‘Charismatic’ Klopp the closest to replicating Liverpool legend Shankly

Former Liverpool chief executive Peter Moore has lauded Jurgen Klopp and believes the Reds boss is the closest thing the club have had to legendary manager Bill Shankly.

Shankly is often regarded as the most iconic figure in Liverpool’s long and illustrious history and a key factor behind the club’s rise to a powerhouse of English football, laying the foundations for a dominant era on Merseyside and cementing an unforgettable legacy.

Klopp is the latest manager to bring huge success to the club and ended the Reds’ three-decade wait for a league title last season, a year on from bringing a sixth European Cup to Anfield after victory over Spurs in the Champions League.

The German has transformed Liverpool’s fortunes in the five years since his appointment and his impact has been hailed by Moore, who believes Klopp understands the importance of the relationship between the club and the supporters.

Moore – who stepped down from his CEO position in August – described the 53-year-old as ‘a Scouser at heart’ and believes the ‘charismatic’ manager shares many of the traits which ensured Shankly’s legendary status at Liverpool.

“There is no facade with Jurgen. There is no show for the cameras. He is a massive personality and a great motivator of men,” Moore told the BBC.

“We often reflect on the Bill Shankly era. The phrase he used was ‘I was made for Liverpool and Liverpool was made for me’. The same could be said of Jurgen. I think he is a Scouser at heart.

“He has all the attributes; caring for people, warm personality, he is charismatic and incredibly articulate. He understands the values of the club, what it means to the fans and how important they are collectively.

“Shankly called it The Holy Trinity – managers, players, fans. Jurgen recognises it. There is a psychological bond between manager and fans. We have had lots of that at Liverpool over the decades but the closest example is what Shankly and Jurgen Klopp have done.”

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