Steven Gerrard Wants to Build Jürgen Klopp a Statue

Liverpool won their sixth European Cup just around this time last year. Now, after a three decade drought, they’re going to win their 19th league title in the coming weeks—they might even secure it even before the end of the month.

While many have played a role in the club’s resurgence, it’s hardly a stretch to suggest that there is one key figure without whom none of this would be possible. And that key figure is Jürgen Klopp.

“Knowing Jurgen, he won’t want to be put in that bracket,” former captain and current Rangers manager Steven Gerrard told The Athletic when asked about whether Klopp deserves to be counted amongst the club’s all-time greats.

“I know what he’s like, he’s humble and respectful, [but] what you need to take into consideration is that when Jurgen took over Liverpool they weren’t close to being the best team in the country, they weren’t even in the top four.

“To come to Liverpool when he did, get to the amount of finals that he has, deliver the sixth European Cup, and then deliver the first league title after 30 years…”

For most, securing number six secured Klopp’s place as a club legend—and it got his face on a banner on the Kop alongside Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Kenny Dalglish, and Rafa Benitez.

Gerrard, though, doesn’t think it should stop with a banner. Not when number 19 officially does arrive in a few weeks. And even if, perhaps, Klopp himself might be too humble to really want it.

“For me, someone like Jurgen should be rewarded now,” Gerrard added when asked what he’d like to see done. “It seems like in football we often wait until people get older before their achievements are fully recognised.

“But I know the owners of Liverpool won’t let that happen. When Jurgen delivers the league they should already be starting work on a statue of him.”