Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed the two most influential coaches on his football philosophy.
Klopp is widely regarded as one of the greatest managers of his generation, having performed brilliantly at three clubs in a row.
After moving to manage German side Mainz, he helped turn the club around - first by getting them promotion to the Bundesliga before guiding them to European football.
He then joined Borussia Dortmund and successively won the Bundesliga title in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons before leading his side to the 2013 Champions League final, where they were bitterly beaten. , Bayern Munich, narrowly defeated.
Klopp was appointed Liverpool manager in 2015 and has since enjoyed resounding success at Merseyside, winning the Premier League, Champions League, Club World Cup, FA Cup and League Cup with the Red Devils. After coming so close to an unprecedented four-time record last season, Klopp's side have struggled in the current campaign and head to the Premier League on Saturday against title chasers Manchester City, seven points behind in the Champions League.
Klopp names his two biggest influences in football
Speaking to BT Sport before the game, Klopp revealed the two coaches who have had the biggest influence on his football philosophy - Dutch legend Johan Cruyff, who won 'total football' and Italian icon Arrigo Sacchi, whose late AC Milan team. The 80s are considered one of the greatest teams in history.
“Johan Cruyff, you have to mention him as one of the most influential people in the history of football,” said Klopp.
"Since I started thinking about football, he is an excellent player and coach and he has developed a footballing style.
"And the other one for me is Arrigo Sacchi because he inspired my best coaches. I spoke to Sacchi once on the phone. I don't speak Italian and he doesn't speak German but we did have an interpreter.
"He really changed football in a very good way so that we can now organize the teams much better than our previous coaches."
Klopp has won many admirers in football but insists he is not someone to admire, despite his achievements in football.
"I'm not a role model, I can't be," he said.
"I can only play one role and that's mine. I'm still 100% myself and that's good in some respects and obviously not good in others."
Klopp added:
"My success depends on my determination to do what I do. Luck really helps - without it we all get in trouble. And there are the right people around me; I I don't believe in personal success in football and I don't believe in needing it. I've always enjoyed sharing experiences.
“Everyone's success is different. There's nothing worse than getting used to being successful because you have to accept that it doesn't always work. If you can accept that, then you can have a pretty good life.
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