The Normal One

AN ARTICLE BY MATTY

I’m not sure where to begin. The impact of Jurgen Norbert Klopp on this club is too massive to really put into words. He brought new life into a city and club that many would have thought dead. I think the biggest impact he’s had on my personal view of life is one I’ve only realized when he’s leaving. It’s that life isn’t always about the end result, it’s about the journey too. The biggest criticism that anyone can make about Klopp’s reign is that we didn’t win more trophies. You can’t really blame us for trying, though. We came so close so many times, we still got to celebrate winning every trophy worth celebrating. Sometimes things don’t always work out, and that’s life. You can either get mad about what didn’t happen and regret it or remember the good that did happen and move forward trying to be better.

Perhaps the greatest part of Klopp is his humanity, his ability to connect with others. He isn’t perfect, but good luck trying to stop him from achieving what he wants. When we lost in Kiev, he said we’d be back. We only went and won the trophy the next year. Same goes for the Premier League, ending the 30 year title drought that some thought could never end. So many parades, so many laughs and fun and good times shared. These are the days we must remember. I often find myself saying “I wish you knew you were living in the good old days before they were gone”. I realize now that I can, but only by choosing to truly enjoy and live in every moment. To not waste my time doing things that won’t make my life better. The one overarching theme through all of Klopp’s teams was the mentality he instilled. You never give up no matter the odds. For me, it’s a reminder to never give up on myself. There’s always a chance, sometimes you have to work for it but that’s life.

The atmosphere around the club is as unique as any in football. It’s a family just as much if not more than a football club, everybody just looks happy to be there, knowing they belong. I think it’s human nature to want to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, a sense of belonging to a cause or higher power. It’s why religion exists, let alone guides so many to Heaven, Hell, or simply the cold dark ground. It is this devotion that drives so many people to sports, especially football. You’re part of a fanbase representing your city, or at the very least representing values you believe in. If the team wins, it feels like what you stand for wins as well. And in times where what we stand for continues to crumble to the ground, it truly does mean more to see those values stand tall on the pitch. Values such as dedication to success, community, and improvement. Our club has always stood for success, and Klopp brought that back. But it always first and foremost stood for Liverpool itself. And Klopp brought that sentiment back too.

Perhaps forgotten about in a game increasingly focused on tactics is the need for players who have good character. The culture of the club is mainly the responsibility of the manager, but bringing in players who demand the best means that the best becomes the standard. A family is built not on the shoulders of one man, but on the collective effort of every person involved. Every player that Klopp brought through those doors at Melwood and then Kirkby played with immense intensity for him and for the collective. Our best teams didn’t have the best players in the world in every position, but everyone fought for each other, they did their best to win every game because that is what they felt they deserved and what they had earned. Why shouldn’t we surround ourselves with people who bring out the best in us? Who push us to be more than what we are? Tell those people in your life how much they mean to you, how much they lift you up. Like the team, lift each other up to heights you couldn’t ever imagine being possible.

Jurgen Norbert Klopp has always been a humble man, it’s why he called himself “The Normal One”. Jurgen, we know you’re anything but normal. You’re an extraordinary person, and that trickles down into everything else you do and everyone you inspire. Thank you for inspiring every last one of us fans to believe in the team and, in some ways, believe in ourselves again. Like I’ve said, words cannot capture the complete scope of your impact on so many people across the world.