LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB — CHAMPIONS OF ENGLAND 2019–20

-A STORY OF DEDICATION; TEAM SPIRIT AND LEADERSHIP

The recent victory of the Liverpool Football Club (LFC) in the English Premier League has understandably sent the legions of Liverpool fans into a tizzy and unrestrained euphoria. In this backdrop when almost the entire sports journalism fraternity is writing about their achievement, it seems pedestrian to add to the already overflowing cupboard of material on the issue. However, having long been an ardent fan of LFC and having a family comprised of diehard LFC followers, I thought it necessary to add my two cents to the already burgeoning output on the subject.

My focus would be on the composed dignity, quiet confidence , the understated yet effective leadership leading to an indefatigable sense of team spirit which when put together have been the springboard of their extraordinary success on the field and poster-boy acclaim of it.

Having had the privilege of visiting the lovely city of Liverpool, the city where the Beatles cut their teeth, the euphoria arising out of a tour of Anfield only added to further cementing an already strong affinity with LFC. Visiting Anfield, the home-ground of LFC, while one is awe-struck by the sheer grandeur of the majestic façade, what immediately catches the eye is to the iconic plaque — “This is Anfield”.

The naysayer make call it arrogance but to me it appeared to symbolise quiet dignity backed by supreme confidence. A reflection of their belief in the ability to not just rest on their past heroics but to carry on the legacy further and improve — never mind the hiccups (sometimes tsunamis) on the way which may involve a wait stretching to thirty years for their next premiership title, as we have witnessed now. But to me the steadfast support of the fans and sustained popularity that it has maintained, irrespective of the comparative lack of success in certain time-frames, resonates the confidence and dignity with which it has stuck to the task. One only hopes that the success is replicated in the near future and LFC stays at the pinnacle of glory for a long time.

The next thing that catches the eye is the quotation on the way out of the dugouts through the tunnel to the playing arena: -

“Coming together is a beginning,

keeping together is progress,

working together is success.”

While I originally thought that this quote was attributable to Henry Ford, further research tells me that there might be some controversy on the issue and it could also be attributable to Edward Everett Hale, the American Author and Poet. The controversy apart, the above quote is symptomatic of the intense team spirit and personal bonding that the team has come to personify in the recent past. Remember, in a team of superstars in their own right with strong personalities, each having their own innuendos, traits and attitudes(some of which may be mutually incompatible), of course, backed by redoubtable talent, the need for all of them to rise above the self and identify themselves completely with the team could require some doing. However, with unexpected levels of maturity and understanding, flexibility in approach backed by the confidence of the leadership, the sum has become infinitesimally greater than just the mathematical aggregate of the individual parts.

While team-sprit and a sense of bonding has been the hallmark of all great teams in history, for me it got renewed focus seeing the way the team has gelled, considering the disparate backgrounds, different geographical areas, diversified nationalities and religions to which the team members belong. Not forgetting their different genetic make ups and body structures/compositions which would call for personalised training schedules and exercise regimens, to further add to the myriad of issues involved in blending the individuals involved into a homogeneous unit.

The icing of the cake has been the understated, quiet, yet firm and effective leadership personified by the graceful and elegant Jurgen Klopp. By his focus on the long-term success and dignified presence, aided by a calm personality and working with clinical efficiency, Jurgen Klopp is the epitome of precision so reflective of Germany, the Country of his birth. Not one to shy away from expressing his feelings- he has always underscored the importance of emotion in his approach as he very tellingly puts it — “The best football is always about expression of emotion”. Well expressive he was, as his post league title winning interview duly brought out, wherein emotions really got the better of him. But what was even more remarkable was the transparent modesty with which he basked in his glory taking care with extraordinary grace to acknowledge the efforts of the players, the contribution of the fans and most touchingly the past coaches and players including Steven Gerrard, Kenny Dalglish et al on whose efforts and sweat the present day success has been largely built.

Talking about Jurgen Klopp’s contribution to team-building and fostering a spirit of cooperation, I remember seeing a video of the players and the Manager during the lockdown, nestled in their respective abodes keeping in contact through video conferencing ( a mode which has acquired importance when we were all cooped up in our houses). While sharing their individual experiences, they also celebrated the Birthday of one of the team members in an innovative way with each person singing the birthday song in his own vernacular language. A remarkable and innovative act, helping each player relate to his identity yet become a part of the unified whole while at the same time leading to unadulterated joy and fun. Killing multiple birds with one stone that was Klopp’s simplistic way to add zing to what could have been a staid, maybe boring, and monotonous interaction. Truly a reflection of the opening lines of the LFC song “We never walk alone” symbolising that you are never alone but everybody is there for everybody, including the legions of fans and admirers

While the quality of Football is there for everybody to see, it is these subtle changes, and adaptions to the behavioural patterns and thought processes that form the framework of sustained success, capable of emulation and above all personal, professional and organizational glory which becomes a story to be emulated across humanity and remembered for all time.

Before closing let me reproduce the lyrics of the LFC song, which I have always found very inspiring and touching: -

“When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark

At the end of a storm
There’s a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark

Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone

You’ll never walk alone

Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone

You’ll never walk alone”

In all this never forget- “You never walk alone”- you are never alone whatever the storms that you may face, the hiccups that you may encounter. As it is repeatedly said such obstacles are, invariably, mere pitstops on the way to glory and success.