WSenior trainer Jürgen Klopp from the English soccer champions FC Liverpool was a little embarrassed by his successful title defense at the FIFA gala. “I think a lot of people were surprised when I heard my name. I thought Hansi Flick would win that, ”said Klopp at the press conference after the award ceremony on Thursday.
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Flick had led Bayern Munich to the triple and also won the German and European Supercup, while Klopp, who was connected to the gala via video, “only” brought the first English championship to Liverpool in 30 years. “I can’t believe it to be honest. Hansi deserved it, that’s why I was so surprised, ”said Klopp. However, he feels that the award as the best coach is a “great honor”.
The 53-year-old also bowed to Marcelo Bielsa, who was also “beaten”, and is the first coach to win the prestigious election twice. “Marcelo is one of the most influential coaches in world football, a real mastermind, an outstanding coach,” he said of the Argentine who brought Leeds United back to the Premier League.
The “defeat” of Hansi Flick against Jürgen Klopp amazes the football world, but can probably be explained by the charisma of the English Premier League. Almost twice as many of the European national coaches voted for Flick (33:18), but Liverpool’s master coach Klopp cleared in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and especially in Oceania. The national coaches tipped the balance in the election because there was a stalemate (24:24 points) between Flick and Klopp in the vote of the coaches, captains, media representatives and fans.
Klopp was ahead of the coaches (686: 572 points) and captains (666: 583) and received seven points each, Flick as second placed five each. The opposite was true for the media (782: 578 for Flick) and the online polling for trailers (468.6: 410.2). Therefore, according to the regulations, the coach’s votes had to decide in the “jump-off”.
Flick took it “sporty”. The triple counts for him anyway “so much more” because of the emotions involved, said the Bayern Munich coach on Friday. “Of course you were a little disappointed yesterday. If you are in the top 3, you want to win, we are a performance company, “said Flick:” Kloppo has certainly deserved the title with his team – just like my coaching team. “He is sorry that his staff” does not reward them but the choice has to be accepted ”.
Klopp said: “We haven’t dreamed for 30 years, but we have dreamed for a few. That it worked out in the summer was absolutely extraordinary. We all had a very special year – unfortunately not in a positive way, “said the former coach of FSV Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund, also in view of the Corona crisis. Klopp moved from BVB to Liverpool in the Premier League in 2015, he has long been adored by Reds supporters and enjoys cult status. The long-awaited triumph in the championship “means the world to me”, Klopp said in the summer. “I couldn’t be prouder.”
Still, Klopp was not the favorite in the December 9 election. Flick had won the triple of championship, DFB Cup and Champions League win with Bayern in 2020, as well as the German and European Supercup. Millions of fans worldwide, the coaches and captains of the national teams of Fifa members and selected journalists were entitled to vote.
Klopp’s record is impressed in Liverpool. Before his arrival in the English working-class town, the club had sunk into mediocrity. Klopp kept his promise to the fans. “Five years ago I asked you to go from doubters to believers, and you did,” he said shortly before the championship ceremony. Because of his success and his popularity, Klopp is repeatedly traded as a possible successor to national coach Joachim Löw, most recently when he was heavily criticized after the 0: 6 bankruptcy in Spain. “Maybe in the future,” said Klopp. “Now? No. I don’t have time, I have a job – a pretty intense job, by the way. ”His contract in Liverpool runs until mid-2024.
Since 2010, Fifa has chosen not only the world footballer but also the world coach of the year. Jupp Heynckes (2013) and Löw (2014) were able to prevail over Klopp in the previous year. The best coach was awarded to Sarina Wiegman from the Netherlands, who most recently coached the national team of women footballers in her country and who now works for England. Since losing to the United States in the 2019 World Cup final, the Netherlands have been unbeaten with her.
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