5 underrated players coached by Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool FC v Atletico Madrid - UEFA Champions League Round of 16: Second Leg
Liverpool FC v Atletico Madrid - UEFA Champions League Round of 16: Second Leg

Jurgen Klopp is undoubtedly one of the best managers in world football currently.

The German has enjoyed an excellent career so far. A footballer himself, Klopp is famous for his time with Mainz 05 in Germany. He spent 11 years with the side, making over 300 appearances in total.

Klopp then went on to take over on the other side of the touchline, managing Mainz 05 for seven years. He then took over as manager of Borussia Dortmund, where he went on to become a club legend.

Klopp spent seven years with Dortmund, taking the club to new heights. He then signed for Liverpool and has enjoyed great success with the English outfit. Klopp has built quite a reputation over the years, building young players' careers from the ground up.

However, some of the players he has managed have slipped under the radar. It could be due to their playing position or style, or because they did not get enough media coverage.

On that note, let's take a look at the five underrated players coached by Jurgen Klopp.


#5. Lucas Barrios

Sevilla v Borussia Dortmund - UEFA Europa League
Sevilla v Borussia Dortmund - UEFA Europa League

Lucas Barrios is one the most underrated players from his time at Borussia Dortmund.

The Paraguayan international signed for Dortmund in 2009 and spent three successful years at Signal Iduna Park. He was a key member of the team during both of Dortmund's Bundesliga-winning runs in 2011 and 2012.

Barrios was deployed as a forward and was an extremely effective footballer. He formed a formidable attacking partnership with Robert Lewandowski, enabling the side to topple heavyweights Bayern Munich and lift the Bundesliga title.

Barrios made just over 100 appearances for the club during his three years, scoring 49 goals and providing 17 assists. He was integral to the team's setup before leaving the club in 2012.


#4. Kevin Großkreutz

Borussia Dortmund v FC Bayern Muenchen - UEFA Champions League Final
Borussia Dortmund v FC Bayern Muenchen - UEFA Champions League Final

Kevin Großkreutz is another in a long list of players who have etched their names into Borussia Dortmund folklore forever.

Großkreutz signed for Dortmund in 2009 and went on to spend six years at the club. Capable of playing at right-back as well as a winger, Großkreutz was one of Klopp's most trusted options.

The German international has enjoyed quite an illustrious career. He won two Bundesliga titles with Dortmund and also won the FIFA World Cup in 2014 with the German national team.

During Großkreutz's six years at the club, he made over 230 appearances. Großkreutz scored 27 goals during this time, while also providing 37 assists. Despite his consistency and importance to the team, he never seems to get the credit he deserves.


#3. Nathaniel Clyne

Tranmere Rovers v Liverpool - Pre Season Friendly
Tranmere Rovers v Liverpool - Pre Season Friendly

Nathaniel Clyne was one of the biggest positives from Liverpool's dismal period in the mid-2010s.

The Englishman signed from Southampton in 2015 and took up his role as a right-back in the team. Displaying great composure, Clyne added some stability to an otherwise unstable backline at Liverpool.

Clyne was an excellent right-back. He demonstrated the right balance of attack and defense and was equally adept at both. Clyne was Klopp's preferred right-back long before the emergence of Trent Alexander-Arnold.

He amassed over 100 appearances during his time with Liverpool, even scoring two goals and providing five assists. Clyne is still fondly remembered by Liverpool fans as a dependable figure in their backline.


#2. Emre Can

Liverpool FC v NK Maribor - UEFA Champions League
Liverpool FC v NK Maribor - UEFA Champions League

Emre Can is another player who always seems to get less credit than he deserves.

The German has had a long career so far, representing Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool, Juventus and now Borussia Dortmund. Can signed for Liverpool in 2014 for a reported £9.75 million.

Can flourished under Jurgen Klopp's mentorship. The pair were together at Liverpool for three years, a period that saw Can improve leaps and bounds. Primarily a defensive midfielder, Klopp used Can in several positions to great effect.

Can went on to make 167 appearances for Liverpool, his most-ever for a club. He also scored 14 goals and provided 12 assists for the club, quite a remarkable output for a defensive player.


#1. Jakub Błaszczykowski

Borussia Dortmund v FC Bayern Muenchen - UEFA Champions League Final
Borussia Dortmund v FC Bayern Muenchen - UEFA Champions League Final

Jakub Błaszczykowski is arguably the most underrated player to have been coached by Jurgen Klopp.

Błaszczykowski represented Dortmund for nine long years. He was signed in 2007 and soon became an important member of the side under Jurgen Klopp. He was also an integral part of the Polish national side.

Primarily a winger, Błaszczykowski was quite a feared commodity during his peak with Dortmund. He won two Bundesliga titles with Dortmund in 2010 and 2011, while also winning three Supercups.

Błaszczykowski made 253 appearances for Dortmund, scoring 32 goals and providing 53 assists. He is also the second-most capped player in Polish football history, with 108 appearances to his name.

Błaszczykowski also had the honor of captaining his country at the UEFA Euro 2012 which was co-hosted by Poland.

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Edited by Arnav Kholkar
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