On The BallJurgen Klopp follows Bill Shankly’s example by leading from the front in the local community
- Klopp and his players have been a credit to the club during the pandemic crisis
- The German’s acts of generosity have been widely reported in the city
High expectations come with the job at Liverpool. Managers at Anfield are expected to win trophies, but the Kop adds extra pressure. They want the boss to be a symbol of something bigger than the club and an advocate for the community.
Jurgen Klopp fulfils this criteria. The 52-year-old is emerging from the Covid-19 crisis with his reputation enhanced. At a time when life and death are more important than football, Klopp is earning a place in Merseyside’s affection that no longer depends on what happens on the pitch.
Stories are seeping out of Formby, the leafy seaside town 12 miles from Anfield where Klopp lives, about the German’s activities during the lockdown. When out exercising, the Liverpool manager has been seen clapping vehicles of emergency services as they pass. Klopp has never been shy of showing his emotions and he rarely does anything to impress those around him. His applause is not for effect. The streets are almost empty and the displays of gratitude are genuine.
There have been other, more tangible expressions of appreciation by the Klopp family in the locale, too. Ulla Sandrock, the manager’s wife, turned up at a supermarket in the town this week and handed out 20 vouchers worth a total of £1,000 to staff to thank these essential workers for their efforts in difficult times. The £50 gift tokens were gratefully received and shared among the employees. Sandrock, who taught children in Africa and who met her husband while serving drinks during Munich’s Oktoberfest, has had her share of low-paid jobs before becoming a children’s author. She did not want any publicity but word soon leaked from those on the receiving end of her generosity.
In another Formby store operated by a different chain, an even larger gift was provided anonymously. This time the brief was to reduce the shopping bills of medical and key workers by a similar £50 sum for each individual. The figure involved is said to be significantly more substantial – upwards of five figures. Many footballers live in the vicinity and the cash could have come from many sources but residents of the area suggest that Klopp is frequently at the forefront when it comes to setting an example.