Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was named the League Managers Association Manager of the Year on Monday evening.The charismatic German coach, who inspired Liverpool to their first Premier League title since 1990 this season, beat Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth and Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder to the prestigious individual accolade.The trophy is named the Sir Alex Ferguson trophy and the Manchester United legend sent a special video message to the Liverpool boss.“And, of course, the winner: Jurgen Klopp. Jurgen: fantastic. I speak about Leeds United, 16 years in the Championship,” Ferguson said.“Liverpool, 30 years since winning that league - incredible and thoroughly deserved. The performance level of your team was outstanding. Your personality went right through the whole club. I think it was a marvellous, marvellous performance.
“I’ll forgive you for waking me up at half-past three in the morning to tell me you’d won the league - thank you!“But anyway, you thoroughly deserved it, well done!”
Klopp, seen holding the trophy, was thrilled to receive the message from arguably the greatest manager football has ever seen.
“I know it’s not 100 per cent appropriate as Liverpool manager but I admire him,” Klopp said of the Manchester United icon.
“He was the first British manager I met, we had lunch together. I’m not sure he remembers it but I’ll remember it forever because it was like meeting the Pope.
“From the first second we really clicked and I wouldn’t have thought at that moment that I would be holding this trophy in my hands.”
Watch Klopp’s full interview here…
Liverpool ended the season on 99 points - the second-highest tally in Premier League history.
Klopp has also led the Reds to glory in both the Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup over the past 18 months.
He’s arguably the best coach in world football right now and thoroughly deserved to receive this award from Ferguson.