Jurgen Klopp arrived on Merseyside just seven years ago and has already received the biggest accolade the city has to offer.
On Wednesday, November 2, the Liverpool manager was awarded Freedom of Liverpool, with Klopp speaking gushingly ahead of the ceremony attended by the likes of Sir Kenny Dalglish and Margaret Aspinall. Not only has the German won the hearts of Liverpool fans across the globe, but he has also won the hearts of people who couldn't care less about football across the city.
The 55-year-old has continuously spoken out on social issues during his tenure in Merseyside, as well as holding the French authorities to account when in the aftermath of the horrific scenes during the Champions League final at the Stade de France in May this year.
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp awarded Freedom of Liverpool
His passion and outspokenness meant he slotted into the Liverpool culture as if he were a scouser returning home after years away.
Klopp hits the town
When Klopp first arrived in Merseyside he was spotted out across the city, making an instant impact and already creating a more than likeable image, especially with him being dubbed the "normal one". After his first full day in charge of the Reds, Klopp hit the town and was spotted out on Hardman Street in the city centre for a well-deserved drink in The Old Blind School.
Four simple words
Even before the manager was spotted out having a drink, he won over Liverpool fans instantly when he said four stand-out words during his first interview as manager of the side. When he said the words "turning doubters into believers" fans knew they were in for an exciting time under the heavy metal eye of the quirky German.
Being brutally honest
Klopp hasn't been shy when calling fans out for their behaviour, whether that be visiting fans or those part of the faithful. Many saw a new side to the boss when he revealed how he felt as fans poured out of Anfield during his first defeat as Liverpool manager to Crystal Palace.
Following the dismal day, he said: "With 12 minutes to go, I saw many people leaving the stadium. I turn around and saw them go. I felt pretty alone at this moment."
Support for those who suffered as a result of the Hillsborough tragedy
Margaret Aspinall, one of the leading campaigners for justice, revealed two years ago that Jurgen Klopp instantly showed his respect towards families affected by the Hillsborough tragedy.
In the BBC documentary ' Liverpool FC: The 30-year wait ', Mrs Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son James died at Hillsborough, said: "I met Jurgen in his office at Melwood. And I hope he doesn't mind me saying this, that his son came over and watched a game at Liverpool, went home [to Germany] and told his dad: 'oh my gosh, dad, the people of Liverpool!
"'They're amazing the way they stick together and the support they are giving the families the Hillsborough.' And he just said: 'That was one of the reasons why I came, because of the people, the way they believe what I believe'.
"His fairness, justice and I thought that was really nice of him."
Klopp's continued support for the fight for justice for the 97 fans who tragically lost their lives in 1989 led to Mrs Aspinall even speaking at the ceremony that saw the Reds manager awarded Freedom of Liverpool.
Jurgen's Bierhaus
If the fact the man has a bar named after him isn't a sign of how adored he is I don't know what is. The man was immortalised in Liverpool culture when Jurghen's Bierhaus opened its doors in 2017 on the Strand, where Tom Hall's Tavern once was before it shut earlier that year.
Even after winning all there is to win at Liverpool, becoming an icon at the club and being known in every corner of the city, the German still had time to pop in for a flyer after Liverpool's demolition of Manchester United in April this year. Customers were left starstruck as he casually walked in for a quick drink.
Let's talk about six baby
After Liverpool's sixth Champions League title, fans and players alike took to the streets of Liverpool to celebrate the incredible feat. One iconic sight was Jurgen Klopp hanging off the side of a tour bus gripping a beer.
Not only did he enjoy a fair few swigs, he hilariously counted to six on his hands as he merrily enjoyed the afternoon with his colleagues and players. The German has definitely had a fun few years on open-top buses in Liverpool.
Holding the French authorities to account
On what should have been a celebratory day of the two best football teams in Europe, the events that unfolded at the Champions League Final in 2022 will live long in the memory of supporters who had to go through the tear gassing, crushing and brutality suffered at the hands of French police trying to enter the stadium.
Not only did the French police and government try and deny claims it was their fault that chaos ensued, but UEFA also double-downed when its officials continued to blame fans for the delay in kick-off at the match in Paris. Despite senior figures trying to ship the narrative that Liverpool fans were to blame, the Liverpool boss backed supporters of the club and revealed that his own family were caught up in the horrific scenes.
He said: "I heard first-hand from my family because they were in the middle of everything. They texted me before the game: 'We are in, good luck' stuff like this but they were pretty much one-and-a-half hours away from being in the stadium.
"What happened to them happened to everyone, pretty much. Two or three people I spoke to were lucky, they got in and were waiting. Then there were all the issues through the game. People sitting on seats next to them (that weren’t theirs). They were looking: 'what are you doing here?'
"There were a lot of spots occupied definitely by people without tickets but they were not Liverpool supporters.
"This is pretty much the story everyone told, everyone had this experience. I think I knew 50 people inside the stadium; 47 people told me exactly the same story. That is what I heard. That is obviously not how it should be."
Liverpool is his home
As if it wasn't already obvious, but Klopp now sees the city of Liverpool as his home, drawing on similarities between his homeland and the amazing city of Liverpool. He takes pride in saying he lives in Liverpool, and who wouldn't, with him sharing a similar view on social issues and politics.
Speaking to the ECHO before his Freedom of Liverpool ceremony, he said: "Liverpool is home and that's how it is. I know it feels like that, we arrived just more than seven years ago and from the first moment, it's easy as a football manager because people are very open and friendly.
"But over the years we have met so many people who have nothing to do with football who are not warm, friendly, kind because you're a football manager but for normal human reasons."
He also spoke about the similarities between Scouse and goulash. He said: "I've tried it [scouse] before but that's easy. We have similar food in Germany, it's great, we call it goulash. It's good, I like it a lot."
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