‘It was like meeting the Pope’

Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp was named League Managers' Association (LMA) manager of the year on Monday after guiding the Merseyside club to their first top-flight title in 30 years.

Klopp's Liverpool side won the Premier League title with seven games to spare and finished the season 18 points clear at the top of the table.

The German coach pipped Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa, Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth and last year's winner Chris Wilder of Sheffield United to the Alex Ferguson Trophy — named after the former Manchester United manager.

"I'm absolutely delighted to be named the winner … for this wonderful Sir Alex Ferguson Trophy, named after a man that I admire so much," Klopp said. "I know it's not 100 per cent appropriate as a Liverpool manager but I admire him. I remember he was the first British manager I met.

"We had breakfast. I'm not sure how much he remembers but I remember because for me this moment was like meeting the Pope. It was absolutely great and from that first season we clicked.I didn't think at this moment I would have a trophy in my hands named after him."

"Jurgen, fantastic," Ferguson said on Sky Sports. "We speak about Leeds spending 16 years in the Championship, but Liverpool 30 years since winning that league, incredible. You thoroughly deserved it. The performance level of your team was outstanding. Your personality runs right throughout the whole club. It was a marvellous performance.

"I'll forgive you for waking me up at 3.30am to tell me you have won the league! Thank you, but anyway, you thoroughly deserved it. Well done."