LONDON — Jurgen Klopp believes the departing Mohamed Salah will continue playing close to his 40s as the legendary former Liverpool manager reflected on the Anfield career of the Egypt superstar.
Klopp, who coached Salah for seven seasons on Merseyside, still thinks he has plenty to offer other clubs as he prepares to celebrate his 34th birthday in June.
Speaking to Peter Crouch on a podcast to coincide with the recent Liverpool Legends game at Anfield, Klopp said according to liverpoolecho.co.uk: “Maybe other people said it in the past when they counted the goals of Ian [Rush] or someone like that but I don’t think something like [Salah’s career] will happen again.
“The combination of all the things he has plus the character he is and the desire he has. I never saw someone like him. If you saw Mo in training, you would think he is a very talented boy, left foot, speed, wow, great. And he starts scoring because he was not happy with his finishing in Rome, so he built a goal in the backyard.
“I am sure a lot of people built a goal in the garden and tried to improve. He did that seven hours a day in my imagination. Every summer he came back from a summer break and had a new skill, a new idea.”
“He always came with something new, he never stopped and he will not stop. He is 33 and he has another five or six years, 100% for sure.
Klopp added: “Remember last season when we became champions, how many goals he set up, the way he set it up, cutting inside when he usually shoots, Cody Gakpo or whoever arriving, we had these situations, but he took it perfection.
Salah confirmed last month that his ninth season at the club would be his last and he will leave after a decorated period where he has won two Premier League titles and the 2019 Champions League alongside the Club World Cup, the FA Cup and two Carabao Cups.
The iconic forward is also third on the club’s all-time list of scorers with 255 goals behind only Ian Rush and Roger Hunt.
“Let’s see where he goes. Again, top, top, top players are not always easy to deal with and that is okay. The job of a coach is not that everyday…it is not that everyone is smiling, you have to figure out how you can get them to next level and sometimes it is making them angry.”
“I am really curious and looking forward to his final games. He knows this wonderful period is nearly over and let’s enjoy it and we know Mo only enjoys football when he is scoring.”
