“It is the most touristy area in Germany, full of forests and spas. The valleys and rivers of the Black Forest cause great inner peace, "says Ulrich Rath , former president of SV Glatten. "Klopp represents the personality of the people here: he is honest, grateful and humble," adds Rajko Pajdic , his successor in office.

Jürgen Klopp was born in Stuttgart but grew up in this town of just 2,000 inhabitants in southwestern Germany, just 60 kilometers from the border with France. Ingo Rath, Ulrich's son, shared with him childhood and adolescence: «He was a normal boy, very happy. But he was not a great student. He was always with girls, which made us somewhat envious, "he laughs. Her father was also Klopp's head coach. Both agree that it could not be predicted that it would get where it has gotten: «It was one more. Technically he was not the best but he was always very ambitious . With will, he has accomplished what others with talent have failed.

At 16 he went to Ergenzingen to play at a higher level and there he won a test with the Eintracht subsidiary, where he would coincide with Andreas Möller . But that test did not work and he wandered through several clubs in the Frankfurt area. Without being very convinced of his future as a soccer player, he began studying Physical Education at the University and had his first experience as a coach in lower categories, although he was still determined to become a professional soccer player.

The opportunity came in 1990. At 23, he faced Mainz 05 in a phase of promotion to the second division. He lost but the Mainz team needed a tall striker and made him an offer. There he would become an emblem for eleven seasons, breaking the record of games played in the history of the club (340), always in the silver category of German football. According to local journalist Reinhard Rehberg , "technically it was limited for the Bundesliga, although I remember that he received an offer from Hamburg." There his position changed: he came as second point or right winger, became a midfielder and ended up as a defense, mainly right back. He scored a total of 52 goals, most taking advantage of his air power. Over the years, he became the wardrobe leader. Increasingly. For this reason, when in 2001 the team was going through a very bad streak of results that threatened to drop, Christian Heidel offered him the position of coach. The then sports director of the club remembers: «I had the trainer's wood , I always knew it would be. So even though I didn't have the title and they accused me of being crazy, don't hesitate to give him the equipment. ” At 33 years old and from one day to the next, Klopp hung up his boots and became a coach, he says in the documentary 'Klopp, the origins', which is broadcast next Wednesday in Vamos (22:30).

The charisma, positivism and ability to motivate his players that he exhibited later in Dortmund and Liverpool were seen from the first day as a coach. He got the first promotion to the Bundesliga in the history of Mainz, two leagues and a glass with Dortmund and the transfer by Liverpool to try to return the Premier almost three decades later. But there were also bad times, such as the six consecutive lost titles, which made him gain fame as a late loser. However, the Champions League achieved at the Madrid Metropolitan stadium against Tottenham (0-2) just a year ago today erased that ghost with one stroke and consecrated that normal boy from the Black Forest.

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