Florian Wirtz will be the ninth German to play for Liverpool – how others fared including flop who lasted just two games
First German player saw chances restricted by Michael Owen
FROM BAD TO WIRTZ Florian Wirtz will be the ninth German to play for Liverpool – how others fared including flop who lasted just two games
LIVERPOOL'S rebirth was made in Germany through the inspirational figure of Jurgen Klopp.
Now the Reds want his countryman Florian Wirtz to help current boss Arne Slot build a dynasty.
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Florian Wirtz will become Liverpool's ninth German
Credit: Getty
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Loris Karius is remembered for his mistake in the 2018 Champions League final
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
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Dietar Hamman won everything but the Prem with Liverpool
Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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Sean Dundee managed just three games for the club
Credit: Getty
You could argue that no one of any nationality has made such an impact at Anfield as Klopp since legendary boss Bill Shankly.
Although German players have enjoyed success at Liverpool before, none has arrived with the same expectation and excitement that will greet Wirtz, 22, when he completes his initial £100million move.
Without the reign of Klopp, the club he left last year would almost certainly not have been in a position to buy one of the best young players in the world.
Slot admits a decent amount of credit for his wonderful debut season must go to his genial predecessor.
Before Klopp could turn Liverpool into winners of the biggest prizes again, he had to change the club's culture.
Zeitgeist is the German word that usually refers to the spirit and philosophy of a particular historical era.
In Klopp's case, he combined his homeland's trend for gegenpressing, high-energy, attacking football with his unique gifts as a man-manager to transform the Reds.
When he left Anfield last summer after nearly nine years in charge, he had led Liverpool to English, European and world titles, plus three domestic cups.
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The club's transfer spending and strategy this summer, after Slot delivered championship No 20, are designed to deliver even more silverware across the next decade.
And Wirtz, who is yet to reach his prime, is the man they hope will play a big part in fulfilling that ambition.
Although Liverpool fans will find it hard to keep a lid on it, the older ones will know not to get too carried away.
The first big German star to come to Anfield was Karl Heinz-Riedle, fresh from scoring twice as Borussia Dortmund beat Juventus 3-1 in the 1997 Champions League final.
But the emergence of Michael Owen restricted the striker's appearances and he left after two seasons.
Sean Dundee, an even less-heralded centre-forward, came and went before Dietmar Hamann became the first big German success story at Liverpool.
With countrymen Markus Babbel and Christian Ziege, Hamann was part of an extraordinary year under Gerard Houllier in 2001.
The Reds won both domestic cups and lifted the Uefa Cup after a 5-4 golden goal win over Alaves.
If you count the Community Shield and Uefa Super Cup — and back then Liverpool did — it was five trophies in a calendar year.
But while Ziege and then Babbel moved on after good but not brilliant stays at Anfield, Hamann stuck around.
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Christian Ziege had a solid spell at Anfield
Credit: Getty
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Markus Babbel was another German success story
Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
And boss Rafa Benitez brought the defensive midfielder on at half-time of the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan, with his side 3-0 down.
Although others stole the headlines, Hamann's display was crucial in the greatest comeback in the competition's history.
And like a typical German, he also scored Liverpool's first penalty in the shootout that sealed victory — all with a broken toe.
The first Bayer Leverkusen wonderkid to join Liverpool arrived in 2012, 13 years before Wirtz.
But injuries played a big part in forward Samed Yesil struggling to make an impact and he left after just two League Cup appearances.
The next Leverkusen prodigy, Emre Can, fared better.
He arrived in 2014, a year and a bit before Klopp, and under his countryman finished a runner-up in the League Cup, Europa League and Champions League.
After the latter heartbreak against Real Madrid, Can went to Juventus on a free and enjoyed success there.
Goalkeeper Loris Karius was the only senior Germany player ever signed by Klopp, but he was never the same after two awful mistakes in that final with Real.
After being poleaxed by Sergio Ramos early in the game, the dazed keeper rolled the ball straight to Karim Benzema to open the scoring.
Sadio Mane equalised, then Gareth Bale produced a worldie overhead kick before Karius let a more saveable Bale strike from distance go through his hands.
Karius finally left Anfield in 2022 after three loan spells.
His two seasons at Newcastle included a Carabao Cup final defeat and he is back in Germany in Bundesliga 2 with Schalke.
Wirtz — whose fee could rise to a British record £116.5m — will be the latest German player to arrive at Anfield dreaming of glory.
But he will have his work cut out to become as loved by Liverpool fans as Klopp.
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Emre Can was a key part of success under Jurgen Klopp
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
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Karl Heinz-Riedle was the first big German star on Merseyside
Credit: Alamy
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