Borussia Dortmund chief backs Jurgen Klopp for success at his future club

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 05 October 2015

Hans-Joachim Watzke hails former Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp as a 'great coach and a great character' amid reported interest from Liverpool.

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has told Liverpool that they will be gaining a "great coach" should Jurgen Klopp take up the vacant managerial position.

The 48-year-old is widely expected to replace the recently-departed Brendan Rodgers at Anfield over the next week.

Klopp earned a reputation as one of the world's finest coaches during his seven-year stint at Dortmund, before stepping down at the end of last season.

Watzke is unsure whether the eccentric German will take over at the Reds, but the BVB chief has backed his former colleague to achieve success wherever he ends up.

"I don't know if Jurgen Klopp will be the next Liverpool manager," he is quoted as saying by Goal.com. "I just read in the news yesterday that Liverpool sacked Brendan Rodgers.

"Jurgen Klopp has to decide on his own if he wants to be the next Liverpool manager. Honestly I don't know what he thinks about that. I have no advice to give Jurgen Klopp.

"One thing I can say that he is a great coach and that he has a great character. If there is any contact with a big European club he has to decide on his own what he wants to do."

Prior to joining Dortmund in 2008, Klopp spent seven years in charge of Mainz 05.