Jurgen Klopp is poised to return to the touchline for the first time since his departure from Liverpool earlier this summer.
The German coach, who ended his nine-year tenure at Anfield in May, will be back on the sidelines in Germany this weekend, managing one of the teams during a testimonial match for two Borussia Dortmund legends he once coached.
The careers of Polish duo Lukasz Piszczek and Jakub Blaszczykowski will be celebrated at Dortmund’s iconic Signal Iduna Park.
Both players played pivotal roles in the club’s modern successes and were key figures under Klopp during his time with the Bundesliga side.
Piszczek and Blaszczykowski were part of the Dortmund squads that won back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012 under Klopp’s guidance.
They also helped the team reach the 2013 Champions League final, where they narrowly lost to rivals Bayern Munich.
In preparation for their testimonial, the pair reached out to Klopp, hoping to involve their former manager in the special occasion.
Klopp’s participation was confirmed in August, and he will be back in the dugout this Saturday.
This will be his first match as a coach since stepping away from Liverpool, citing exhaustion and a need to recharge after stating he was “running out of energy.”
At the time of his departure, Klopp also hinted at the possibility of retiring from football altogether.
However, it seems after some rest, he’s ready to get back to the game, if only for a short while.
In a video posted on Instagram, the 57-year-old expressed his excitement about being part of the event, exclaiming: “I couldn’t care less [which team I manage].
“I don’t worry about it at all. I do it like I used to, I start thinking about it five minutes beforehand.
“Is the game sold out? I’d buy a ticket if I wasn’t coming anyway!”
Jurgen Klopp is set to manage Jakub Błaszczykowski’s team in an upcoming charity match, with former Liverpool and Dortmund star Nuri Şahin making an appearance as a player.
Mats Hummels is also scheduled to feature in the game, but the spotlight, especially from Merseyside, will be on their former manager.
Klopp’s successor, Arne Slot, has enjoyed a strong start to the Premier League season, with Liverpool winning all three of their opening matches without conceding a goal.
However, as Klopp’s familiar grin returns to the sidelines, Liverpool fans will no doubt find themselves reminiscing about the unforgettable moments they shared under his leadership.
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