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Hailed as one of the most brilliant tacticians in world football, Jurgen Klopp is a man of many talents. He has an eye for developing youngsters, has gone toe-to-toe with some of the best teams around, and loves to keep his dressing room breezy.
Known for his hugs and heavy metal brand of football, Klopp has had the opportunity to work with many fine footballers over the years. The Liverpool manager has helped them unlock their potential, allowing them to leave a lasting impression on the footballing world.
Today, we will take a look at some players who have thrived under the German tactician during their time together. Here are the five best players who have played and succeeded under Jurgen Klopp:
Special mention: Marco Reus and Trent Alexander-Arnold
#5 Ilkay Gundogan
Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is widely hailed as one of the best in his position. Although he has experienced unprecedented success under Pep Guardiola, we must not forget the impact Klopp has had on his career.
The German boss turned Gundogan into an imposing central midfielder, capable of dominating any midfield in the world.
Gundogan played 117 games for Borussia Dortmund under Klopp across four seasons, registering 12 goals and 13 assists. He was not necessarily a pressing machine under the German tactician but he was just as effective.
Gundogan used his footballing intelligence to sniff out danger and close down spaces, nullifying the opposition’s threats.
The 31-year-old midfielder won one Bundesliga, one German Cup and two German Supercups under the 54-year-old manager.
#4 Sadio Mane
AFCON winner Sadio Mane is one of the most committed footballers in the world right now. The Senagalese skipper is a relentless pressing machine and stops at nothing to get his way.
The forward is quick off the blocks, has a knack for shooting from range, and vies for every single ball. His skill-set makes him a perfect asset for Jurgen Klopp’s brand of football, and the German coach is grateful to have him in his ranks.
Mane joined Liverpool ahead of the 2016-17 campaign, around a year after Klopp took charge of the Anfield outfit. The German was more than aware of what he was getting and was thoroughly impressed with Mane’s commitment to the cause.
He played 27 matches under Klopp in his debut season, registering 13 goals and six assists.
Over the last seven years, the 54-year-old has also worked diligently on Mane’s finishing skills. In the 2018-19 campaign, he netted 26 times across all competitions.
The decisive brace he scored against Bayern Munich in the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 was particularly impressive.
#3 Virgil van Dijk
Jurgen Klopp is often praised for his hard-metal football and the ability to bring out the best in his attacking players. With Virgil van Dijk, he has proved that his skillset is not limited to forwards alone.
Since the Netherland international’s transfer from Southampton in January 2018, he has played every important match under Klopp when fit. He was a key performer for the Reds in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 campaigns and helped them to the Champions League and Premier League titles, respectively.
Van Dijk missed a lot of football last season following his cruciate ligament rupture. Thankfully, he has regained his fitness this season and is expected to play a big role in Liverpool’s Champions League and Premier League title challenges.
#2 Mohamed Salah
Since his transfer to Liverpool in the 2017-18 season, Salah has been one of the first names on Jurgen Klopp’s team-sheet.
The former AS Roma forward possesses exceptional ball control, finesse and lightning quick acceleration, making him the perfect forward for the German’s system.
Salah, who was already an exceptional player at Roma, has unlocked his maximum potential under the former Borussia Dortmund coach. He has worked particularly hard on his finishing skills and is rarely burdened with defensive responsibilities.
The Egypt international has netted 111 times and provided 48 assists in the Premier League under Klopp, successfully emerging as the club’s primary goalscorer.
With Salah, Klopp has struck the perfect balance between efficiency and productivity, which is made evident by the trophies they have won together.
The duo have already won one Premier League, a Champions League, one FIFA World Cup, and a UEFA Supercup. Expect them to add plenty more in the years to come.
#1 Robert Lewandowski
Current FIFA Best Men’s Footballer in the world, Robert Lewandowski, enjoyed a fruitful spell under Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund. The duo worked together for four seasons between 2010 and 2014, winning two Bundesliga titles, one DFB Pokal and one German Supercup.
Under Klopp, the Poland international learned how to become the perfect centre-forward, which eventually paved the way for his exploits at Bayern.
In his debut season under the German manager, the Pole only scored eight goals in 33 Bundesliga appearances. Dortmund won the Bundesliga at the end of the season, but Lewandowski did not necessarily play a starring role.
The following season, the striker became his team’s primary goal-getter and fired them to the Bundesliga title with 22 goals and 10 assists.
Lewandowski’s most notable performance under Klopp came in the first leg of Dortmund’s Champions League semi-final clash with Real Madrid.
The Polish ace scored four times in the first leg to beat Real Madrid and take his side to the Champions League final.
