Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp the 'unluckiest' manager in football, analysis shows
The German is on a five final losing streak following Wednesday night's Europa League defeat
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Your support makes all the difference.Jurgen Klopp has a reputation for being eccentric, energetic and entertaining - all labels the Liverpool manager has curated himself. But following Wednesday's Europa League defeat to Sevilla he could end up with an unwanted one - unlucky.
The 3-1 loss in Basel was Klopp's fifth straight loss in cup finals. Earlier this year he lost the Capital One Cup to Manchester City and in his former job as manager of Borussia Dortmund he was runner-up in the German Cup in 2013/14 and 2014/15 and prior to that lost the 2012/13 Champions League final.
His last (and only) cup final success as a manager was the 2011/12 German Cup.
So does just one win in six finals - and five defeats in a row - make Klopp the unluckiest manager in football?
Analysis by the Independent shows that when Klopp's record is compared to 10 of the most highly regarded managers currently working in the game, the German has the worst record in finals.
We looked at Rafael Benitez, Carlo Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique, Arsene Wenger, Louis van Gaal, Claudio Ranieri, Manuel Pellegrini and Antonio Conte.
Of those managers, only Arsenal manager Wenger can match Klopp for presiding over five cup final defeats. However the French coach has been involved in double the number of finals to his German counterpart.
Klopp's cup final win percentage stands at just 16.7 per cent - the only manager who fares worse is incoming Chelsea manager Conte - but the current Italy manager has presided over just one final during his career, which he lost.
The most successful manager of those who have been in charge at three or more cup finals is Carlo Ancelotti. The soon-to-be Bayern Munich coach has been involved in seven and won six of them, including three Champions League wins. His only defeat came in the 2004/05 Champions League final to Liverpool.
The managers who have been involved in the most finals are Wenger and Jose Mourinho with 12 appearances each. Wenger has a win percentage of 58.3 with his favourite competition the FA Cup, which he has won six times and lost just once upon reaching the final. Mourinho has won a staggering 10 major cups during his career - more than any other manager currently working in the game. It gives him a win percentage of 83.3.
Mourinho's win percentage is matched exactly by Manchester United manager Van Gaal and soon-to-be Manchester City manager Guardiola - who have both won five of the six finals they've been in.
Liverpool's most successful manager in the modern era fares much better than Klopp, with Benitez having a win percentage of 71.4 in finals. The Spaniard has been involved in a total of seven and won five of them, with the highlight being the Champions League he lifted with Liverpool in 2004/05.
Speaking after the Europa League final Klopp told reporters: "We are disappointed and frustrated 100 per cent but tomorrow or later in the week we will see it a little bit more clearly and we will use this experience, that is what we have to do."
The Liverpool manager must learn fast if his record isn't to get even worse and his reputation to slide with it.
HOW DO THE MANAGERS FARE...
Jurgen Klopp
Klopp extended his losing streak in cup finals to five with defeat to Sevilla.
TOTAL FINALS: 6
TOTAL WINS: 1
TOTAL LOSSES: 5
LOSING STREAK: 0
WIN PERCENTAGE: 16.7
Wins...
German Cup: 2011/12 with Borussia Dortmund
Losses...
German Cup: 2013/14 and 2014/15 with Borussia Dortmund
Champions League: 2012/13 with Borussia Dortmund
League Cup: 2015/16 with Liverpool
Europa League: 2015/16 with Liverpool
Carlo Ancelotti
The soon-to-be Bayern Munich manager has the highest win percentage of those who have been involved in more than two finals.
TOTAL FINALS: 7
TOTAL WINS: 6
TOTAL LOSSES: 1
LOSING STREAK: 1
WIN PERCENTAGE: 85.7
Wins...
Champions League: 2002/03 and 2006/07 with AC Milan and 2013/14 with Real Madrid
Copa Italia: 2002/03 with AC Milan
FA Cup: 2009/10 with Chelsea
Copa del Rey: 2013/14 with Real Madrid
Losses...
Champions League: 2004/05 with AC Milan
Rafael Benitez
The former Liverpool manager led the Reds to Champions League success and a host of other trophies during his time at Anfield.
TOTAL FINALS: 7
TOTAL WINS: 5
TOTAL LOSSES: 2
LOSING STREAK: 1
WIN PERCENTAGE: 71.4
Wins...
