Key Takeaways:
- Jürgen Klopp identified Johan Cruyff, Josep Guardiola, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Bill Shankly as his four all-time greatest coaches
- Klopp highlighted the unparalleled influence of Cruyff and Guardiola on the modern game
- He considered managers such as Carlo Ancelotti and Bob Paisley before settling on his final list
Klopp Selects All-Time Managerial Legends
Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has revealed his selection of the four greatest football coaches, forming his personal ‘Mount Rushmore’ of managerial legends. In making his choices, Klopp singled out Johan Cruyff, Josep Guardiola, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Bill Shankly, emphasising the profound impact each has had on the sport.
Jurgen Klopp's Mount Rushmore of football managers (via kloppo on Instagram):
🇳🇱 Johan Cruyff
🇪🇸 Pep Guardiola
🏴 Alex Ferguson
🏴 Bill Shankly"Yes, I want to see Bill Shankly on the Mount Rushmore" pic.twitter.com/Kv17OBTxME
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) December 17, 2025
Klopp on Influence and Legacy
During his discussion, Klopp commended Johan Cruyff as the most influential football coach he had ever encountered, praising Cruyff’s revolutionary vision and understanding of the game. He placed Josep Guardiola on a similar pedestal, reflecting on the challenging encounters he has had against Guardiola-led teams and acknowledging Guardiola’s transformative approach to football tactics.
Final Selections and Other Contenders
Klopp described the difficulty of narrowing his list to just four names, underlining the accomplishments of Sir Alex Ferguson as the most successful manager and expressing his personal admiration for Ferguson’s career. When completing his quartet, Klopp deliberated over potential inclusions such as Carlo Ancelotti and Bob Paisley but ultimately chose Bill Shankly, citing Shankly’s legendary status and storied influence at Liverpool.
