As Jürgen Klopp prepares to enjoy his first Christmas in Liverpool, LFCTV chronicles the manager's journey from Germany's Black Forest to the banks of the river Mersey.

Klopp became the 20th incumbent of the Anfield hot-seat when he was unveiled as Reds boss to much fanfare in October this year.

The 48-year-old arrived as one of European football’s most coveted coaches, having restored Borussia Dortmund to the pinnacle of the German game.

In an exclusive documentary, which will air on LFCTV for the first time at 10pm GMT on Wednesday December 23, the boss reflects on his life in the game.

His story begins in the picturesque town of Glatten, where he grew up with his family, fell in love with VFB Stuttgart and honed his football skills on the local playing fields.

Klopp developed into a promising player; however, his school reports were far from exemplary.

As the man himself explains in the hour-long film: “When I left school, the head said, ‘I hope you can do something in football.

“If not, I don’t have the best feeling for your future!’

“He had a microphone, so 4,000 people could hear it. And I said, ‘oh thank you’.

“I was the sporty one. Not too smart in the rest of the school - but funny.”

LFCTV’s documentary charts Klopp’s rise through the amateur leagues to Mainz, a carnival town on the banks of the river Rhine, where he became a fan favourite during 11 years’ service.

On his own playing style, the German explains: “I was fast, a very good header. I had a big heart and was very passionate.

“But I was not so good in the technical parts of the game and I hated myself for this! I had big fights with myself and bad, bad words for myself in many situations of the game.

“I loved the game and I always tried to understand it a little bit better than the rest of the team because it was the only way to stay in the game.”

Klopp was destined for a career on the touchline.

“I always had this dream to become a football manager,” he explains. “If someone had come along and told me, at 25, to stop playing football and become a manager, it would not have been a problem for me.

“But it didn’t happen. I had to wait until I was 33.”

After leading Mainz to a first-ever promotion to the Bundesliga, Dortmund was where the Swabian truly shot to prominence, winning back-to-back Bundesliga titles before embarking on an unforgettable European adventure.

Klopp concludes: “When I finally left Dortmund I tried to take a break, a real break. The first four months were a holiday. Then came another big club.”

LFCTV’s hour-long show is the definitive story of Klopp’s rise, featuring photographs of the youngster’s early days and previously unseen footage of his career.

Old friends and colleagues from Mainz and Dortmund provide a compelling narrative and offer touching tributes to the current Reds coach.

The film will get its first airing on LFCTV on December 23 at 10pm GMT and is now available to view on LFCTV GO on demand above.

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