Bundesliga
Bundesliga
19.11.2009 11:13:40
Jürgen Klopp replaced Thomas Doll as Dortmund coach in July 2008.
Klopp - the people's coach
It promises to be an intriguing fixture: Borussia Dortmund manager Jürgen Klopp against his hold club 1. FSV Mainz 05 - two years ago it would have been unthinkable.
Nevertheless, the 42-year-old made the jump from Mainz to Dortmund and Saturday's match at the Signal Iduna Park will be the first time he faces his old employers. "Very rarely have I been asked so much about a game in my career as this one," Klopp told German football magazine 'kicker'.
"A great thing"
The reunion will be a positive affair. Klopp, who was in Mainz as they secured promotion to the Bundesliga last summer, looks back fondly on his time at the club: "When you leave after such a long time and you leave on good terms it's a great thing - something that you don't often see."
Jürgen Klopp - unique in his own special way. bundesliga.de presents all you need to know about the flamboyant Borussia Dortmund coach.
"A great thing"
The reunion will be a positive affair. Klopp, who was in Mainz as they secured promotion to the Bundesliga last summer, looks back fondly on his time at the club: "When you leave after such a long time and you leave on good terms it's a great thing - something that you don't often see."
Jürgen Klopp - unique in his own special way. bundesliga.de presents all you need to know about the flamboyant Borussia Dortmund coach.
Klopp for mayor!
Jürgen Klopp is one of the best coaches in the Bundesliga. Along with Harald Strutz and Christian Heidel, he turned Mainz 05 into a cult club and breathed new life into Borussia Dortmund. Enough for him to be considered for the role of mayor? Someone certainly thinks so. The local elections in the small town of Hornberg saw Klopp receive one vote, even though he did not run for office. "I grew up in the black forest, but I think it's a bit early for me to be talking about a political career," was his response.
Which party? None!
Klopp admits that none of the current crop of political parties has taken his fancy: "I would never vote for a party just to suit myself. For example, if a party promised a decrease in tax for the high-earners, a category which I fall into, I wouldn't just vote for them because of that," he told 'Die Zeit'. Klopp is, however, not completely uninterested in politics, quite the opposite - the Dortmund coach is currently perturbed by the amount of unemployment in the Ruhr area.
Klopp admits that none of the current crop of political parties has taken his fancy: "I would never vote for a party just to suit myself. For example, if a party promised a decrease in tax for the high-earners, a category which I fall into, I wouldn't just vote for them because of that," he told 'Die Zeit'. Klopp is, however, not completely uninterested in politics, quite the opposite - the Dortmund coach is currently perturbed by the amount of unemployment in the Ruhr area.
Father and son
Jürgen Klopp has a very special relationship with his father: "My parents had two daughters and my dad was desperate to have a son. When I was born, it meant I had to fulfil all his expectations. Luckily, I shared most of his hopes and dreams, otherwise my childhood wouldn't have been quite as good." Sadly, Klopp senior died in 2000.
Jürgen Klopp has a very special relationship with his father: "My parents had two daughters and my dad was desperate to have a son. When I was born, it meant I had to fulfil all his expectations. Luckily, I shared most of his hopes and dreams, otherwise my childhood wouldn't have been quite as good." Sadly, Klopp senior died in 2000.
TV pundit
One deviation from Klopp's normal duties as a coach came when he took over as a pundit for Germany's international matches for TV station ZDF. At the 2006 World Cup, Klopp joined presenter Johannes B. Kerner and Urs Meier on screen to analyse and entertain viewers throughout the tournament. Did his appearances on TV help kick-start his career as a coach? "If my work in television put me in the shop window in terms of the top Bundesliga clubs, then great. If I'd known that at the time I would have done the first match and been on my way!"
One deviation from Klopp's normal duties as a coach came when he took over as a pundit for Germany's international matches for TV station ZDF. At the 2006 World Cup, Klopp joined presenter Johannes B. Kerner and Urs Meier on screen to analyse and entertain viewers throughout the tournament. Did his appearances on TV help kick-start his career as a coach? "If my work in television put me in the shop window in terms of the top Bundesliga clubs, then great. If I'd known that at the time I would have done the first match and been on my way!"
Draw for the Bed Cup
Klopp's masterful tactics and shrewd transfer dealings are not the only things that make him such a successful coach. The Dortmund supremo also injects a bit of fun into his players' everyday routines. Example? How about staging a European Cup-style draw for who rooms with who at training camps. "There's a home team - the player who is drawn first, then he has to wait and see who he is drawn with. There are scenes of mass celebration and it's great fun." No doubt it does wonders for the team morale as well...
Klopp's masterful tactics and shrewd transfer dealings are not the only things that make him such a successful coach. The Dortmund supremo also injects a bit of fun into his players' everyday routines. Example? How about staging a European Cup-style draw for who rooms with who at training camps. "There's a home team - the player who is drawn first, then he has to wait and see who he is drawn with. There are scenes of mass celebration and it's great fun." No doubt it does wonders for the team morale as well...
Klopp and Valdez
When Klopp first arrived in Dortmund, there was a lot of speculation as to how he would strengthen the squad. After assessing the situation, Klopp was keen to bring in some of his own faces. One of those was the out-of-form Nelson Valdez. "My everlasting image of Valdez is a match for Bremen against Valencia. He was getting kicked all over the park and picked up a few knocks, but then suddenly, typical Valdez, he smashes one into the top corner." Valdez has since paid him back with some glittering performances.
When Klopp first arrived in Dortmund, there was a lot of speculation as to how he would strengthen the squad. After assessing the situation, Klopp was keen to bring in some of his own faces. One of those was the out-of-form Nelson Valdez. "My everlasting image of Valdez is a match for Bremen against Valencia. He was getting kicked all over the park and picked up a few knocks, but then suddenly, typical Valdez, he smashes one into the top corner." Valdez has since paid him back with some glittering performances.
Local celebrity
In Mainz he was simply known as 'Kloppo', the local hero. Though he is now known as 'Boss' in Dortmund, Klopp remains the coach of the people. "The people of Mainz got used to be being there. In Unna (Klopp's hometown) they're amazed that I even eat - and sometimes even in restaurants! When I go shopping, the cashier just stops and stares." Sometimes he has to be creative in avoiding such scenes: "At one of my mates' stag parties we celebrated the entire evening in Father Christmas costumes, completely masked!"
In Mainz he was simply known as 'Kloppo', the local hero. Though he is now known as 'Boss' in Dortmund, Klopp remains the coach of the people. "The people of Mainz got used to be being there. In Unna (Klopp's hometown) they're amazed that I even eat - and sometimes even in restaurants! When I go shopping, the cashier just stops and stares." Sometimes he has to be creative in avoiding such scenes: "At one of my mates' stag parties we celebrated the entire evening in Father Christmas costumes, completely masked!"
By Fatih Demireli/Translation: Andy James
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