One former Liverpool player has angered two high-profile managers.
Didi Hamman best not expect a birthday or Christmas card from Jurgen Klopp or Thomas Tuchel this year. Having notoriously upset the Liverpool manager in the past, he’s now seemingly past the point of reconciliation with Tuchel despite apologising for previous comments.
The former midfielder represented both Bayern Munich and the Reds in a distinguished playing career, winning two league titles in Germany and a host of trophies on Merseyside. Indeed, he played a pivotal role in turning the famous 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul, coming on with Liverpool 3-0 down to AC Milan in a game they eventually won on penalties.
But since retiring in 2011, the ex-German international has been nothing if not outspoken, and angered Klopp in February 2023 after taking to social media to criticise his assistant Pep Ljinders after the release of his book.
“The alarm bells should have been ringing for Liverpool fans when the current assistant manager wrote a book while still employed by the club,” he wrote on X. “How he was allowed to do it I’m not too sure.”
He followed that up with: “The only question is whether the club benefited from it and the simple answer is no. His job is not to educate other coaches while he’s getting paid by Liverpool.”
It wasn’t the first time that the 50-year-old had criticised personnel at Anfield, and Klopp didn’t hold back with his response. Ahead of a Champions League game with Rangers last season, he savaged reporters who suggested Hamman’s comments held merit.
“Oh great, he’s a fantastic source, well respected everywhere,” the manager sarcastically replied. “That (playing for Liverpool) doesn’t give you the right to say what you want especially when you have no idea. I actually think Didi Hamann doesn’t deserve that you use his phrase to ask me a question. Do me a favour and ask your own question. Try to ask a question without the word spark, that’s the challenge now.”
But Hamman’s latest spat with a high-profile manager has come closer to home, after he took aim at Tuchel for publicly implying he would relish a move to La Liga in the future. He accused the ex-Chelsea boss of touting himself for a move to Barcelona, following the news that Xavi will leave the Catalonia club at the end of the season.
