Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has become the second foreigner to win the Freedom of the City of Liverpool Award.
The Freedom of the City of Liverpool award is awarded to individuals for their outstanding performance and contributions to humanity. It is the city’s highest civic honor.
Jurgen Klopp was bestowed the award at a ceremony held in the Town Hall to acknowledge his achievements at the helm of the Reds since arriving in 2015.
Klopp has overseen seven trophy successes during his spell at Anfield to date, including Champions League glory in 2019 and a Premier League triumph the following year to end the club’s three-decade wait to win the title again.
The German was nominated for the accolade in July and received his Freedom of Liverpool scroll during a special ceremony in his honour.
He was joined by members of his coaching staff and LFC CEO Billy Hogan at the event, including speeches by Sir Kenny Dalglish, Margaret Aspinall, the Lord Mayor, Councillor Roy Gladden, Mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson and Klopp himself.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was humbled to become only the second foreign national to be awarded the Freedom of the City.
The German followed Nelson Mandela, in 1994, in being bestowed the honour for his work at the football club and support for local charities.
“I have to be honest, when I first heard this news I had to take a minute to take it in. As you can imagine, I get a lot of different types of news in my job but this was definitely a ‘wow’ moment,” he said.
“To get this kind of recognition is incredible. It is also very humbling.
“Obviously, I am not from Liverpool so there will be countless people who know more about the history than I do but I actually already knew a little bit about this award.”
Jurgen Klopp has, undoubtedly, done a great job at Liverpool since he arrived in 2015 as recognized by the organizers of the award.
However, the 2022/23 football season has seen Liverpool slip down the pecking order under his watch.
Some pundit have already ruled out the Reds from the Premier League title race this season.
The narrative is now changing to the likelihood of the team making the top four this season after they sat ninth on the table with 16 points after 12 matches.
They are 8 points from Newcastle, who occupy the last Champions League spot with 24 points.
The gap between table toppers Arsenal and Liverpool has now widened to 15 points difference.
Although Liverpool can possibly catch up on the top-four race, they are literally ruled out of the Premier League race as it stands.
This is the Red’s worst start in a Premier League season in ten years, and Jurgen Klopp will be under pressure to turn things around if he wants to secure his job.
Despite the poor run of form in the Premier League, there are glimmers of hope for the Liverpool fans.
After a shock opening Champions League defeat to Napoli in Italy, Liverpool have won all their Champions League, including a revenge 2-0 win against Napoli.
Finishing second-placed in the Champions League on a similar number of points with leaders Napoli is a perfect indication that Liverpool should not be written off.
Jurgen Klopp has attributed the dip in form to the injury crisis that has rocked the team and fitness issues.
The team may likely bounce back as the season progresses, but Klopp has a role to play – work on the players’ fitness to bring the likes of Luis Diaz back.
This will boost the midfield and ease off the pressure on the defense.
