Former Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva has hailed Reds boss Jurgen Klopp as "special" and lifted the lid on the pair's "fantastic" relationship during their shared time at Anfield.
Lucas, who made the move to Merseyside in the summer of 2007 from boyhood side Gremio, was forced to announce his retirement from the professional game during an emotional press conference with the Brazilian top-flight club last month after a heart condition was detected during routine medical tests in late 2022.
His premature exit from the game comes six years after he departed Anfield, having spent two seasons under Klopp after the German was appointed as Brendan Rodgers' successor in October 2015.
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp confirms Luis Diaz return date as Liverpool handed injury boost
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp reveals what he isn't allowed to do in Liverpool dressing room and hints at big changes
Appearing on LFC TV's Extra Time show on Thursday, the Brazilian, who played over 200 times for the Reds, was presented with a touching video message from the Liverpool boss, who spoke fondly of their time together at Anfield and wished Lucas all the best in his retirement.
And following the heart-warming tribute from Klopp, the former midfielder reflected on his early impressions of the one-time Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund manager in the autumn of 2015 and later hailed the German's warming people skills.
“You could feel his presence," recalled Lucas. “A very open guy. One day I went to his office to speak with him, I wasn’t happy with something and he said, ‘Lucas, I can tell you what I think, not what you want to listen [to]’. [From] that day, for me, he was the man.
“The way he managed the club and the group I think is a unique way. He’s very open; he always says, ‘I’m your friend but I’m not your best friend’. As soon as he arrived we could feel something was changing for good, and he proved [to] us that he was the right man.”
He added: “Jürgen is very special. He texted me when he saw the news [about retirement]. The relationship I created with him was fantastic and he’s right: when I was on the bench my mood used to change completely! I agree with him! ‘It won’t happen again, it won’t happen again!’"
The 36-year-old later announced his intentions to stay involved in the world of football and revealed his hopes of finding an off-field role at his boyhood club, who he helped achieve promotion to the Brazilian top-flight last season.
"I’m adapting to this new cycle, I would say," added Lucas. "I’m spending time with my family, taking my kids to school, being close to my family, to my parents.
"Now I am also speaking with Gremio to see if I will stay in a role inside the club, which will be important for me, and I will find a role that I like the most and keep going in my career.
“For sure I will stay inside football because football has been my life since I was born. But I am fine, I am healthy. That’s the most important thing. I just cannot play football but apart from that I can do everything. Well, I cannot play football professionally – maybe I’ll come for the legends game and walk around in Anfield!”
READ NEXT:
- Mikel Arteta gives Bukayo Saka update after Arsenal forward suffers illness
- Carragher 'troubled' by Klopp decision after naming Arsenal duo Liverpool wanted
- Salah, Thiago: Liverpool injury news and return dates ahead of Arsenal
- Ray Parlour picks Arsenal and Liverpool combined XI with just two Reds players
- Liverpool position escapes summer transfer scrutiny as problems grow bigger
