Feature'He has changed our lives' – Liverpool supporters groups pay tribute to Jürgen Klopp

That was Jürgen Klopp speaking at his first press conference as Liverpool manager, all the way back in October 2015.

The eight-and-a-half years since, of course, have been glorious, packed with fun and trophies and wonderful memories. The German's place in Anfield folklore is well and truly assured.

But as he bids an emotional farewell, let's pose that question: what do people think of Jürgen Klopp, now he's leaving?

We asked Reds fans from around the world for their thoughts…

Justin - Official Liverpool Supporters Club, New York

Jürgen Klopp would fit in well in New York City. To make it here you need to be gritty, you need to outwork your opponent and you need to engage with us. If you give us everything you've got, we'll give you everything we've got. He gave us all he's got and he'll get everything we've got, for eternity.

Rishabh - OLSC Delhi

Nine years of this charismatic leader just flew by, and none of us are really up for this goodbye. Jürgen Klopp always had that warmth and aura which just made you believe that everything was going to be OK, you know? He was always pragmatic yet emotionally driven, something that has really worked well for the fans and the owners. We've been treated with some of the greatest moments of our lives, all thanks to him.

It has been an honour seeing him on the touchline, so animated and passionate, like nothing could ever go wrong. Even when we had a bad result, the boss has had his way of helping us feel better with his words. Absolutely gutted to see him go. Football's never going to be the same after what we've witnessed in the last decade with Jürgen in charge. You'll Never Walk Alone, Kloppo!

Matías - OLSC Buenos Aires

Klopp's presence felt like meeting a new best friend, someone who is always there for you with a smile and open arms, making you feel special and that everything they do is to make you happy. I felt all this without meeting him in person - only the great ones achieve that! - and together we felt that we were honouring this badge again, playing with passion and living football with joy. Klopp is the last great romantic of football.

Paul Machin - The Redmen TV

"I watch you eh?"

May 10, 2018, the Liverpool Player Awards and a moment that changed my career forever.

For context, the sun is shining and spirits are high. The Reds have booked their place in the Champions League final in Kyiv, and as the players and their partners, serenaded by hot new Liverpool musician Jamie Webster, make their way down the red carpet, it's smiles all around.

Anyone who has ever worked a mixed zone (or red carpet, its much more fabulous cousin!) will know that it can be hard graft at times, fighting for space in the line and trying to convince guests to stop for a quick soundbite interview. Today, though, it's bliss, with Roy Evans, John Aldridge and Gini Wijnaldum all stopping for a happy gab. It's during this last interview, though, that it happens. Halfway through my chat with the Reds' Dutch dynamo, the gaffer, Jürgen Klopp, walks past.

"Jürgen, hello," I mutter and he nods back. It's a nice moment, but internally a little part of me spits a curse that I'd missed my chance to grab him for a few words. The interview with Gini continues, but a few moments later, Jürgen reappears, leans forward, and with a little look to camera, utters those words.

And what do I say? Me, with, at the time, eight years and hundreds of hours of experience talking and interviewing people on camera. What wonderful and off-the-cuff response do I retort with?

"Jürgen! NOOOOO, seriously?!"

Journalism at its finest, ladies and gentlemen.

I had more questions to ask Gini, but in truth my brain was a mess and it took every remaining ounce of professionalism to draw the interview to a close without swooning.

Those words stuck with me, though. This was Jürgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, the current Liverpool manager at that, with just a handful of words managing to vindicate everything we'd been doing on Redmen TV since its inception as a borderline Wayne's World parody in the back room of my house.

I walked away that night 10 feet tall. Over the coming years we'd cross paths a few more times. We chatted in depth that summer, post-Kyiv, again after the Champions League win in 2019, I got to buy him a beer at the Managers' Awards that year too, even culminating in him inviting us to come and interview him before his final game this season.

All of those interactions were longer and special to me in their own way, but none of them more important to me than those four words.

"If the boss is watching it, we must be doing something right…"

Dan Nicolson - BOSS Night

Walking out of the Olympic Stadium in Athens in 2007 following our Champions League defeat it was tense, downbeat and bitter. It was exactly how you'd expect it to feel after losing club football's biggest game.

Eleven years later, in 2018, we walked out of another Olympic stadium, this time in Kyiv, having just witnessed another final loss.

But the contrast couldn't have been more stark. This was a defeat on the pitch but a mere stumble on the journey. And Jürgen was the catalyst of, and the reason for, our positive attitude.

As the videos came out the next morning of him dancing and drinking into the early hours following the match, he wasn't just like us - he was us!

The spirit of the tens of thousands of Reds that gathered in Shevchenko Park before that match and the spirit exhibited thereafter in hundreds of away terraces, the Kop, the subsequent fan parks and in thousands of pubs around the globe can be summed up in those videos of a smiling, giddy Jürgen, even in the throes of defeat.

Supporter culture is at its best when the fans go hand in hand with their manager. There's no better example in world football of this, for me, than the connection Jürgen has fostered with our supporters and, just as importantly, our city and its culture over the last nine years.

His enigmatic energy, his emotions, his desire, his human side and his sincerity have all reverberated out of him on the touchline to us fans and we, hopefully, reflected it right back.

It's sad that his time has come to an end but we'll have the memories and trophies that will last a lifetime.

He left the club and our fanbase in a better place than when he found it. His legacy will live on, both on and off the pitch.

Benedetta Tello - OLSC Italy

Truth be told, I have struggled with depression for several years; and when Jürgen joined it was perhaps at its all-time high. If he hadn't been the manager of my club, I wouldn't have had anything worthy or any happiness to look back on; 2019 would have been just another empty year, but instead we won the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup. 2020 would have been even more bleak, but instead we won the long-awaited Premier League.

He is responsible for some of the happiest memories of my life, a life I wasn't sure I was going to live at all. I honestly don't know if I'd be here typing this, if he weren't there. I owe Jürgen Klopp more than I can put into words.

Nunzio Esposito, OLSC Italy

You have given us our dignity back. You have brought Liverpool back to where it belongs. You have given hope and confidence to the people. And you have kept your promise. But most of all, now we know that even in football, nothing dies, everything transforms. We did not stop at Shankly, we did not stop at Dalglish and we surely will not stop at Klopp. You have made us believers.

Aldo Meola, OLSC Italy

Never had I felt so lost before I heard of your departure, boss. However, you have always taught me how to deal with feelings which don't make me feel comfortable. I have always been a believer and now I'm just a better one. You promised, you delivered, you made all of us happy and I could never be more grateful. I can be proud to state that from now on I will be able to tell others: 'Jürgen said to me, you know…'

Jesus Gil - OLSC Bilbao

He has changed our mentality and has changed our lives both in football and emotional terms. Jürgen is Liverpool FC and Liverpool FC is Jürgen. 'Boss Tha', Jürgen. Eskerrik Asko Klopp Jauna (this means 'Thank you very much, Mr Klopp' in Basque!)

Tore Hanson - OLSC Norway

Jürgen Klopp changed everything, but not only by winning trophies. Yes, winning the league and the Champions League, all the fantastic players and games, they were massive and something we'll never forget. But it's the man, his presence and personality, that we'll remember and miss most. We'll never forget the way he connected to us, the supporters, just like the great Bill Shankly. He gave us hope and something to believe in even through the dark days. He has changed Liverpool FC and us supporters forever! Danke, Jürgen!