Jurgen Klopp says Mohamed Salah could carry on playing until the age of 40 after the forward announced he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season.
Klopp, who left Anfield in 2024, was the manager who signed Salah for the Reds from Italian side Roma in 2017.
The Egypt winger, 33, has since scored 255 goals for Liverpool, with only Ian Rush and Roger Hunt ahead of him on the club's all-time list.
Speaking to BBC Sport before an LFC Legends charity game, Klopp said: "Salah is an incredible professional.
"He set completely new standards for a professional football player – how hard you can work, how much you can invest in recovery and everything."
The German added: "Now he leaves here but I would not be surprised if he plays another six or seven years.
"I'm sad but he's an all-time great without a shadow of a doubt and I'm really proud to be a part of that career."
Klopp and Salah together won the Premier League, Champions League, the FA Cup, two League Cups, Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup.
"He knows this was the perfect club for him and he was the perfect player for us," said Klopp.
"Mo and I had big dreams, but we didn't dare to dream that big. I'm not sure we can appreciate it to the right extent – that will happen soon now. I wish him the best of luck because he deserves it.
"The numbers he produced and the standards he set, some of them, if not all, will stay unmatched in this modern Premier League era, definitely, because it's ridiculous to do that, and to do it for one club more or less."
Klopp, 58, added Salah is "one of the best" professionals and people he has met.
He said: "We texted the other day and we had our arguments, but it was always for the right reasons. It's always fine, especially now looking back, it's more than fine. And we are both really happy about being part of that incredible journey."
Asked whether it was the right time for Liverpool and Salah to part ways, with the winger still having a year left on his contract, Klopp said it was a "fair deal".
by OneNormalBloke
28 Comments
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haha six seven
Come back then Jurgen and sign him again
Shift him up top as a Striker and have him poach in the older Ronaldo role and yeah I can see it
Yes, of course, just ask Shaqiri. It all depends on where you are playing and the expectations. Come to MLS to be king again.
5 clubs 2 EPL age doesn’t work backwards
SIX SEVEN
Ha what a dumbass, hasn’t he heard everyone on reddit point out his legs have gone and he’s washed?
Man probably doesn’t even have a top 5% commenter flair
sure. not in the prem tho
Maybe we’ll get a new manager who can then sign Salah as a free agent
Are the teens still saying it?
Slot be like
As long as he doesn’t come back to haunt us with another club… Wish Mo a long and prosperous post Liverpool career
Sure, but not in the premier league
Prem hell no. At some way lower level, absolutely. Just ask CR7.
Hendo is still playing in the Prem and will likely go to the World Cup
Six seven
So the problem is Slot all along, 😒
Bring back Kloppo and Salah 😭
6 7
Bro saw Milner pocket our midfielders and said my boy Salah got this
I think man city should be all over him, a rejuvenated mo with a point to prove would easily help them win a league or two (they can certainly afford him)
Yeah… no. He can’t. The drop from last year to this is nothing short of insane.
I still am appalled by the decision to extend him at 400k and not play to his strengths. Yes I understand that big signings were made and board/coach wanted to play a style probably best suited to them new signings but that transition should have been gradual and not immediate.
Jürgen is the reason this outgoing generation of players has so many legends and even GOAT-contenders. And yet, he’ll always give them their flowers without a hint of ego or arrogance.
Simply the greatest football manager ever, imo.
No one doubts that he can play. The question is can he play well enough at the top level. Father time remains undefeated.
Wish we had prime Mo for a couple more years. Doesn’t help that he’s been misprofiled this season.