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In football, you actually can go home again.
With Liverpool’s first team off for the weekend due to the international break, manager Jürgen Klopp used the downtime to pay a visit to the club where he spent much of his football career— Mainz 05.
Looks like #LFC's manager is enjoying his time back in Mainz for #NikolceAndFriends pic.twitter.com/RSDXDPrv7Y
— Mainz 05 English (@Mainz05en) September 2, 2017
The Bundesliga club held a special testimonial on Saturday for Macedonian defender Nikolce Noveski, who retired in 2015 after eleven years with the team. Klopp took to the touchline as the manager of one of the teams contesting the match, with the other side led by Thomas Tuchel, his successor at both Mainz and later Borussia Dortmund.
The coaches are here too, and @TTuchelofficial's team take the early lead against Klopp's side through Sami #Allagui! #NikolceAndFriends pic.twitter.com/xprlfhTPbQ
— Mainz 05 English (@Mainz05en) September 2, 2017
Klopp himself spent most of his playing career at Mainz, plying his trade in Rhineland-Palatinate from 1990 to 2001. He was appointed manager almost immediately after his retirement and led the team from 2001 to 2008, during which time he shepherded the club into the Bundesliga for the first time and won a place in the UEFA Cup for the 2005-06 season. Following a tough relegation and no clear path to return to the German top flight, Klopp ultimately left Mainz to pursue an irresistible opportunity at Borussia Dortmund. The rest, as they say, is history.
Klopp has said previously that Mainz continues to hold a special place in his heart.
"It’s the place where I grew up. After the town where I was born, Mainz is my home town. I still have a lot of friends there. I love the club. It’s a wonderful club. And I love the idea that I can introduce Liverpool to Mainz and Mainz to Liverpool.”
Needless to say, Klopp was quite happy to visit back home.
Blick hinter die Kulissen aber gleich ist Schluss mit lustig Bei #NikolceAndFriends geht's gleich richtig zur Sache ⚽️ #Mainz05 ✊️ pic.twitter.com/etGMdP4WSD
— 1. FSV Mainz 05 (@1FSVMainz05) September 2, 2017
But the real star of the day was, of course, Noveski. It’s a testament (no pun intended) to how much he was respected and loved at Mainz that they gave him this send-off, even two years after he officially left. So many footballers don’t get a chance to say goodbye, beyond maybe a short press release or social media post. Noveski obviously was a special player to get this testimonial and this outpouring of love.
Goodbye Nikolce & danke, dass du Mainzer warst, & natürlich bleibst #Mainz05 zieht den Hut vor dir #NikolceAndFriends pic.twitter.com/fn190bHtxS
— 1. FSV Mainz 05 (@1FSVMainz05) September 2, 2017