HAVING A BALL
Jurgen Klopp switches sports as he’s pictured for first time since jetting off to Spain after Liverpool exit
Former Reds boss staying in luxury hotel as he waits for £3.4m villa renovation
JURGEN KLOPP has been spotted for the first time since jetting off for his new life in Spain - and has quickly switched from football to another sport.
The German, 56, left Liverpool in emotional scenes at the end of the season.
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He waved goodbye to Anfield after nine years last Sunday with a third-placed finish, beating Wolves 2-0 in his final game in charge.
But within days of his departure, Klopp jetted off to Majorca with his wife Ulla.
And he took to Instagram to tell his 3.1million followers what he has been up to and thank fans for their love and support.
In the video message, Klopp filmed himself talking to the camera in his Adidas sports kit with a Wilson racket bag on his back.
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And that was because he was on his way to a third padel training session, the hugely popular sport in Spain.
Klopp said: "Five days ago was the big goodbye.
"I still try to process everything, what happened that day and then in the days around. Slightly settled now.
"I am actually not sure if I said it clear enough, thank you, thank you for everything.
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"Thank you for the love, thank you for the support, it was a wonderful day.
"The best experience I could have ever imagined, really outstanding.
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"Now, what I am doing is I try, no, I follow my other big passion, I try to improve my padel game.
"I started a few days ago, today is my third session and I started on an extremely low level, didn’t play for a while and felt it immediately.
"Step by step I will get there."
Klopp previously confessed he is "addicted" to the sport - with the former Reds boss getting a court installed at the Liverpool training ground.
He even has his own custom £280 padel racket from Wilson with his name etched on to the side.
Klopp said: "Besides football, it’s the best game I’ve ever played. It’s a great game to play."
Jurgen and Ulla are new honourary members at the prestigious £2,400-a-year Mallorca Country Club alongside Prince Albert II of Monaco, Richard Branson, Boris Becker, Novak Djokovic, Nick Kyrgios and Nico Hulkenberg.
As well as three padel courts, the club also has 12 tennis courts, a pickleball court plus a gym, pool and sauna.
The Klopps are currently staying at the luxury five-star Kimpton Aysla Hotel - where rooms start from £500 per night.
That is because their £3.4m villa is not ready to move into just yet.
They bought the pad from a Swiss businessman and artist in June 2022 and decided to completely rebuild it into an "ecological family paradise".
However, Klopp - who was last seen in Liverpool rapping on stage with John Barnes - will be back on Merseyside next month.
Klopp managed to get tickets to take Ulla to see Taylor Swift.
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The global megastar is doing three nights at Anfield from June 13-15 as part of her Eras world tour.
Arne Slot, meanwhile, will be preparing to move into Klopp's office as the former Feyenoord boss takes on the mammoth task of succeeding the Premier League and Champions League-winning boss.
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Klopp has botched his Liverpool exit… and it’s cost him his legacy, says Dave Kidd
By Dave Kidd
NOW we know Jurgen Klopp’s final major trophy haul at Liverpool — one Champions League, one Premier League, one FA Cup, two League Cups and (if you must) a World Club Cup.
But where does his reign stand among the greatest of the Premier League era?
In black-and-white terms, Klopp is way behind Sir Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola, the only two men to have won multiple Premier Leagues and a Champions League at the same club.
Those two sit alongside Brian Clough, Bob Paisley and Sir Matt Busby as the undoubted all-time managerial greats of the English game.
But Klopp ranks in the next tier down — with Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho (the Chelsea version), Bill Shankly and Don Revie.
These were all men with the strength of character to transform their clubs in their own image and enjoy success but who did not win as much as they might have done.
Had Klopp managed to keep his intentions under wraps and ended up with another title, perhaps even a treble or quadruple, he’d have edged himself up into that highest echelon with Ferguson, Guardiola, Clough, Paisley and Busby.
But deciding the timing and the manner of your exit is one of the toughest calls for any manager or sportsman.
Klopp got it wrong.
Read Dave Kidd’s take on Klopp’s demise in full here.
Or click here to check out all of Dave Kidd’s articles.
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