JURGEN KLOPP IS the ideal man to not only take charge at Bayern Munich but also eventually the German national team, according to Ottmar Hitzfeld.
Klopp has guided Liverpool to the semi-finals of this year’s Champions League after finishing in the top four of the Premier League last season.
The German started his coaching career at Mainz before enhancing his reputation with Dortmund, a club Hitzfeld also worked at before moving on to Bayern.
The 69-year-old believes Klopp will follow in his footsteps and end up in charge at the Allianz Arena, even though his compatriot appears settled in England for now.
“I still think he has the skills to be a Bayern coach – and that he will,” Hitzfeld, who won Bundesliga titles as a manager with both Dortmund and Bayern, said in an interview with t-online.de.
I also believe that he will eventually become national coach. He is still young and he would be the ideal man for both posts; a sympathiser, motivator - he has contributed much to the German football culture.
“Maybe he will first go to Bayern and later coach [Germany], after spending three or four years in Liverpool.”
Klopp was not in the running to fill the impending vacancy at Bayern at the end of this campaign, with Niko Kovac appointed by the Bavarian giants.
The new man will have a tough act to follow in Jupp Heynckes, who could still secure the treble despite only taking charge last October following the dismissal of Carlo Ancelotti.
However, Hitzfeld feels it is unfair to judge Kovac, who will arrive from domestic rivals Eintracht Frankfurt, against his predecessor’s achievements.
“I do not think it matters whether Jupp Heynckes wins the treble or not,” Hitzfeld said.
“Niko Kovac starts at zero. It would not be fair to measure him by the success of his predecessor. Of course, the championship at Bayern every year is mandatory, even in the cup you always have good chances.
“But the treble is not expected by the Bayern leadership. I know how [president] Uli Hoeness and [chief executive] Karl-Heinz Rummenigge tick, they are down to earth and stay realistic.”
- Omni
O Shea is diving all over the place when anyone comes near him and then he is complaining when a free is given against him when he effectively clothes lines a Galway player.
@Finnster: You could say he is hanging them out to dry
@Finnster: must be cold in Galway. They have the blanket well and truly out.
Mayo have been poor in attack. OShea keeping in the game. Galway can’t handle him.
@Finnster: pathetic from Galway at the end with the game won. OShea really has the patience of a saint. And he gets booked as well. Laughable.
@Desheen: agreed. Comer is turning into a very good player but he needs to stop the mouthing while it was pathetic by Paul conroy at the end. Galway still need to do it on a big day and in croker though, potentially a good team.
@Paul Mallon: I think Mayo still need to do it on big day in croker too
@thomas: yea fair point. Hopefully Galway really push on as the gaa need as many teams as possible competing come August time.
@Finnster: are you for real . We’re you at the game ? Mayo can’t take the beating. Galway are no angels but Mayo were filthy today.
@Finnster: and dey didnt beat de dubs in the final…
@Finnster: Mayo were drawn into it alright and are rightly no angles. I was referring to that specific incident. Mayo lost the heads also after that. Galway deserves the win but that was hard to watch. Fair play to them great start to d1.
It will be nice and spicy come the championship. How bad was the last ten minutes? Only heard it on the radio.sounded like a few cheap shots but I am glad Galway are showing some serious spine. Our football team was too nice for a long time.
Safe to say O’Connors league campaign hasent got off to the best of starts
@Sam Walsh: He’s good but he’s a liability, about time he was shown a red card
@Sam Walsh: hes no diarmud connolly.
@John Boyle: Maybe so but I wouldent be too worried if I was a Mayo fan. Still a top class side.
Delighted to see a ref brave enough to send that tramp O’Connor off. He’s always at it. But but but Mayo aren’t dirty of course.
@Ciara Baines: agreed , he was the same last year in the championship against Galway and now O Shea is at it. Galway slowly but surely coming good
@Ciara Baines: mayo are pure dorty . Dey were throwin gps’s at the dubs in the final last year