Uefa Cup: 2003/04 with Valencia
FA Cup: 2005/06 with Liverpool
Champions League: 2004/05 with Liverpool
Europa League: 2012/13 with Chelsea
Coppa Italia: 2013/14 with Napoli
Losses...
League Cup: 2004/05 with Liverpool
Champions League: 2006/07 with Liverpool
Jose Mourinho
The man linked with Manchester United has arguably the most impressive CV from among the managers here.
TOTAL FINALS: 12
TOTAL WINS: 10
TOTAL LOSSES:
LOSING STREAK: 1
WIN PERCENTAGE: 83.3
Wins...
Taca de Portugal: 2002/03 with Porto
Uefa Cup: 2002/03 with Porto
Champions League: 2003/04 with Porto and 2009/10 with Inter Milan
FA Cup: 2006/07 with Chelsea
League Cup: 2004/05, 2006/07 and 2014/15 with Chelsea
Coppa Italia: 2009/10 with Inter Milan
Copa del Rey: 2010/11 with Real Madrid
Losses...
Taca de Portugal: 2003/04 with Porto
League Cup: 2007/08 with Chelsea
Pep Guardiola
The soon-to-be Manchester City manager has done well in the two jobs he's held during his career.
TOTAL FINALS: 6
TOTAL WINS: 5
TOTAL LOSSES: 1
LOSING STREAK: 1
WIN PERCENTAGE: 83.3
Wins...
Copa del Rey: 2008/09 and 2011/12 with Barcelona
Champions League: 2008/09 and 2010/11 with Barcelona
German Cup: 2012/13 with Bayern Munich
Losses...
Copa del Rey: 2010/11 with Barcelona
Luis Enrique
The current Barcelona manager has not been in the management game all that long, taking up his third job at the Nou Camp after short spells at Roma and Celta.
TOTAL FINALS: 2
TOTAL WINS: 2
TOTAL LOSSES: 0
LOSING STREAK: 0
WIN PERCENTAGE: 100
Wins...
Copa del Rey: 2014/15 with Barcelona
Champions League: 2014/15 with Barcelona
Losses
None
Arsene Wenger
Wenger has won the FA Cup a record six times.
TOTAL FINALS: 12
TOTAL WINS: 7
TOTAL LOSSES: 5
LOSING STREAK: 3
WIN PERCENTAGE: 58.3
Wins...
Coupe de France: 1990/91 with Monaco
FA Cup: 1997/98, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2004/05, 2013/14, 2014/15 with Arsenal
Losses...
Coupe de France: 1988/89 with Monaco
FA Cup: 2000/01 with Arsenal
Champions League: 2005/06 with Arsenal
League Cup: 2006/07 and 2010/11 with Arsenal
Louis van Gaal
The Manchester United manager will take his side into the FA Cup final this Saturday with a chance to enhance his trophy haul.
TOTAL FINALS: 6
TOTAL WINS: 5
TOTAL LOSSES: 1
LOSING STREAK: 1
WIN PERCENTAGE: 83.3
Wins...
Netherlands Cup: 1992/93 with Ajax
Champions League: 1994/95 with Ajax
Uefa Cup: 1991/92 with Ajax
Copa del Rey: 1997/98 with Barcelona
German Cup: 2009/10 with Bayern Munich
Losses...
Champions League: 1995/96 with Ajax
Claudio Ranieri
The Leicester City has had more roles than any of the other managers included here.
TOTAL FINALS: 5
TOTAL WINS: 2
TOTAL LOSSES: 3
LOSING STREAK: 3
WIN PERCENTAGE: 40
Wins...
Coppa Italia: 1995/96 with Fiorentina
Copa del Rey: 1998/99 with Valencia
Losses...
Copa del Rey: 1999/2000 with Atletico Madrid
FA Cup: 2001/02 with Chelsea
Coppa Italia: 2009/2010 with Roma
Manuel Pellegrini
The former Manchester City manager has been involved in very few finals.
TOTAL FINALS: 2
TOTAL WINS: 2
TOTAL LOSSES: 0
LOSING STREAK: 0
WIN PERCENTAGE: 100
Wins...
League Cup: 2013/14 and 2015/16 with Manchester City
Losses...
None
Antonio Conte
The incoming Chelsea manager has little experience in finals.
TOTAL FINALS: 1
TOTAL WINS: 0
TOTAL LOSSES: 1
LOSING STREAK: 1
WIN PERCENTAGE: 0
Wins...
None
Losses...
Coppa Italia: 2011/12 with Juventus
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