Jurgen Klopp cried when telling Tottenham flop he couldn’t sign him

Former Borussia Dortmund loanee Kevin Prince-Boateng has shared an emotional anecdote about his connection with Jurgen Klopp.

Boateng’s BVB Journey

In 2009, they both shed tears over the phone when it became clear that Boateng couldn’t make his loan move permanent.

Boateng joined Borussia Dortmund in January 2009 following a challenging period at Tottenham Hotspur.

Kevin Prince-Boateng on Klopp…

While speaking to Rio Ferdinand’s FIVE podcast Prince-Boateng said :

“When they announced that I come to Dortmund, they [fans] criticised the club, like: ‘Why [are] you bringing that guy? He’s crazy. Did you see what he did in Tottenham?’

So Klopp stood up at the press conference and said: ‘I brought him here, I will make him the player he is’.

He said Prince Boateng has a book of 1,000 pages and each page is different, that’s how good he is. I said I will give my life for him.

Every player would die for him on the pitch because he gives you that feeling of confidence, that feeling of love as well. Whatever you do, if you do a mistake, he’s going to be there.

I needed that guy who was going to believe in me because after Martin Jol and Juande Ramos, no-one believed in me. I didn’t believe in myself – I just gave up. I had like six, seven pounds [of weight] more. So he gave me that feeling,

so I came [there] and performed. Then things didn’t work out because I had some bad tackles I made and in Germany, I had not the best name because people said I was crazy.

In one of the last games I played for them, I kicked someone in the face, he was my team-mate afterwards in Frankfurt, and he still had the scar…like Harry Potter.

He still protected me, Klopp. He was like: ‘yeah, he wanted to show everybody how good he is.’ “

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“You could see already how powerful Klopp was, you know. And he loved me, he invited me to his house but I never went because in the dressing room, it can be a bit tricky, you know.

I went drinking with his son one time, the next morning he came to me and said: ‘What did you do to my son?’ I said: ‘He wanted to drink like a big man!’ He said: ‘This guy slept in the toilet!’

He was a very important figure in my career, it didn’t work out. He called me personally and said we can’t buy you, we don’t have the money. We both cried on the phone. Like really cried. We had a very good relationship.”

At The End

Despite a suspension towards the end of his loan spell, Boateng made a positive impact, helping Dortmund secure a sixth-place finish in Klopp’s debut season.

Further, reflecting on their time together, Boateng praised Klopp’s exceptional man-management skills.

While he couldn’t secure a permanent move to Dortmund, his bond with Klopp remained unbreakable.

Sridarshi Chowdhury

Passionate about the beautiful game and dedicated to Liverpool FC, where “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is not just a slogan, but a way of life. I live and breathe football, from the roar of the Anfield crowd to the tactical intricacies of the sport.

My expertise lies in dissecting the transfer market, tracking player movements, and uncovering the hidden gems destined for greatness. Whether it’s discussing potential signings, analyzing match strategies, or celebrating the brilliance of players, I’m always ready for a football conversation.