Aside from his tactical genius, and the consistent results he produces on the pitch, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has so endeared himself to supporters thanks, in large part, to his larger-than-life personality.
Whether its due to his compulsory bear hugs, Cheshire Cat-sized grin, or the time he ran halfway across the field to celebrate a last minute winner against Everton, Klopp has established himself as a charismatic and beloved figure on Merseyside since he joined the club in 2015.
Not everyone is so wooed by Klopp's charm, however; in an exclusive interview with Football Insider, former referee Keith Hackett slammed Klopp's pitch-side behavior saying, "It might be great that Klopp runs down the touchline but why do we have a technical area? Why do we have a procedure in place that says you stay in your technical area? Yet we don’t apply it."
Hackett explained further: "To some degree, fourth officials are weak and are ignoring it. Sometimes, it’s not what (Klopp) says, it’s how he communicates."
While Hackett's criticism of Klopp is fair, the manager's conduct is not unlike that of his peers.
Other world-famous managers, such as Manchester City's Pep Guardiola and Roma's Jose Mourinho (who's had multiple stints in the Premier League), are notorious for pitch-side histrionics, and either could have seamlessly replaced Klopp in Hackett's critique.
Hackett, who is counted amongst the top 100 referees of all time in a list maintained by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics, ended the interview urging a stern warning be handed out to Klopp: “I think the FA might want to write him a four-page letter explaining his misdemeanours and that we want an improvement in his behaviour. A shot across the barrel.”
It seems unlikely that the pitch-side passion of Klopp, Guardiola or Mourinho will be be tamed anytime soon.
However, as such behavior is commonplace in the modern game and more pressing issues, such as the stark inequality in club wealth and the racial abuse suffered by players of color, continue to plague football.
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