Jurgen Klopp; Seventh season curse. Myth or Reality ?

No doubt, Jurgen Klopp is one of the best coach of his generation. With many trophies and individual honours he has earned over the years. The German tactician had previously coached Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund both in the Bundesliga before he joined Liverpool in October 2015. Klopp agreed a three-year deal to become Liverpool manager, replacing Brendan Rodgers.

The contract was further extended to summer 2024, Due to the spectacular work and rejuvenation, he did with the Merseyside Giant. Before he joined, Liverpool had struggled to qualify for Europa League and missing out the Champions League (tier 1 continental Club competition) many times in previous seasons.

Klopp is a renowned proponent of Gegenpressing, in which the team instantly tries to regain possession after losing it instead of retreating to regroup. He has referred to his teams' pushing and high offensive production as "heavy metal" football play. With the German incharge, Liverpool won Premier league for the first time in 30 years. Within six seaons, Klopp led team won every available trophy in England and Europe.

The 55-years-old, had only coached two teams before joining the English side, and there is a similar occurrence in his two previous jobs. Despite his success in both teams, He resigned from both club after his seventh season due to poor run. However, This Seventh season dilemma has been a matter of interest and discussion among football lovers due to Liverpool poor start of the season.

Let's take a vivid and succinct overview of his coaching stints in his previous and current Club.

Beginning of his coaching career

Jurgen retired from professional football in 2001, he spent most of his playing career at Mainz 05. Following the firing of Eckhard Krautzun as the club's manager on February 27, 2001, Klopp began his coaching career with Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga second division. Mainz 05 defeated MSV Duisburg at home by a score of 1-0 in Klopp's debut game.

After winning six of his next seven games, Klopp managed to finish in 14th place and avoid relegation with one game remaining.

In 2001–2002, during his first full season in charge, Klopp led Mainz to a fourth-place league finish while employing his preferred pressing and counterpressing strategies, just missing promotion. In 2002–03, Mainz finished fourth once more but was denied promotion on the very last day due to goal differential.

After two unsuccessful seasons, Klopp led Mainz to a third-place finish in the 2003–04 season, securing promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time in the club's history.

In their inaugural season in the top division in 2004–05, Mainz finished 11th despite having the lowest budget and the smallest stadium in the league. In addition to qualifying for the 2005–06 UEFA Cup, Klopp's team finished 11th in the 2005–06 regular season. However, they were eliminated in the first round by eventual champions Sevilla. Despite Mainz 05 being relegated at the conclusion of the 2006–07 season, Klopp decided to stay with the team. 

Klopp, however, left at the conclusion of the 2007–08 season after failing to win promotion the next year. His final record was 109 victories, 78 ties, and 83 defeats.

Stint at Borussia Dortmund

Klopp was invited to take over as Borussia Dortmund's new manager in May 2008. Klopp eventually accepted a two-year contract with the club, which had ended a poor 13th place under former manager Thomas Doll, despite receiving interest from German champions Bayern Munich. On August 9, Klopp won his first match as manager, a 3-1 DFB-Pokal triumph over Rot-Weiss Essen.

The 2008 German Supercup was won by Klopp in his debut season, when he defeated Bayern Munich, the defending champion. In his debut season in command, he guided the team to a sixth-place finish. Even though Dortmund had one of the league's youngest teams, Klopp managed to guide them to a fifth-place finish the following season, securing European football for his team.

They clinched the 2010–11 Bundesliga title, Dortmund’s seventh league title, with two games to spare, Klopp's side became the youngest side ever to win the Bundesliga. Klopp and his team successfully defended their title, winning the 2011–12 Bundesliga.

Their total of 81 points that season was the greatest total points in Bundesliga history and the 47 points earned in the second half of the season also set a new record. Their 25 league wins equalled Bayern Munich's record, while their 28-league match unbeaten run was the best ever recorded in a single German top-flight season.

Dortmund lost the 2011 DFL-Supercup against rivals Schalke 04. He sealed the club's first ever domestic double, by defeating Bayern Munich 5–2 to win the 2012 DFB-Pokal Final.

During the 2012-13 season, Dortmund League form wasn't impressive as Klopp insisted that his team would focus on the UEFA Champions League to make up for their disappointing run in that competition in the previous season.

