EXCLUSIVE: The former Germany centre-back says the 47-year-old was BVB’s best-ever coach and revolutionised German football
By Christoph Kockeis
Former Borussia Dortmund centre-back Christoph Metzelder believes Jurgen Klopp has “really annoyed” Bayern Munich during his seven years in charge.
The 47-year-old announced on Wednesday that he will leave the Westfalenstadion at the end of the season following a dissapointing campaign this term.
Klopp led the club to back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012 and Metzelder feels Klopp did nothing but good things for German football.
“Klopp revolutionised the league with his style and he really annoyed Bayern,” he told Goal.
“Dortmund celebrated real success. As a result they lost important players. Robert Lewandowski was absolutely key. You can’t replace him.
“Dortmund’s slogan Echte Liebe [Real Love] was summed up by Klopp. There will be some emotional weeks now. I can’t imagine what it’ll be like when he says goodbye finally.
“It was the most successful era for the club. Nonetheless, there was life before Klopp and there’ll be life ater him.”
Dortmund’s demise this term, which sees them sit 10th in the Bundesliga, has come as a shock but Metzelder said one campaign shouldn’t define his entire reign.
“Klopp has not failed. As Dortmund were on the brink of bankruptcy, nobody thought they would be in the position they’re in today economically and sportingly.
“The relationship with the Dortmund bosses was so close that Klopp did everything for them.
“You could see that Klopp and [CEO Hans-Joachim] Watzke were talking about the topic for weeks.”
Thomas Tuchel has been widely tipped to replace Klopp in the summer, having been on the verge of taking over at Hamburg, and Metzelder feels the former Mainz boss would be the perfect candidate.
“BVB need a coach who identifies with the region, the city and the people. Someone like Klopp or Tuchel,” he explained.
“Or someone who is experienced and has achieved a lot of international success and acts as a moderator, like Ottmar Hitzfeld during his time.
“I think Tuchel fits the philosophy of recent years. My feeling is that the recent developments at Hamburg are connected with those in Dortmund.
“If Dortmund spoke to Tuchel, which is what it looks like, it was because they had to do something because of the advanced talks between Tuchel and Hamburg.
“So they announced the decision early.”