Klopp pays tribute to the man who helped him become a world class manager

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Everyone has a role model in their lives. We all need someone who is better than us at what we do – it gives us a passion and inspiration to better ourselves.

In an extensive interview with SkySports on their Monday Night Football show (cited via Echo), Klopp has revealed which person was his own guiding light and teacher.

That man is former Mainz manager Wolfgang Frank. Frank was in charge when Klopp was a player, and it was his departure from the club that opened the door for the German’s first role in the hot seat.

Klopp explained that Frank was the man who taught him much of what he then used to develop his own style and approach.

“It was (former Mainz boss) Wolfgang Frank. He died too early.

“He brought in 4-4-2 and we became a better team. We learned that even if their single players are better than us we could still beat them. He opened our eyes.

“When I became a manager I used a lot of the stuff I learned from him. He was the perfect role model.

“A lot of the players from his team are now coaches or managers around the world. It was always his dream that when he was old and grey we would go to the mountain and tell him our stories. We could tell him a few stories but unfortunately he’s not here any more.”

Sadly, Frank died in 2013 at the age of just 62.

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Klopp never looked back after getting his big break. He was at the helm in Mainz for seven years before moving to Dortmund in 2008. He spent another seven seasons with the Rhine-Westphalia outfit before finally making the jump to Anfield last October.

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