The Jürgen Klopp

The one thing Jürgen Klopp taught me about leadership…

The hug.

Klopp didn’t just coach a football team.
He built a brotherhood.

At Liverpool, he created a culture where players called themselves “mentality monsters.”
Not because of the incredible pressing stats.
But because they believed in something bigger than themselves.

The best example?
Liverpool vs Barcelona. Champions League Semi-Final. 4–0.
A game you can't rewatch too often.

Three of their most important players missing.
All odds against them.
No one believed in them, except themselves.

That night wasn’t about tactics.
It was about belief, trust, and the power of culture.

Jürgen Klopp hugging Trent Alexander-Arnold after their 4:0 victory over Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League Final

Klopp was more than just a manager.
He was a father figure.

The kind of leader who could wrap his arm around a superstar or a bench player and make them both feel equally important.

That hug wasn’t random.
It was a symbol of belonging.
A reminder: you matter, as much as anyone else.

That’s what leadership really is.
Not the tactics or systems you run.
But the culture you create.