After a hugely successful 2018/19 campaign, Jürgen Klopp has been overwhelmingly named Kicker’s German Manager of the Year 2019, as voted for by the Association of German Sports Journalists.
The German received 183 of the 537-strong votership, ahead of the likes of Fortuna Düsseldorf’s Friedhelm Funkel (139 votes), third-placed Adi Hütter of Eintracht Frankfurt (56), and Niko Kovac (52).
Borussia Dortmund manager, Lucien Favre, came 6th in the voting with 16 votes as Champions League-winning Klopp, and former Die Schwarzgelben boss, raced ahead by a country mile to take the award.
Klopp had previously been handed Kicker’s award as Dortmund manager in 2011 and 2012.
Of the accolade, Klopp said “I thank you very much for this great award.
“Of course, I know who I owe them to: my team and my coaching team, only in the collective can we achieve such successes as we have achieved, and I am also happy for Friedhelm Funkel and Adi Hütter, whose great work has been done by sports journalists was recognized.”
A 97-point, second place finish in the Premier League was followed up winning the Reds sixth European Cup in Madrid as the Champions League victory no doubt heavily swung the vote in Klopp’s favour.
It’s no wonder that Jürgen has been fittingly recognised for his managerial worth and success at Liverpool. Hopefully he’ll win it again next year, but – with everything crossed – he’ll be praised for winning a whole host of silverware with the Reds.