Jürgen Klopp’s departure holds lessons for leaders everywhere

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During a time when there is a lack of respected leaders, Jürgen Klopp has been a unique inspiration. This German soccer coach declared on Friday that he will step down from his position at Liverpool, where he served for nine years, at the end of this season. His example provides a multitude of insights for leaders in the world of business and politics.

Initially, he transformed into the symbol of the organization he governed. He constantly represented himself as someone who didn't only have technical expertise but also had an affection for Liverpool FC. Although he didn't hail from the team, he endeavored to comprehend its significance to all those who were associated with it. During his embraces and exhilarating runs on the sidelines (sometimes even leaping onto the pitch), the towering figure with the biggest grin in football conveyed the sentiments of each and every fan of Liverpool.

In 2020, the club achieved its first English league title in three decades. At the time, he shared his disbelief and shed tears, saying he never imagined it could feel so amazing. He then expressed his sincere gratitude to all of Liverpool's supporters, noting how much joy it brought him to win for them. This emotional response was likely not an act, as he has consistently demonstrated his commitment to the team since 2015. He recognizes that the essence of professional football revolves around eliciting and sharing communal emotions.

Next, he showed consideration and respect towards his players and staff as individuals, not just tools to achieve his goals. When a member of his staff wasn't aware that Andy Robertson, the full-back, was soon to become a father, Klopp inquired: "How could you possibly not be aware of such a significant event? This is the most important thing happening in his life right now."

Klopp was very curious about his players. He wanted to learn everything there was to know about them - their personalities, their beliefs, how they got to where they are, what motivates them, and what they plan to do after training. Klopp wasn't just pretending to care - he genuinely wanted to know.

Klopp is often commended for his ability to inspire his team, although it's not very common for top-class footballers to need motivation. Instead, his exceptional team management skills are what set him apart. He possesses a keen understanding of people, which allows him to communicate effectively using simple and straightforward language, even in his second language, English. In 2019, following Liverpool's 3-0 loss to Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, Klopp walked into the disheartened changing room with a smile, shouting, "Boys, boys, boys! We aren't the best team in the world. That's okay. Maybe they are. But who cares? We can still beat the best team in the world. Let's do it again." Before heading into the second leg at Anfield, he encouraged his players to give it their all, saying, "Just give it a shot. If it works, fantastic. If not, fail in the most spectacular way possible."

He energized his team while also easing their stress by allowing them to make mistakes. Despite facing challenges, they managed to pull off an astounding victory of 4-0, under his leadership, in what could be considered his most remarkable match to date. Ultimately, they went on to secure the Champions League title. While they did not triumph in two other Champions League finals, with a bit of extra luck, their accomplishment could have been truly extraordinary. Nevertheless, even during tough times, everyone involved with the club - from the owner to the players, staff, fans, and media - all wanted to keep Klopp in charge. He made tough decisions without creating enemies.

One more important thing we learned about leadership from Klopp is delegation. These days, a football manager is more of a CEO than a dictator, in charge of a team of many people. Klopp had a clear idea of how he wanted the team to play – an energetic, high-pressing game with lots of action. He said he prefers a style of football that's intense, not peaceful. In his words, it's "fighting football" that he likes. Even when the weather is bad and the field is muddy, and everyone's a mess, he still wants his team to play with all their effort.

He entrusted most of the specifics to experts. He had been delegating a large portion of his training and game plans to his colleague Željko Buvač for a long time, whom Klopp affectionately referred to as the "mastermind" of his coaching staff.

Klopp was definitely the one in charge, a dominant man with an understanding nature. He was confident enough to take the advice of others and acknowledge his faults. Back in 2017, Liverpool was in need of a new striker and the club's analysts urged him to get Mo Salah, an Egyptian player. Klopp had his eyes set on Julian Brandt, a German forward instead. After some time, he was convinced to sign Salah. The Egyptian player turned out to be a vital member of the Liverpool team. Klopp took responsibility and apologized to the data analysts for his misjudgment.

He was a rare breed in his profession, which tends to attract egotistical individuals who are pushed to their limit. Despite his personal views on leftwing politics and opposition to Brexit, he refrained from assuming the role of an all-knowing leader. When questioned about his thoughts on the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020, he refused to offer his opinion because he felt it was important for experts on the matter to have their voices heard, rather than individuals like himself who lacked the necessary knowledge. He humorously acknowledged his limitations by stating that he was just a guy wearing a baseball cap with a poor shaving routine.

In his latest teaching on leadership, he imparted the importance of exiting gracefully at the appropriate moment. Upon announcing his decision to step down, he expressed, "When I first assumed this position, I was an ordinary individual. While I remain the same, my lifestyle deviated from the norm for an extended period. I am not willing to wait until my golden years to regain a sense of normalcy. Therefore, I must take the chance now."

He also acknowledged his imperfections with a metaphorical comparison that was well thought out: "I'm like a sports car, not the best one, but still pretty good. I can go up to 160, 170, 180 miles per hour, but I'm the only one who knows my gas tank is running low." This statement serves as a reminder to all leaders who refuse to let go of power despite their failures.

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