I thought I’d try pen something now on one of the greatest individuals who’s ever graced my City, let alone football club, as I know tomorrow and the coming days I will neither be in a fit state or have the appetite to.
*I make no apologies if this comes across as somewhat of a long love letter. As it really kind of is.
Grief is mad emotion when it comes to a broken heart. I mean nobodies died here. Just a man I’ve come to love like no other person I’ve never actually met is moving on to enjoy living his life with his family. After reminding every last one of his adoring public what life is actually all about and teaching us to live once more as L’pool fans when many had lost that belief and enthusiasm for the club. But man alive is my heart feeling heavier and heavier in anticipation of one final day out with our Tutonic Meister. I’m getting more free in showing my emotions the older I get. An age thing for a man I guess. And I know I’ll openly be in bits tomorrow in the ground. Like many thousands of others around me who have been on this wondrous journey with him these past 8-and-a-half-years.
We do things different in our little part of the World. And one of those differences is the ridiculously high regard we hold those privileged enough to manage our football club. NO other fanbase puts managers on a pedestal like we do. And the actual part about managing the football club and coaching the players is only a small part of that. We expect and demand SO much more of them. They are not just a manager of LFC. They are a figure head for the City and its people. You have to FULLY buy into how uniquely different we are, in every respect, and understand how we tick to have that unbreakable connection that makes us such an irresistible force. Particularly at Anfield. And nobody, IMHO, has ever channeled into that and understood and get us so perfectly as Jurgen Norbert Klopp Esq. Shankly included.
I keep trying to come up with a word to sum up what he’s brought us as a football club and City. And I keep coming back to one word ….. EVERYTHING!
He has got us and represented us, on and even more so off the pitch, as well as anyone ever has.
Politically and socially, he just gets and shares what being Scouse is all about and how we view life and others. Doing the right thing and taking care of one and other. Never being shy in standing up for what we believe to be right. And letting anyone and everyone know that. Through Jurgens time here, he’s guided us through some very hard World times. Which is mad to think of a football manager doing that. But thats a mark of the genuinely decent bloke he is.
He was a vocal voice with his anti-Brexit views in the face of all the lies being spewed to the masses for the elites ends. His voice was far more powerful than any politicians could ever wish to be in getting the majority to adhere to the COVID rules and protect one and another and our communities. He’s never been shy in lambasting the two major World leaders of the time, Johnson and Trump, and all the inherent World dangers they brought to the table. He stood up for his people when the rest of the Nation attacked us over not singing the National anthem/ not feeling English. Making the point that the question that should be asked is why does one of England’s major City’s feel this way? He’s been a vocal voice on food poverty/ social deprivation. And all the despicable tragedy chanting et al there in. Heck, he even finally wised our own fanbase up over the homophobic slur we used to regularly throw at Chelsea. Making many understand just how offensive it is to that community. He’s been the one manager to consistently stick his head above the parapet and stand up for player welfare in the face of everything …..
Just a genuinely good man and top human being who shares the same, socialist values many here have been brought up on and what our fan culture is based upon.
I’ve not even got into what the journey has been like following his team all over the globe these past 8-and-a-half seasons. The depth of gratitude I owe him for those shared experiences really can not be expressed in words. He’s left the abiding memory that it isn’t just about the trophies. (Of which he’s won the lot!). But the journey getting there. Football support to me is about moments and memories. And this man has left is with more boss memories than we could have dared hope for when he arrived back in the October of 2015.
I grew up on stories of what Shanks meant to this club and City. How he superseded football and realised the importance of everyone working together. With ourselves, his people, being as important a component as anything in that. Wanting to give back and share the spoils with us by making us proud and happy with our team. The quotes and stories are endless. And now, if I ever have kids, I have my own man who has even more iconic quotes and stories. Who is equally as ebullient in nature. But who lead us with an empathy and humbleness that has been unparalleled. Made all the more stunning that he’s conversed himself so perfectly, in a language that isn’t his native mother tongue!
All good things must come to an end. And tomorrow will bring more tears in our home not seen since we mourned our lost comrade’s in the days after Sheffield.
Man I’m so not ready for this final goodbye with, our two great Scots from Glasgow and Ayrshire aside, the greatest living ‘Liverpudlian’ in my lifetime. A man who just got us to a T. And whose connection to our great City, and love from its people, will last for as long as we all draw breath.
Danke mate. It’s been our eternal pleasure and the absolute time of our lives. You taught us what we always knew we were but had sadly forgotten as the club slipped to some of its lowest ebbs. And reminded us whats so good about this game and living and enjoying life to its fullest again.
