The woman behind Jurgen Klopp: Ulla Sandrock has a significant influence on some of the biggest decisions in his career

Jurgen Klopp’s wife Ulla Sandrock has had a big influence on some of his most crucial career decisions.

Ulla is acknowledged with having convinced the outgoing manager of Liverpool to turn off Manchester United’s advances in 2013, paving the way for him to take over at Anfield two years later. The 56-year-old Klopp gave her legal counsel credit for helping him decide to extend his Liverpool contract the previous two years

. She has previously expressed concerns about the lack of support her husband was receiving from Borussia Dortmund’s management during his last season. The departing manager of Liverpool added that, after he left Anfield, his wife had already decided what he should do. 

The manager shocked everyone in the football world in January when he declared his plan to depart the team. Ulla told me a few things, such that I had to learn how to cook and take a dance lesson. I replied, “You don’t want me to take a break because I’ll resume work in four weeks!” Klopp stated to Sky News in April.Jurgen Klopp's wife Ulla has been an influential voice during key moments in his career

Jurgen Klopp’s wife Ulla has been an influential voice during key moments in his career 

Klopp, pictured with wife Ulla and their dog Emma in 2013, met his second wife in 2005

Klopp, pictured with wife Ulla and their dog Emma in 2013, met his second wife in 2005

Ulla - pictured with Klopp after Dortmund won the 2011 Bundesliga - has been a rock by his side

Ulla – pictured with Klopp after Dortmund won the 2011 Bundesliga – has been a rock by his side

I should definitely pick up some cooking skills so I can at least prepare some breakfast or anything. I really don’t know what I’m going to do for the first time in my life, and that’s exactly what I want.

I made scrambled eggs during COVID, but I forgot to do it again afterward. I grew up in the Black Forest with two sisters, and the smell from the kitchen was the only way I knew where it was! In my personal life, I’m quite worthless.

The pair, who reside in the seaside village of Formby in a home that was formerly owned by Steven Gerrard, are looking forward to a fresh start after the manager of Liverpool shockingly announced that he will be leaving the team at the end of the current campaign.

Following his £3.4 million purchase of a property on the Balearic island, Klopp is turning Mallorca into ‘an ecological family paradise’. He paid £3.4 million (€4 million) buy the Mallorca property in June 2022 from Swiss businessman and artist Rolf Knie, and he intends to renovate the 5,000 square meter estate from the ground up.

After relocating to Formby in 2015, they had an immediate influence. Klopp was frequently seen attending quiz evenings at neighborhood pubs and offering assistance to teams on their answers.

In the meantime, Ulla gave Waitrose employees £1,000 worth of food vouchers in April 2020 as a “thank you” for their front-line service.

She gave each employee of the store who was working on the floor at the time a total of 20 vouchers, each worth £50.

The Liverpool Echo was informed by one employee that “this was an incredible thing to do.” Generally speaking, Ulla merely wanted store employees to earn the credit they merit and had no interest in creating a scene or winning any awards.

Before agreeing to a contract extension through 2026, Klopp had previously declared his intention to quit the Reds when his contract expired at the end of the 2024 campaign.
He acknowledged that Ulla played a key role in persuading him to prolong his contract. like she had been for a number of significant choices made during his managerial career.

“I have something to share with you.” Similar to the previous time, some people will find it appealing, while others won’t be very fond of it. After declaring that his contract would be renewed in 2022, Klopp added, “If you don’t like it, stop watching now.”

“I stay for two more years, by myself.” No, and this is actually the most essential part—all of my coaches will too.

“Why?” is the query at this point. Ulla wants to stay, so what are you doing as a nice husband when your wife wishes to stay? You’re not going anywhere.

“The contract I signed with Ulla is the most significant one I’ve ever signed.”

That’s where it began once more. ‘I can’t see us leaving in 2024,’ Ulla remarked as we sat at the kitchen table.

