Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Jurgen Klopp: new Liverpool manager says he is the 'Normal One', not the 'Special One' like Jose Mourinho

Klopp was talking at his first press conference as Liverpool manager today

James Orr
Friday 09 October 2015 11:42 BST
Comments
The 'Normal One' Jurgen Klopp
The 'Normal One' Jurgen Klopp

Jose Mourinho may have memorably described himself as the "Special One" when he was unveiled at Chelsea in 2004, but new Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp just wants to be known as the "Normal One".

The 48-year-old former Borussia Dortmund manager was unveiled at Anfield today, replacing Brendan Rodgers. He has signed a three-year contract with the option of a fourth.

During his first press conference this morning, Klopp was asked how he would compare himself to Mourinho, who described himself as “The Special One” in his first press conference in 2004.

“I don’t want to describe myself,” said Klopp. “I’m a totally normal guy, I’m the Normal One.”

Klopp said in his unveiling that he believes he can bring Liverpool a Premier League title in the next four years.

The Reds have not been the top club in English football since before the advent of the Premier League, with their 25-year wait for their 19th title stretching back to 1989-90.

But the German manager, speaking at his first press conference since taking over at the club, believes he can change that in the next four years.

"If I sit here in four years, I am pretty confident we will have one title," said Klopp.

Asked what attracted him to the job, Klopp said: "The intensity of football, how people live for football. It's not a normal, usual club, it's a special club. I had two very special clubs before and this role is the perfect next step for me.

"You have to change from doubter to believer. We have to change our performance because nobody is satisfied at the moment."

The subject of player recruitment had been a sore one for Klopp's predecessor Brendan Rodgers, with the much-maligned transfer committee bearing a lot of criticism for players they have signed over the last couple of years, with Liverpool spending £300m during Rodgers' three-year reign.

"It's enough for me to have the first and last word," said Klopp on the committee.

"We only want to discuss really good players. I'm not a genius, I don't know more than the rest of the world. I need the other people to get perfect information. It's really easy to handle it."

"I'm a really lucky guy, really looking forward to first training and first match. I had a four-month holiday, everything is perfect," he added.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in