Klopp at Liverpool would boost Bundesliga, says Lehmann

October 08, 2015 | 11:21

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Former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann believes it would be an endorsement for both the Bundesliga and German coaches if Jurgen Klopp is appointed as Liverpool's new manager.

File photo of Dortmund's departing head coach Jurgen Klopp waving goodbye during a reception in Berlin on May 31, 2015 after the German Cup DFB Pokal final football match between BVB Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg. (AFP PHOTO/POOL/MICHAEL SOHN)

BERLIN: Former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann believes it would be an endorsement for both the Bundesliga and German coaches if Jurgen Klopp is appointed as Liverpool's new manager.

The 48-year-old ex-Borussia Dortmund boss is the hot favourite to replace Brendan Rodgers, who was sacked as Liverpool manager on Sunday.

Klopp enjoys an excellent reputation across Europe after winning the 2011 and 2012 Bundesliga titles with Dortmund, whom he also steered to the 2013 Champions League final.

Lehmann spent five years playing in the Premier League for Arsenal and believes it would be a feather in the cap of Germany's top flight if Klopp brought success back to Anfield.

"It would be good for German football if he went there," the ex-Germany goalkeeper told SID, an AFP subsidiary. "If he is successful, it would be good for coaching in Germany to step out of the shadows it has been lurking in for the last few years."

Germany's World Cup winning coach Joachim Loew believes Klopp's passion makes him the ideal candidate to take Liverpool forward with Merseyside's sleeping giants currently 10th in the Premier League.

"Jurgen Klopp is a coach who was extremely successful at Dortmund and who stirred many incredible emotions," said Loew at a press conference in Dublin ahead of Germany's Euro 2016 qualifier with Ireland on Thursday.

"Viewed from a distance, there are certain parallels between Dortmund and Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp can take any team forward, including Liverpool."

So far, Klopp has stayed silent on the topic and was tight-lipped when approached by a reporter from German daily Bild on Monday, while the British media are reporting that Klopp's appointment at Anfield is imminent.

AFP

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