The couple during the Borussia Dortmund Champions party after the DFB Cup final 2015 in Berlin

Ulla was claimed to have a ‘bad feeling’ about Klopp replacing Sir Alex Ferguson at Man United 

Klopp claimed Ulla had been key to convincing him to extend his Liverpool contract in 2022

Klopp claimed Ulla had been key to convincing him to extend his Liverpool contract in 2022

‘What is very important and is probably the most important – because I could not work against that and wouldn’t want to work against it – is that my family, in this case especially Ulla, she just loves it here.

‘If she would say, ‘Honestly, I love the football and I love watching it but I actually want to go home’, then we would go, that’s the truth. She started it and here we are.’

There seems no doubt that Ulla would have been a crucial voice in Klopp’s decision to leave Liverpool. Explaining his reasoning in a video message, the German said he was ‘running out of energy’ as he approaches a decade on Merseyside. Liverpool legend Phil Thompson claimed Ulla told Klopp to reject Man United's 2013 approach

Liverpool legend Phil Thompson claimed Ulla told Klopp to reject Man United’s 2013 approach

The outgoing Liverpool boss revealed how he told Ulla that his time at Anfield was up.

Opening up on his conversations with his wife about his decision, Klopp said: ‘I tried to describe it already, I had to explain it to Ulla clearly.

‘I tried to explain it with, I’m like a proper sports car – not the best one but a pretty good one, can still drive 160, 170, 180 mph but I’m the only one who sees the tank meter is going down.

‘The outside world doesn’t see that, that’s good, so you go until as long as we have to go, but then you need a break. In this case, you need to go to the petrol station.

‘That’s exactly what I know I have to do, but nobody has to worry until the end of this season, I know that I will be fine until then.’

Klopp also explained how his wife took the news. ‘I had to explain it, of course I had to. It was not like, ‘Oh, thank God.’ You must not misunderstand. Not at all,’ he said.

‘She asked me why and I explained it like I explain it now to you, with a few more maybe private details, but besides that it was pretty similar.

‘And obviously Ulla wants me to do well and be fine, and when she realised that I’m really clear about that – and she knows I don’t take these kind of things lightly – she is happy for me, that I’m happy with the decision. Because that’s the truth.’

Klopp had reportedly been shortlisted to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager in 2013, with the club’s then executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward giving him a tour.

Ulla, left, is Klopp's second wife with the couple marrying back in 2005

Ulla, left, is Klopp’s second wife with the couple marrying back in 2005 

Ulla had been by Klopp's side as he led Dortmund to consecutive titles in 2011 and 2012

Ulla had been by Klopp’s side as he led Dortmund to consecutive titles in 2011 and 2012

Klopp previously revealed Ulla had expressed concerns over the toll of management on him during his final season in charge of Borussia Dortmund

Ulla at a match between Liverpool and Swansea on November 29, 2015

Ulla at a November 29, 2015, Liverpool vs. Swansea match

Legendary Liverpool player Phil Thompson claims that when Ulla said she had a bad feeling about Man United, Klopp turned down the post.

“During my Sky interview, I questioned whether Klopp and Liverpool were meant to be together.” “He asked me ‘Why?'” Thompson said to TV2 in Norway. 

 Then Klopp informed me that his wife had objected to him taking over Manchester United.

Liverpool’s wife confirmed that it was correct when he arrived. Something peculiar is present there.

“He seems like he was made for Liverpool.”

Before departing in the summer of 2015, Klopp spent two more seasons as Dortmund’s manager. When a position at Liverpool became available in October, the German grabbed the chance to prove himself in England.

Ulla’s charitable endeavors in Germany and Kenya earned her the title of The First Lady of Bundesliga in her native country.

She spent three years in Nairobi working as a hospital employee and teacher. She had relocated to Mainz in western Germany, where Jurgen was employed as the manager of Mainz 05, the football team for the city. 

Jurgen Klopp was seen taking it all in ahead of his final game as he stood in the centre circle at Anfield alone this week

Jurgen Klopp was seen taking it all in ahead of his final game as he stood in the centre circle at Anfield alone this week

He was also seen in the grandstand with suggestions he was filming a farewell video

He was also spotted in the grandstand, where there were rumors that he was making a video farewell.

