take a break. Although he still had two more years left on his contract until June 2026, Klopp’s request for a break, citing energy depletion, was accepted by the Reds.
With the parting of the ways finalized, Liverpool fans organized events, including a card section, to show their appreciation for Klopp at the final match of the 38th round of the Premier League on Tuesday. In their final game under Klopp, the Reds defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 to send the Reds off on a high note.
Following Klopp’s departure, Liverpool immediately appointed Dutchman Arne Schott as their new manager. Slott, who was in charge of Feyenoord in the Netherlands until this season, signed a three-year contract with the Reds after being tipped to succeed Klopp.
Meanwhile, Klopp is reportedly set to take a break from the field for about a year after leaving Liverpool.
According to media reports, a fan asked Beckham, the owner of U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami, if Klopp should be appointed as Miami’s manager, to which Beckham laughed and said, “We don’t have a lot of money left.”