Sir Alex Ferguson wishes he’d told Jurgen Klopp to join another club as he handed over the LMA Manager of the Year award on Tuesday. The former Manchester United boss regrets his initial conversation 12 years ago.
Jurgen Klopp had a successful day on Tuesday – he picked up two Manager of the Year awards. The first came his way via the Premier League but it’s the second that’s held in higher regard.
Klopp lifted the LMA Manager of the Year award, otherwise known as the Sir Alex Ferguson award. It’s certainly the most prestigious such award and his season win, after 2020.
Ferguson himself handed it over but admitted it was ‘agony’ to do so to the Liverpool boss. In fact, the former Manchester United boss says he regrets telling Klopp 12 years ago to “go to a club with history”.
Per Miguel Delaney, who was at the event, Ferguson then declared that he “should have told him to go to Scunthorpe United.”
Klopp then admitted that he “couldn’t understand anything [Ferguson] said” before saying that he’s improved his Scottish “through working with [Andy] Robbo and Kenny [Dalglish].”
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
Jurgen Klopp wins Sir Alex Ferguson award
We’re sure Klopp would work wonders at Scunthorpe, to be fair. He’d probably have them in the Premier League before long – the boss boasts that kind of track record.
And that’s why he’s got this award. Klopp’s work with Liverpool have been unbelievable, having them consistently punch above their weight in terms of finances.
They’re in the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday, after all – their third in five years. They also ran Manchester City close in the Premier League title race. Only one point separated the Reds from City – despite a chasm separating them financially.
We imagine Ferguson actually hoped that Klopp would take over United one day. They supposedly tried – but their pitch of ‘Disneyland for adults’ didn’t exactly resonate with the German. Shockingly.
And so instead, Ferguson got his nightmare. Klopp has Liverpool firmly back on their perch and United don’t look like knocking them off again anytime soon.