As people stood in awe while You'll Never Walk Alone was sung beautifully, Jurgen Klopp sat beaming as he was awarded the Freedom of Liverpool.
The Liverpool boss was handed the keys to the city in a ceremony held at the Town Hall on Wednesday, November 2, that had people chuckling as the likes of Sir Kenny Dalglish, Margaret Aspinall and Joanne Anderson read touching testaments to the German. The 55-year-old has become the first non-UK-born European to be awarded the accolade, and the second behind Nelson Mandela not from the UK.
As the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Roy Gladden, described Klopp as a "true man of the people" and "a true modern-day Bill Shankly" people couldn't help but smile and nod in agreement.
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp awarded Freedom of Liverpool
The manager has spoken out over social issues during his time such as climate change and the cost of living crisis as well as being quick to condemn the lies of the French authority when Liverpool fans were blamed for the horrific scenes at the Champions League final in France earlier this year.
Speaking to the ECHO before the ceremony, Klopp passionately labelled the city of Liverpool his home. He said: "Liverpool is home and that's how it is.
"I know it feels like that, we arrived just more than seven years ago and from the first moment, it's easy as a football manager because people are very open and friendly.
"But over the years we have met so many people who have nothing to do with football who are not warm, friendly, kind because you're a football manager but for normal human reasons.
"A lot of these people are invited tonight and will be here tonight and when we told them, because I'm German and we don't have these kinds of ceremonies, when I told them in their eyes I could see how big it is and how big a thing it is, and that makes it so special.
"I feel very honoured and very privileged to receive the key tonight and Liverpool has become definitely home. I read a little bit about what it [Freedom of Liverpool] means, I'm not 100% sure, but one of the bits I read was about defending the city in the past. I know they meant it differently, but I will, with words, definitely forever."
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