Ex-Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp to be honoured with special award previously won by Sir Alex Ferguson for 'embodying the love for the roots' of football with his 'refreshing sense of humour'

The highly-respected Walther Bensemann Prize recognises individuals who use the sport to foster cultural connection and social progress. This year, the accolade will be bestowed upon the former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund coach for his long-standing contributions both on and off the pitch.

First awarded in 2006, the prize commemorates Walther Bensemann, the founder of kicker magazine and a pioneer of football as a unifying global force. Klopp joins an elite group of past recipients, including Sir Alex Ferguson, Ottmar Hitzfeld, Vicente del Bosque, Joachim Low and Christian Streich, all celebrated for their leadership, humility, and influence on the sport’s moral fabric.

Klopp is being honoured for much more than his trophies. The jury recognised him as a “bridge-builder for football,” praising his ability to connect people through his authenticity, humour, and deep respect for the game’s roots. His nine-year tenure at Liverpool saw him transform a struggling club into a European powerhouse, winning the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020, while embodying empathy and integrity.

The award committee highlighted Klopp’s refreshing human touch in a sport often consumed by business and pressure. Even as a global star, he has consistently emphasised unity, inclusion, and joy in football. Reflecting his values, Klopp has pledged to donate the €10,000 prize money to KickIn - Advice Center for Inclusion in Football, supporting disabled fans across Germany.

The Walther Bensemann Prize carries a legacy that extends beyond accolades as it celebrates football’s power to unite. Named after Walther Bensemann, the founder of major outlet Kicker, the award honours those who mirror his ideals of courage, fairness, and social responsibility.

Over the years, it has recognised figures who “swam against the tide” to preserve football’s humanity. Bensemann, who founded kicker in 1920, envisioned the sport as a universal language transcending borders. In honouring Klopp, the jury reaffirmed this spirit, acknowledging a man who has turned charisma, humour, and compassion into tools of leadership as much as tactics and trophies.

"Klopp is undoubtedly a worthy award winner and a bridge-builder for football," Thiemo Muller, a member of the Kicker editorial team, said. "In addition to his superstar status, he authentically embodies the love for the roots of the game and consistently advocates for a high appreciation of football as a means of intercultural understanding in the spirit of Bensemann.

"What we directly associate with Walther Bensemann's mentality is Jürgen Klopp's refreshing sense of humor in the often over-hyped business of football. As a coach and as a public figure, he cultivates an individual style."

Klopp will officially receive the Walther Bensemann Prize at a gala hosted by the German Academy for Football Culture in Nuremberg’s Tafelhalle on October 24. The event will also feature the presentation of the Football Quote of the Year, Football Book of the Year and the Fan Award, with Kicker broadcasting the ceremony live.

This honour further etches Klopp’s name into football history, not only as one of the most successful managers of his generation but also as a leader who stood for empathy, humour, and inclusiveness.