Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool and his counterpart from Manchester City, Pep Guardiola have been inducted into the League Managers Association, LMA Hall of Fame, for their “historic achievements in football management to date”.
Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp was honoured into the LMA Hall of Fame after he guided the club to Champions League glory in June, after missing out in the finals to Real Madrid the previous season.
While Pep Guardiola whose team seems to be struggling this season was also honoured for his contribution, and for winning the English Premier League and domestic cup.
The LMA Hall of fame event which took place on Thursday evening, saw the two receiving a commemorative shield from Gareth Southgate and Sir Alex Ferguson.
The LMA Manager of the Year in 2018, Guardiola expressed his pride for the latest acknowledgement of the unprecedented success he has achieved since his arrival at the Club in the summer of 2016.
“It’s a privilege,” he said.
“When you come down the corridor you see all the big managers who have been here to help make football better, to make the football we have right now. Of course, it’s an honour.”
Under Guardiola, City have broken countless records in English football, lifting seven trophies in three seasons.
In 2018/19 Manchester City became the first club to win all four men’s English trophies in a single campaign, whilst the league title that year saw Guardiola become the first manager in a decade to retain the Premier League.
Guardiola paid tribute to the players he feels fortunate to have worked alongside.
“Big clubs and big players,” he added, when he asked what he attributes his success to.
“I think all the managers in the Hall of Fame were in incredible clubs with incredible players. There are no secrets.
“Without the quality of the players that you have, the managers cannot have success.”
Guardiola is the 11th LMA Hall of Fame inductee to have managed City.
He joins Steve Coppell, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Brian Horton, Kevin Keegan, Howard Kendall, Roberto Mancini, Joe Mercer, Stuart Pearce, Manuel Pellegrini and Joe Royle on the list.
Klopp who was also presented with a hand-crafted silver salver at a special LMA Dinner in Manchester, had this to say about being honoured.
“It’s really big,” he said. “I’ve been in England for four years and enjoyed each second, to be honest. I saw all the names with their pictures and it’s really impressive.
“I don’t feel pride very often in my life but in this moment I’m really proud because it’s just something really, really special”, he said.