Sir Alex Ferguson reveals Jurgen Klopp rang him at 3.30am to tell him he’d won Premier League title
Klopp guided Liverpool to a first league title in 30 years
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Sir Alex Ferguson said Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp thoroughly deserved his success this season and was even willing to forgive the German for waking him up in the early hours of the morning to announce his league triumph.
Klopp was presented with the Alex Ferguson Trophy on Monday after being named League Managers’ Association (LMA) manager of the year for guiding the Merseyside club to their first top-flight title in 30 years.
The title was sealed when Chelsea beat Manchester City 2-1 on a Thursday night in late June, but Klopp clearly waited a few hours before getting in touch with the sometimes gruff Scot.
“You thoroughly deserved it,” he said. “The performance level of your team was outstanding. Your personality runs right throughout the whole club. It was a marvellous performance.
“I’ll forgive you for waking me up at 3.30am to tell me you have won the league! Thank you, but anyway, you thoroughly deserved it. Well done.”
Ferguson, who made good his pledge to knock Liverpool off their perch by leading United to 13 titles from 1993 to 2013, enjoys a good relationship with Klopp and once sounded out the German about succeeding him at Old Trafford.
Klopp declared himself “absolutely delighted” to get the award, which he dedicated to his staff.
And the 53-year-old said he was honoured to be handed a trophy named in honour of Ferguson.
“I know it’s not 100 per cent appropriate as a Liverpool manager but I admire him,” he said. “I remember he was the first British manager I met.
“We had breakfast. I’m not sure how much he remembers but I remember because for me this moment was like meeting the Pope. It was absolutely great and from that first season we clicked.
“I didn’t think at this moment I would have a trophy in my hands named after him.”
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