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German-British friendship: Jürgen Klopp – better than Johnson or Merkel

Et was a home game for Jürgen Klopp – but the question is: Are there any away games for him? In a way, the Liverpool coach has long been larger than life. It attracts people, this is not a new phenomenon. But meanwhile its popularity has taken on exceptions that are almost unparalleled.

On Friday evening Klopp was once again a guest in Dortmund – six and a half years after he left BVB. In the stadium in which the now 54-year-old managed to become a top international coach by turning a mediocre team into a top team that won two German championships and the DFB Cup.

There he had to sign a lot of autographs, pose for photos and for video messages. The only unusual thing was that there were no football fans, but 300 invited gala guests from politics, business and society who wanted to get in touch with him this time. Including show greats like Campino from the “Toten Hosen”. CDU chancellor candidate Armin Laschet had also announced himself, but had to cancel for scheduling reasons.

Klopp received the “German-British Friendship Award”

Klopp received an honor that is also not common for a football coach. He was awarded the “German-British Friendship Award”. The prize, established by the British Chamber of Commerce and the British Embassy, ​​is intended for people who have made a special contribution to the relationship between the two countries – in this respect there is hardly a more worthy award winner than Klopp, who is now as popular in England as it is in Germany.

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With Liverpool he won the Champions League in 2019 and then led the traditional club to the first championship in 30 years in 2020. But it is not only successes that justify Klopp’s reputation. “He has a gift that cannot be learned. When Jürgen enters a room, it automatically gets lighter. He manages to make an entire club shine, ”said BVB managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke, one of the laudators.

On Friday, Klopp then demonstrated that a hall can make a laugh. “With all the things that the laudators said about me, I thought: Yes, well, for lack of alternatives – maybe I am really the right one,” he said: “But I’m really happy about it.”

Klopp is good for both countries

In fact, it is probably as described by Watzke. “What Jürgen did for German-English friendship is probably more than any diplomat can ever do,” he said. Klopp manages to arouse understanding for the Germans in England – and vice versa. “I cannot imagine a better award winner than Jürgen Klopp – someone who brings us joy and passion and the certainty that anything is possible and that hard work is worthwhile,” said British Ambassador Jill Gallard.

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Klopp is good for both countries – especially in times when bilateral relations are exposed to many burdens. There is above all the Brexit with its political, economic and atmospheric consequences. Most Germans have not come to terms with why a majority of British people turned away from the EU to this day. Klopp at least acts like a kind of emotional cement between the people in the two countries.

This was particularly emphasized by Campino. “During his time in England Jürgen said a lot of things that I would like Boris Johnson to have said. But there are also a lot of quotes from him that wouldn’t have looked bad at Angela Merkel, ”said the punk singer. Campino, the son of an English mother and a German father, is a passionate wanderer between the two worlds that have clearly drifted apart in recent years.

Much has become much more complicated after the Brexit referendum

After the 2016 Brexit referendum, despite all, and in some cases more successful, efforts to get new contracts much more complicated – especially for Germans living in the UK and Brits living in the EU. Of course, Klopp can’t change that either. But he never tires of asking for understanding. He does this in a way that seems almost naive – and perhaps for that very reason is astonishingly effective.

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“I took an Interrail to England with my cousin at 18. The weather was bad, even then. Nevertheless, we fell in love with the country, ”he said, and talked about his“ Bed and Breakfest ”experiences. “People offer you bed and breakfast for five pounds. I come from the Black Forest. It would have been the last thing for us to let a complete stranger sleep with us for pounds, ”said Klopp. At that time he had resolved to “one day live in this country.” He accepted the award on behalf of all Germans who still live in England – despite Brexit. Although he was shocked by it at the time.

“At the time I thought it was not possible for something like this to happen. But it happened. That’s the way it is now. We have to deal with it, ”said Klopp. Now it is a matter of making it clear “that there are still great people living on both sides of the water.” Then there was loud applause. Klopp’s speech will not change the political realities – but it was good for everyone who hopes that there will be another rapprochement between Germans and British after Brexit.

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