Some time ago, I read two books back to back — An Epic Swindle (The Near Death of Liverpool FC) by Brian Reade, and Believe Us by Melissa Reddy. One chronicles a club on the brink of financial and moral collapse, the other celebrates its astonishing rebirth under one man. Reading them in succession was like watching a gripping two-part documentary: the fall… and then the rise.
And what a rise it was.
By the time I closed the second book, my respect for Jürgen Klopp had evolved into full‑blown awe. It became crystal clear that he wasn't just a successful manager — he was a miracle worker. To take a club still reeling from years of boardroom chaos, fan frustration, and false dawns… and turn it into a European and Premier League‑winning machine? That’s not just football. That’s alchemy.
Honestly, the real miracle might be that it only took him a few years to win the Champions League, and then — finally — the Premier League title that had eluded Liverpool for three painful decades.
The Cowboys and the Chaos
To truly appreciate what Klopp inherited — and rebuilt — we must revisit the darkest chapter of modern Liverpool: the Hicks and Gillett years. This era brought broken promises, legal battles, crippling debt, and an atmosphere so toxic it choked the last breath out of hope.
Though Liverpool still had stars—Gerrard, Torres, Alonso, Mascherano—belief was gone. Matches unfolded in a haze of exhaustion; the supporters, weary and fractured. The club’s identity, once a source of immense pride, had been eroded.
A Steady Hand: FSG and Klopp’s Arrival
In 2010, Fenway Sports Group took over and brought stability. Five years later, in October 2015, Jürgen Klopp arrived with a simple but seismic message:
“We have to turn doubters into believers.”
No flamboyant pledges. No heroics. Just a mission.
He reintroduced belief, unity, passion and identity. Players ran harder, staff stood taller, and Anfield roared again. Slowly, something beautiful took shape.
From Belief to Glory: The Road to Triumph
Liverpool reached the 2018 Champions League final, only to fall heartbreakingly short. Klopp’s response? Regroup. Return stronger.
2019 in Madrid: Salah and Origi scored as Liverpool claimed their 6th European crown. A healing moment for fans everywhere.
A personal highlight? Being there, in Liverpool, for the trophy parade. With my family amidst a sea of red, I watched the players pass by, glory in their hands. It was joy and disbelief, combined.
Then in 2020, they finally won the Premier League—a title 30 years in waiting. I cried. Real tears. Release of decades of longing. The wait was over.
Witnessing the Klopp Era Firsthand
As detailed in my getaran.my column Kisah Anak Gen‑X: Selamat Tinggal, Jurgen Klopp! — I grew up in Liverpool’s golden age. The drought felt endless, déjà vu after near misses cut deeper each time. But Klopp changed the script.
In 2017, I visited Anfield, sat on Klopp’s seat during the Stadium Tour, and imagined the roar of 60,000 fans on a European night.
By June 2019, I stood among 750,000 Scousers, celebrating our heroes returning from Madrid. Hours-long waits turned timeless memories. Football felt transcendent again.
I wrote then:
“Licik, pantas, agresif—Liverpool milik Klopp bermain setiap nota ‘heavy metal football’ dengan semangat buas.”
His trademark Klopp hugs weren’t just gestures — they were how he wove together a fractured club .
A Legacy Beyond Trophies
Klopp’s departure in 2024 marked the end of an era — he did it on his terms, walking away with respect, gratitude and seven major trophies. His impact, by the numbers — win rate, memorable matches, and youth development — is one for the record books.
But more than stats, his legacy lives in what he restored: belief, pride, emotion, unity. He reminded Kopites — young and old — what they were. What they always could be.
Only now, with books read and experiences reflected on, do I fully realise: Klopp didn’t just win football matches. He resurrected a club’s soul. And as he so beautifully promised — he turned doubters into believers.
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