How do you replace a coach like Jürgen Klopp?
It is not easy to work out how much credit to give football coaches. A study by The Economist in 2019 concluded that, after adjusting for the quality of the squad, the impact of big-name coaches was small. But among the few who had a clear, positive effect was Jürgen Klopp. So the charismatic German’s announcement last week that he would leave Liverpool at the end of the season has left fans dismayed. Over nine years he has revitalised the club, delivering a first league title since 1990 and a sixth European championship. And now he has run out of energy. His final match in charge at Anfield stadium will be a highly emotional affair. How does the club go about replacing the irreplaceable?
The first step is not to become overwrought. Modern football coaches are the public faces of their clubs, which makes it easy to overrate their importance. But Mr Klopp is a natural delegator. When appointed to coach Liverpool, he accepted that he would work with the chief executive, a sporting director (typically responsible for all footballing matters, from scouting youngsters to hiring coaches) and a head of player recruitment. They would have the final say on the club’s overall direction and on transfers.
The previous Liverpool coach, Brendan Rodgers, bristled at this perceived lack of control. Mr Klopp welcomed it. In 2017 he asked the club to sign a German forward, Julian Brandt. The sporting director, Michael Edwards, said his analysts preferred an Egyptian winger, Mohamed Salah. Mr Klopp accepted the decision. Mr Salah has gone on to become one of Liverpool’s greatest players.
Still, Mr Klopp’s longevity has made him increasingly integral to Liverpool. Mr Edwards left in 2022; his successor departed a year later. The current
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