Jurgen Klopp Named Shock British Gem as Best Player ‘Technical-Wise’ He Worked With

From prolific goalscorers Mohamed Salah and Robert Lewandowski to defensive stalwarts Virgil van Dijk and Mats Hummels, former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has coached some of the best players in world football during his illustrious career.

The 57-year-old, who left Anfield at the end of last season, has also enjoyed immense success at club level, winning the Bundesliga twice with Dortmund while reaching both Premier League and Champions League glory during his time at Liverpool.

Klopp’s career has been decorated with both world-class players and memorable victories, but he made a bold choice when naming the best player technically he has ever worked with back in 2017.

The current Red Bull global head of soccer selected one of his then-current Liverpool players, who is now heading for Premier League relegation after spending 13 consecutive years in the top flight.

Related

Jurgen Klopp’s greatest XI of players he’s managed

Jordan Henderson, Marco Reus, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino all miss out on Jurgen Klopp’s greatest team of players he’s managed.

Jurgen Klopp Praised Adam Lallana

As the best technical player he worked with

Klopp, speaking to the media after Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at Manchester City back in 2017, named Adam Lallana as the most technically gifted player he had ever coached.

Despite working with the likes of Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Trent Alexander-Arnold during his nine-year stint at Anfield, he surprisingly singled out the England international when discussing the best ‘technical-wise’ player he had ever trained:

Klopp coached Lallana at Anfield for almost five seasons after taking charge in 2015 and won multiple major honours together, including the Champions League, Premier League and Club World Cup.

Lallana, now 36, was a regular starter in the German tactician’s first two seasons at the club before enduring back-to-back injury-ridden campaigns in 2017/18 and 2018/19, making just six Premier League starts in total.

The 2019/20 season was Lallana’s last at Liverpool, as he left on a free transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion the following summer and spent the next four years at the Amex Stadium.

Lallana returned to his boyhood club Southampton last summer and has primarily been a squad player this season, making 18 appearances across all competitions and just five starts in the Premier League.

The Saints are now heading for relegation to the Championship amid a dismal campaign, having collected just nine points in 29 games under Russell Martin and Ivan Juric.

Related

Timeline of Every Trophy Jurgen Klopp Won at Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp has changed the landscape at Liverpool by winning countless trophies.

Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 31-03-25.