As Liverpool have discovered in recent years, Jurgen Klopp is not shy of giving first-team opportunities to young players, bringing him success wherever he has managed to date.
Klopp helped to revive Borussia Dortmund‘s fortunes by placing his faith in youth – a policy that paid dividends when BVB became the youngest side to ever win the Bundesliga in 2010-11.
We’ve taken a look back at every academy product Klopp handed a senior debut to at Dortmund.
Marcel Schmelzer
Klopp handed Schmelzer his senior Dortmund debut in his first match in charge, coming off the bench in a 3-1 German Cup win over Rot-Weiss Essen in August 2008.
Two years later, the left-back played every minute of the Bundesliga campaign as Dortmund claimed their first title under Klopp and remains at the club to this day, where he is now the longest-serving player.
Yasin Oztekin
The Dortmund-born Turkey international made just two appearances under Klopp in 2009 before breaking his leg and later being sold, going on to enjoy success at Galatasaray.
Now at Sivasspor, the winger revealed in May that Klopp had sent him a video to wish his son a happy birthday, telling him: “I hope you will get your father’s talents.”
What a fella.
Mario Gotze
While Gotze’s career has not quite gone as expected, the attacking midfielder should still be considered one of Klopp’s biggest success stories.
After handing Gotze his debut in November 2009, the starlet became a key member of the side that won back-to-back league titles and later scored the winning goal for Germany in the 2014 World Cup final after leaving for Bayern Munich.
Now without a club after an underwhelming second spell at Dortmund, Gotze remains close with Klopp. Continue reading