Klopp's team were drawn against Manchester City, Real Madrid and Ajax in the competition's group of death. However, they did not lose a game, topping the group with some impressive performances. The team made it to the final, and lost 2 - 1 to Bayern Munich courtesy of Arjen Robben’s 89th-minute goal.

The German tactician, helped Dortmund 2013-14 finished second place in the Bundesliga, and also won the 2013 DFL-Supercup. but were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals by eventual champions Real Madrid.

Although, Dortmund started the 2014–15 season by winning the 2014 DFL-Supercup, after a disappointing start to the season, Klopp announced in April that he would leave the club at the end of the season, His final match in charge of the team was the 2015 DFB-Pokal Final, which Dortmund lost 3–1 against VfL Wolfsburg.

Dortmund finished in the league in seventh place and were knocked out of Champions League in the round of 16 by Juventus. He finished with a record of 178 wins, 69 draws, and 70 losses.

His time with Liverpool so far

Jurgen Klopp during his first conference as Liverpool Coach, dubbed himself 'The Normal One' in a parody of José Mourinho's famous 'The Special One' statement in 2004. In his First season with Liverpool, He guided the Club to the first European final since 2007. Although, he lost to Sevilla 3-1 in the final. Liverpool finished the 2015–16 season in eighth place.

Also, lost the league Cup final to Manchester city on penalties.

On 8 July 2016, Klopp and his coaching staff signed six-year extensions to their deals keeping them at Liverpool until 2022. Liverpool qualified for the Champions League for the first time since 2014–15. Also, The Merseyside club finished fourth in the 2016–17 Premier League season.

Klopp's side finished fourth in the 2017–18 Premier League, securing qualification for the Champions League for a second consecutive season. That same season, Liverpool reached the UCL final, and lose 3-1 to Real Madrid. Which was Klopp's sixth defeat in seven major finals.

In the 2018–19 season, The team led by Klopp finished second to Manchester City, against whom they only lost one league game all year. Klopp's Liverpool amassed 97 points, which is the third-highest total in English top-division history and the most points ever scored by a team that didn't win the Premier. 

They also remained unbeaten at home for the second straight season. They tied the club record most victories in a season with thirty league victories.

Klopp won his first trophy with Liverpool, his first Champions League title, and the club's sixth European Cup/Champions League title overall.

He won his second trophy with Liverpool in 2019-20 season, when Liverpool defeated Chelsea in the Super Cup on penalties. On 23 September, Klopp was named as The Best FIFA Men's Coach for 2019, ahead of Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino.

He led Liverpool to their first FIFA Club World Cup trophy, with victory over Flamengo in the final, making his team the first English side to win the international treble of the Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup. Klopp's side clinched the title with 7 games left to spare; Liverpool's first in the premier league era. Klopp was also awarded premier league manager of the year.

In 2020-21 season, Klopp was named the Best FIFA Men's Coach for the second successive year having guided the club to their first league title triumph in 30 years. Klopp also won the BBC's Sports Coach of the Year. However, Liverpool finished 3rd in the league and went trophyless in a season ruined with injuries of his key players.

Last season, Liverpool were on verge of winning the Quadraple, before their hope were shattered. They concede the Premier league to Manchester City on the last Matchday and lost the UEFA Champions League to Real Madrid in a 1-0 defeat. The klopp led side did end the season with domestic double. Beating Chelsea on penalties to win both the Carabao and FA Cups.

Liverpool have been on a poor run since the beginning of this season. After defeating Manchester city 3-1 to win the Community shield. The Merseyside Giant have failed to a win a match in the Premier league. Drawing their first two matches against Fulham and Crystal palace.

Liverpool suffered defeat at Old Trafford against Manchester United and currently occupy 16th position on the table. This has put the football community into disarray that Klopp Seventh season curse is about to strike and the Gaffer might leave his position as Liverpool Coach, this season.

In Conclusion, The Season is a long one that can't be judged with three matches. Soon enough, We will know if the Seventh season curse is a myth or Reality.

Thanks for reading and Kindly let us know your opinion on it.

Author: Olayinka Salaudeen

Reference: Wikipedia