Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp responds to Franz Beckenbauer's call for him to manage Bayern Munich

After the Reds' 3-1 win in Munich, Beckenbauer declared that Klopp would be an ideal manager for Bayern

Franz Beckenbauer holds a unique place in German football. As a World Cup-winning captain and manager, and later tournament organiser, he is simply the Kaiser.

When he speaks, his opinion carries great weight. So it was on Wednesday when in the aftermath of Liverpool’s 3-1 win away to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, Beckenbauer declared that Jurgen Klopp would be an ideal manager for Bayern.

It is why Klopp knew that victory at the Allianz Arena against one of European football’s grandees was such a powerful statement for Liverpool.

He does not view Beckenbauer’s comments as an attempt to lure him away from Anfield, but rather as a huge compliment to the work he is doing at Liverpool.

“Someone told me what Franz said after the game and it doesn’t put pressure on me,” says Klopp.

“I am blessed that I know him for 14 years. We are friends even if we don’t talk a lot but I am not surprised that he said positive things about me.

“When he always speaks about me, he speaks positively which is nice. It is just like the king knighting a man ‘sir’.

“There is no bigger football legend in Germany than Franz Beckenbauer. It is great.

“It is a compliment to Liverpool. Hopefully in 50 or 60 years I will be remembered without referring to managing many different clubs. I am happy with the clubs I have had now.”

From the outside, Klopp and Liverpool seem like a match made in heaven. The German has provided three years of exciting football and countless thrilling moments and matches, but as yet, there are no trophies to back that up.

However, they are locked in a pulsating Premier League title race with Manchester City and will be heavy favourites to beat Porto and advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

With two months of the season remaining, they are still firmly in the hunt for the two biggest prizes. And they will leapfrog City at the top of the league this afternoon if they can win away to relegation certainties Fulham.

Klopp's work at Liverpool hasn't gone unnoticed (AFP/Getty)

So it makes Klopp feel like he is close to achieving something very special at Liverpool.

“It is a really good fit – I love it here,” he enthuses. “There are a lot of opportunities to develop an already really good football team.

“Now they are together, let’s work and let’s try to make the most of it.

“I have enough confidence to say I am the right manager for this club at the moment, but we will see how it is in the future.

“So far it has worked out and hopefully it will last a lot longer. That would be cool.

“We are very happy about the situation and very happy about the future. Now we have to finish the season in the best way possible. Dig in and push ourselves, all that stuff.

“Everyone at Melwood feels it is a big opportunity. We have improved a lot but people only judge it on winning titles. We know that but we can change it.”