David Beckham risked the wrath of Manchester United fans (Picture: Getty)
David Beckham says he’s ‘going to get killed by Manchester United fans’ after revealing his ‘love’ for Jurgen Klopp and admitting he is ‘sad’ to see him leave Liverpool.
Klopp, who led Liverpool to multiple trophies following his arrival at Anfield in 2015, left the club following the season-finale on Sunday.
Across his nine-year spell at Liverpool, Klopp ended the club’s 30-year wait for a Premier League title and also lifted the Champions League trophy and multiple domestic cups.
The German, who is being replaced by former Feyenoord boss Arne Slot, will go down as one of Liverpool’s most successful and popular managers.
Beckham says Klopp’s spell in the Premier League has been ‘incredible’ and admits he is ‘sad’ to see the 56-year-old depart despite being a fan and a club legend of Liverpool’s arch-rivals Manchester United.
Beckham remains one of United’s most celebrated players, having made close to 400 appearances for the Red Devils and lifting six league titles and the Champions League at Old Trafford.
But the ex-England midfielder put club rivalries to one side when asked about departing Liverpool boss Klopp on the SmartLess podcast, hosted by Hollywood stars Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett.
Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool at the end of the season (Picture: Getty)
‘I must admit, even as a Manchester United fan, I love Jurgen,’ Beckham, 49, said. ‘I love his character, I love his personality, I love what he brings to the sport.
‘I am going to get killed by some of my Man United friends, but I am sad to see him leave Liverpool. What he’s done for the club and the sport has been incredible.’
Following 11 hugely successful years at Old Trafford, Beckham enjoyed spells at Real Madrid and LA Galaxy and also played in Italy and France. He is now president and co-owner of MLS club Inter Miami and joint-owner of League Two side Salford City.
More Trending
Klopp gave an emotional speech to Liverpool fans on the Anfield pitch following their 2-0 victory over Wolves on the final day.
The former Borussia Dortmund boss said: ‘You welcome the new manager like you welcomed me. You go all-in from the first day. And you keep believing and you push the team.
‘People told me that I turned them from doubters to believers. That’s not true. Believing is an active act: you have to do it yourself. I just said we have to. You did it. That’s a big difference.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
‘And nobody tells you now to stop believing. Because this club is in a better moment than ever. Maybe ever – I have to ask Kenny [Dalglish] – but since a long time, let me say it like that.
‘We have this wonderful stadium, wonderful training centre, we have you – the superpower of world football.
‘We decide if we are worried or excited. We decide if we believe or don’t believe. We decide if we trust or we don’t trust. And since today I’m one of you and I keep believing in you.
‘I stay a believer, 100%. Change is good.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Manchester United news, exclusives and analysis
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.