Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp once dressed as Santa so he could get on the beers

Posted Wednesday, December 22, 2021 by Dailystar.co.uk

In 2016, former Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp told of a time where he dressed as Santa Claus so he could go out drinking in the city

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp once revealed that he disguised himself with a Santa Claus mask in order to go out drinking during his time as head coach of Borussia Dortmund.

Klopp told of the incident in 2016 after he was questioned on Wayne Rooney being forced to apologise for drinking at a private wedding in a hotel following England’s win over Scotland.

The German boss defended Rooney during a press conference, before disclosing that he was once forced to dress up in disguise for a Christmas party so the general public didn't know who he was.

“I had a story with myself when we had 11 points and we were last in the Bundesliga table,” Klopp said.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp once dressed as Santa so he could get on the beers
Jurgen Klopp once wore a Santa mask on a night out in Dortmund (Image: Getty)

"We had a Christmas break and friends of ours wanted to have a party in the city.

"Nobody saw me because I had a mask. It was Santa Claus.”

Klopp added: “I didn’t feel too good, but I needed a little bit of help and I went out. I did it.

"Then at the end there was one point when you are a little bit drunk, so I lifted the mask and then the next thing there is a picture.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp once dressed as Santa so he could get on the beers
Dortmund were bottom of the Bundesliga at the time (Image: Imago/PA Images)

"The next day (German newspaper) Bild said: ‘That’s how Klopp celebrates being 18th’. It is not actually like I celebrated but it was the picture. This happens and you go on.”

Klopp turned his fortunes around and proved any doubters wrong at Dortmund by guiding them to back-to-back Bundesliga titles between 2010 and 2012.

During his time at Dortmund, Klopp also won the DFB-Pokal in 2012, the DFL-Supercup in 2013 and 2014, and came runner-up to Bayern Munich in the 2013 Champions League final.

After seven years at the helm in Dortmund, Klopp swapped Germany for Liverpool in 2015, and has gone on to win the Premier League, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.