Klopp Wins FIFA Men’s Coach Of The Year

Klopp saw off stiff competition from fellow Premier League managers Pep Guardiola of Manchester City and Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino.

The former Borussia Dortmund boss led Liverpool to their sixth UEFA Champions League title- their first since 2005- and narrowly missed out on the Premier League title to Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola completed a domestic clean sweep of all trophies available in England in the 2018/2019 season, winning the Community Shield, League Cup, Carabao Cup and Premier League title.

Mauricio Pochettino led Tottenham to their first ever UEFA Champions League final, where they lost 2-0 to Liverpool at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Spain.

Jurgen Klopp thus succeeds France manager Didier Deschamps, who won the award last year after leading Les Bleus to their second FIFA World Cup triumph in Russia.

In his acceptance speech, Klopp, expressed gratitude to the Liverpool fraternity and used the platform to announce his decision to join the Common Goal project, initiated by Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata to get football people donate at least one percent of their salary to charity.

"What can I say, I have to say thank you to a lot of people obviously," said Klopp in his speech.

"Nobody would have expected this 20 years ago, five years ago, four years ago.

"Mauricio, I won that game (the Champions League final), that's why I'm here not you. That's just how football is.

"I have to say thank you to my outstanding club Liverpool FC. Whoever doesn't love it, has no heart.

"I have to thank my team. As a coach, you can only be as good as your team. I'm really proud of being a manager of an incredible bunch."

"I don't understand 100% individual prizes. But I get it, I am here for a lot of people."

He added: "We are all here on the really good side of life. There are people out there who do not have the same situation. From today on I am a member of the Common Goal family. If you don't know it, Google it."