Jurgen Klopp has been nominated for a prestigious UEFA award – but his Liverpool players have been overlooked.
The German guided the Reds to their first-ever Premier League title last season, beating second-placed Manchester City by 18 points.
It came a season after the former Borussia Dortmund man guided the Anfield side to Champions League success, adding the Super Cup and Club World Cup this year.
And UEFA has now recognised Klopp’s achievement, giving him one of the their nominations for the Men’s Coach of the Year.
He is joined by fellow German bosses Hans-Dieter Flick, who won this year’s European title with Bayern Munich, and Julian Nagelsmann of RB Leipzig.
Klopp saw his front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino score 57 goals in all competitions last season.
Jordan Henderson lifted the Premier League trophy while Virgil van Dijk, last year’s Player of the Year, and Alisson helped the Reds concede just 33 goals in the league last year.
But these players will not get the same recognition in the Men’s Player of the Year award.
City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne takes one of the places while Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and forward Robert Lewandowski make up the shortlist.
Klopp has wasted no time strengthening his squad this summer, though, with the arrivals of Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota.
And the Reds manager has been told that the Portuguese forward can help Firmino get back to his best form.
UEFA will present the awards at the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League group stage draw, which takes place on Thursday 1 October.
Awards will also be given out for Women’s Player of the Year and Women’s Coach of the Year.
Lucy Bronze, who moved to City this summer, Pernille Harder of Chelsea and Lyon’s Wendie Renard all make the player shortlist.
While Lluis Cortes (Barcelona), Stephan Lerch (Wolfsburg) and Jean-Luc Vasseur (Lyon) have been nominated for the coaching award.
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