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Jurgen Klopp is already Dortmund's second-most successful coach - but can he challenge the legendary Ottmar Hitzfeld?
BVB's victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday saw 'Kloppo' draw level with Matthias Sammer for second-most wins as the Ruhr side's trainer. Goal.com looks back on his fine run
11-Feb-2012 9:56:28 PM
Bongarts
ANALYSIS
By Clark Whitney | German Football Editor
It's official: in less than four years, Jurgen Klopp has established himself as one of Dortmund's all-time greatest coaches. On Saturday, the Bundesliga title holders won their 68th game under Klopp, a tally level with Matthias Sammer and only exceeded by the legendary Ottmar Hitzfeld.
Klopp's exploits during his short tenure will never be forgotten at BVB. When he took the helm in 2008, Dortmund were still in recovery phase following a near financial collapse: their squad was ordinary at best, and the club had finished 13th just two months prior to his arrival. In his first season, Dortmund unexpectedly shot up to a sixth-placed standing; the following year, BVB celebrated a return to European football by ending the campaign in fifth place. Klopp hit new heights in 2011, when after just three years under his care, Dortmund won the title with one of the most impressive records in Bundesliga history. And come May, there is a good chance the holders will retain their trophy.
The current squad has Klopp's handiwork written all over it. In his first summer, he brought Neven Subotic with him from Mainz, and signed Bayern Munich reject Mats Hummels. The next year, he added Sven Bender and Lucas Barrios. And in 2010, his BVB acquired Lukasz Piszczek, Shinji Kagawa, and Robert Lewandowski. With a little help from the directors of Dortmund's youth team, he hand-crafted the team into what it is today.
Suffice to say, Klopp's achievements are remarkable, given his limited time in charge. And he is already a club legend. But will he be remembered as a national legend, like Udo Lattek and Hitzfeld? That of course remains uncertain.
If he stays, Klopp can easily break Hitzfeld's club wins record within the next two years. But it will take more than that for him to attain legendary status. Lattek won the Bundesliga eight times; Hitzfeld seven. Both led Bayern to the title of European Champions. Their consistency, longevity, and success on the continental stage, earned them their lasting reputation.
At 44 years of age, Klopp is still in the early stage of his coaching career. It took seven years at Mainz for his talent to be recognised at Dortmund, and a further three to establish himself as one of Germany's elite trainers. And now he is well on his way to achieving back-to-back titles. Regardless of what happens at BVB - whereto he recently tied himself until 2016 - he will only coach top teams from now on.
Bayern have a history of attracting top German talent, and with Jupp Heynckes expected to retire within the next few years, it would be a great surprise if the German record champions did not make a move for Klopp. But the Stuttgart native's philosophy is one that best suits the German national team, which undoubtedly will have a coaching vacancy sooner or later.
For now, Klopp's situation is much like that of many of his players: he is young, in-demand, and highly talented. He could stay with Dortmund for many years, or leave for another top club, either in Germany or abroad. And he looks sure to have an international future. Today Klopp can celebrate a personal achievement, but he still has plenty to prove. Even so, in 10 or 20 years, he just might be revered as a legend not only of Dortmund, but of all of German football.
Follow Clark Whitney on
By Clark Whitney | German Football Editor
It's official: in less than four years, Jurgen Klopp has established himself as one of Dortmund's all-time greatest coaches. On Saturday, the Bundesliga title holders won their 68th game under Klopp, a tally level with Matthias Sammer and only exceeded by the legendary Ottmar Hitzfeld.
Klopp's exploits during his short tenure will never be forgotten at BVB. When he took the helm in 2008, Dortmund were still in recovery phase following a near financial collapse: their squad was ordinary at best, and the club had finished 13th just two months prior to his arrival. In his first season, Dortmund unexpectedly shot up to a sixth-placed standing; the following year, BVB celebrated a return to European football by ending the campaign in fifth place. Klopp hit new heights in 2011, when after just three years under his care, Dortmund won the title with one of the most impressive records in Bundesliga history. And come May, there is a good chance the holders will retain their trophy.
The current squad has Klopp's handiwork written all over it. In his first summer, he brought Neven Subotic with him from Mainz, and signed Bayern Munich reject Mats Hummels. The next year, he added Sven Bender and Lucas Barrios. And in 2010, his BVB acquired Lukasz Piszczek, Shinji Kagawa, and Robert Lewandowski. With a little help from the directors of Dortmund's youth team, he hand-crafted the team into what it is today.
| KLOPP VS HITZFELD | Dortmund's most successful coaches in the Bundesliga |
| Tenure at BVB | Games |
Wins |
Draws |
Losses |
Win % |
|
| Jurgen Klopp |
2008-present | 123 |
68 |
33 |
22 |
55.2 |
| Ottmar Hitzfeld | 1991-97 | 208 | 111 | 52 | 45 | 53.4 |
Suffice to say, Klopp's achievements are remarkable, given his limited time in charge. And he is already a club legend. But will he be remembered as a national legend, like Udo Lattek and Hitzfeld? That of course remains uncertain.
| TROPHIES | Hitzfeld & Lattek vs Klopp |
|
 |
|
| Ottmar Hitzfeld (14 seasons in BuLi) Bundesliga DFB-Pokal Champions League Udo Lattek (18 seasons) Bundesliga DFB-Pokal Champions League Jurgen Klopp (6 seasons) Bundesliga DFB-Pokal Champions League |
7 3 2 8 3 1 1 0 0 |
At 44 years of age, Klopp is still in the early stage of his coaching career. It took seven years at Mainz for his talent to be recognised at Dortmund, and a further three to establish himself as one of Germany's elite trainers. And now he is well on his way to achieving back-to-back titles. Regardless of what happens at BVB - whereto he recently tied himself until 2016 - he will only coach top teams from now on.
Bayern have a history of attracting top German talent, and with Jupp Heynckes expected to retire within the next few years, it would be a great surprise if the German record champions did not make a move for Klopp. But the Stuttgart native's philosophy is one that best suits the German national team, which undoubtedly will have a coaching vacancy sooner or later.
For now, Klopp's situation is much like that of many of his players: he is young, in-demand, and highly talented. He could stay with Dortmund for many years, or leave for another top club, either in Germany or abroad. And he looks sure to have an international future. Today Klopp can celebrate a personal achievement, but he still has plenty to prove. Even so, in 10 or 20 years, he just might be revered as a legend not only of Dortmund, but of all of German football.
Follow Clark Whitney on
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