‘Something special was coming’: Lucas Leiva on Klopp’s Liverpool revolution

Former Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva has spoken at the launch of the club's first store in South Africa, reflecting on the impact Jurgen Klopp had during his time at Anfield. Having played under five different managers during his decade at the club, Lucas says he could sense something special was developing when Klopp arrived in 2015.

The Brazilian midfielder, now a club ambassador, believes Klopp brought a new sense of leadership, belief and identity to the club. "The arrival of Klopp was a game changer, not just his quality as a manager but the leadership as well and the values that he brought with him," he said. "He believed in how he does things and I was with him for two years and I could tell something special was coming and things were turning for the better, so I’m glad I was able to work with him and see the different direction."

Lucas' assessment proved accurate as Klopp went on to secure seven major trophies in his time at Liverpool, including the UEFA Champions League in 2019, the Premier League in 2020, and the Community Shield that same year. The German's tenure transformed Liverpool into one of Europe's leading clubs, establishing a winning culture that had been missing for much of the period before his arrival.

For Lucas, Klopp's impact was particularly significant given the managerial changes he had witnessed during his time at the club. "I played under five managers, which is not normal at Liverpool, but he came and now the club is even bigger than it was before," Lucas said. Klopp left Liverpool in 2024 after nearly nine years in charge, but for Lucas, the roots of the club's success were already visible when he arrived.

He witnessed the change begin, as a new manager arrived, established his values, and gradually transformed the direction of the club.