Tom and the Magic Football, written by children’s author Ulla, was released in 2008.

The eleven-year-old protagonist of the narrative becomes a gifted football player after discovering a magic football in his attic. In 2010, she wrote a book sequel that takes place in Africa.

It resembles Harry Potter, but with a football focus. Klopp remarked, “There’s no flying on his f****** stick.”  

Ulla voiced worries for Klopp’s well-being during his final season as Dortmund’s manager in 2015. Klopp had led the Bundesliga team for seven seasons. 

Dortmund finished sixth in February after being in the relegation zone.

After a victory over Werder Bremen just before Christmas that year, Ulla had stated that the strain of the season had taken a toll on her husband. Klopp disclosed this information in an eBook titled Reading the Game.  

“We had to endure it, persevere, and wait for the bell to ring in Bremen during the last game before the winter break.” When I got home, my wife told me I had finally lost it since I was so happy and ecstatic, Klopp remarked.

We would be spending Christmas in the drop zone because we had just lost at Bremen and were ranked 17th or 18th on the table that evening. However, after returning home, I felt like a whole new man. And the reason for that was that I realized we now had an opportunity to address our issues.

Fortunately, we were successful when we did. The second half of the season saw our play and results meet or surpass expectations, but naturally, this didn’t seem that way because you were still emotionally burdened by the previous events.

Ulla, who was previously married to Sabine Klopp for 12 years until their 2001 divorce, is Klopp’s second wife. Ulla and Klopp were wed in 2005. 

In 2005, while working as a waiter at Munich’s Oktoberfest, the former social worker got to know Klopp. After barely three days of getting to know one another, they moved in together.Klopp became a grandfather for the first time last year after Dennis, Ulla’s moved-out son, delivered his first child. Despite not having children together, the two had boys from past marriages. The player for Borussia Dortmund, Marc is the son of Klopp’s first marriage. He had to withdraw from the game in 2015 due to a series of injuries. He became Dennis’s stepfather after they were married. Dennis is Ulla’s son. In March of last year, the manager of Liverpool revealed the devastating news that he will be a grandfather for the first time. Before the preseason started in July, Klopp gave a speech to the team in which he described his “perfect summer” spent with his grandchild. “At last.” In response to a question regarding his grandfatherly status, Klopp said, “It’s cool because I already look like one and now I am one.” No, it’s perfect. The most perfect summer ever. 

Klopp became a grandfather for the first time last year after Ulla's son Dennis, left, had his first childKlopp became a grandfather for the first time last year after Dennis, Ulla’s moved-out son, delivered his first child. Despite not having children together, the two had boys from past marriages. The player for Borussia Dortmund, Marc is the son of Klopp’s first marriage. He had to withdraw from the game in 2015 due to a series of injuries. He became Dennis’s stepfather after they were married. Dennis is Ulla’s son. The Liverpool manager broke the heartbreaking news that he will be becoming a grandfather for the first time in March of last year. Before the preseason started in July, Klopp gave a speech to the team in which he described his “perfect summer” spent with his grandchild. “At last.” In response to a question regarding his grandfatherly status, Klopp said, “It’s cool because I already look like one and now I am one.” No, it’s perfect. The most perfect summer ever. Klopp said goodbye to the travelling Liverpool fans following Monday's 3-3 draw at Aston Villa

Klopp bid farewell to the departing Liverpool supporters after Monday’s 3-3 draw against Aston Villa.

“We both felt that being here for approximately four weeks, witnessing him develop and experience all these early stages, was a blessing.” Yes, participating even if you’re only on the sidelines.

Thus, it was excellent. And all is well. Mom, Dad, and the infant are all doing well. To be honest, we were in that role a very long time ago. However, as I can tell, it’s similar like riding a bike. It’s not lost, therefore it was there right away.

Once more, it’s simply stunning. The most exquisite item I have likely encountered in the past thirty years or so. and to greet this tiny, amazing human being.

On Sunday, Klopp’s farewell match at Anfield will take place against Wolves, and it promises to be an emotional affair.

The German leaves the team having taken home eight trophies, including Premier League and Champions League titles. 

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