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Jurgen Klopp is undoubtedly one of the modern day greats. Be it as a tactician, man manager or a deliverer of promises, his captivating "rock and roll" football has taken Europe by storm.
At Borussia Dortmund, he dethroned the mighty Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and led the club to a Champions League final. Klopp has also taken Liverpool to the promised land of both Champions League glory and Premier League successes.
He has certified himself as a beloved managerial legend and a giant of the game. Here, we take a look at Jurgen Klopp's five most iconic matches.
#5 Borussia Dortmund vs Malaga, 3-2,Champions League 2012-13
Jurgen Klopp took Borussia Dortmund from Europa League football in 2009-10 to the Champions League final in 2012-13. Their route was dramatic, and perhaps the most dramatic of all was the 2012-13 Champions League semi-final second leg versus Malaga.
A goalless first leg meant the tie would have to be settled on the night. Dortmund fell behind to the plucky Spanish underdogs from a Joaquin goal. The red-hot Robert Lewandowski equalized for Dortmund but an 82nd-minute goal from Malaga by Eliseu saw Dortmund's dreams hit a stumbling block.
However, in the span of 70 seconds of stoppage time, goals from Marco Reus and Felipe Santana helped Borussia Dortmund turn the tie on its head. The 3-2 win propelled them to the semi-finals of the Champions League in what was a hectic affair.
#4 Liverpool vs Borussia Dortmund, 4-3, Europa League, 2015-16
This was one of the defining early games of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool reign. The Reds' Europa League quarter-final clash against Thomas Tuchel's Dortmund set the tone for European success to come. There was an air of sentimentality as the game was played on the 27th anniversery of the Hillsborough disaster, with the moving renedition of "You'll never walk alone."
That April night at Anfield was a throwback to the Liverpool of old, Jurgen Klopp's heavy metal football was in full flow and effect. Having already been 3-1 down within the hour mark, all hopes of overcoming his former club seemed lost. That was until a frentic, frenzied final 30 minutes which saw Anfield turn into a cauldron.
Urged on by a decibel-breaking crowd, Klopp's side were left needing three goals to go through after a Dortmund blitz. Philippe Coutinho brought Liverpool back into the game in the 66th minute. They then scored twice in dramatic fashion, with Dejan Lovren's injury-time header from James Milner's cross sending them through to the semifinals.
In a way, this was Klopp's first landmark connection with the Liverpool crowd that laid the foundation for the European and domestic success that followed.
#3 Liverpool vs Manchester City, 4-3, Premier League, 2017-18
Klopp's Liverpool and Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, two juggernauts of modern day football, met at their respective peaks in January 2018.
By then, Manchester City had hit extraordinary levels, having accumulated 106 goals and 100 points in the 2017-18 season.
The January fixture saw Liverpool push them to the edge and beyond as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Leroy Sane scored in the first half. It was then the trio of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino that shocked Manchester City, scoring within 10 minutes of each other.
Pep Guardiola’s team came close as Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan pulled a couple of goals back. But Klopp's Liverpool eventually defeated City to stop a ruthless winning streak and strike fear into blue hearts. The Reds proved they had the mettle for a title challenge and while it didn't happen that season, it ultimately materialized in the 2019-20 campaign.
#2 Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid, 4-1, Champions League, 2012-13
Entering the semi-finals after a last-gasp victory, Klopp's Dortmund were firm underdogs against a mighty Real Madrid team. Los Blancos were then managed by Jose Mourinho and boasted Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil and Sergio Ramos in their ranks.
The first leg at Signal Iduna Park defied expectations, as an inspired Robert Lewandowski announced his arrival on the largest stage. He scored four goals against one of the best teams in world football and the record-breaking La Liga champion. Undoubtedly, the performance quickly became the stuff of legend.
Klopp's hard-running, gegenpressing style meant Dortmund had the capacity to capitalize on errors, resulting in one of the greatest results in the club's history. Dortmund marched to the finals of the Champions League despite a 2-0 loss in the reverse fixture. In the summit clash, Klopp's side were narrowly beaten by a skilled Bayern Munich who secured a treble.
#1 Liverpool vs Barcelona, 4-0, Champions League, 2018-19
One of the most remarkable football games played in the history of European competition, the unthinkable comeback against Barcelona still defies rational explanation.
Liverpool entered the home game of this Champions League semi-final with a three-goal defeat, without star players Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino. But the impossible was challenged head first with a buoyant Anfield cheering and energizing their heroes towards the goal.
With Jurgen Klopp as cheerleader in chief, Liverpool stormed ahead displaying improbable mental strength, technical ability and quick thinking. Divock Origi's clever goal from a quick Trent Alexander-Arnold corner instantly became part of Liverpool folklore.
The nature of the victory, displaying self-belief and character, almost single-handedly guaranteed Liverpool would lift the Champions League that year. Klopp's side ultimately did as well, beating a toothless Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the summit clash.
