Klopp's Bizarre Keeper Quest: The Austrian Wall Who Haunted Dortmund But Benched at Anfield

Picture this: it's 2016, and Liverpool are on the hunt for a stopper who can steady the ship. The Reds had just splashed €6m on young Loris Karius from Mainz 05, with Simon Mignolet already holding down the No.1 spot at 29. But Jürgen Klopp, ever the tactical wizard with a soft spot for redemption arcs, had his eyes on a grizzled veteran who'd once driven him up the wall.

That vet? None other than Alexander Manninger, the Austrian keeper pushing 40. Klopp remembered him all too well from a nightmare Bundesliga clash. As Manninger later spilled, it kicked off with a cheeky phone call: Jürgen knew every detail of his career, right down to that heroic display against his Borussia Dortmund side.

The Match That Broke Dortmund's Hearts

Rewind to early 2015 at the Signal Iduna Park. This was Klopp's final, proper grim season with BVB – they were rock bottom of the Bundesliga, staring relegation in the face. Up stepped FC Augsburg (FCA), managed by the unheralded Markus Weinzierl, and their keeper Manninger was in imperious form.

Dortmund dominated, sure, but disaster struck. Christoph Janker got his marching orders after 25 minutes, leaving Augsburg down to 10 men. Yet they nicked it 1-0 thanks to Raul Bobadilla's cheeky finish. Manninger? He was a one-man barricade, clawing away shots left, right, and centre. Klopp's lads battered the woodwork but couldn't break through. Absolute low point – BVB were shell-shocked.

Manninger recalled Klopp's words on the blower: 'You saved everything against us that day; now do the same for me.' Classic Klopp – turning a foe into a fantasy signing. A year and a half on, after Manninger had returned to Augsburg on loan, the call came. He inked a one-year deal at Anfield, linking up with his old Arsenal stomping grounds from back in the day.

Farewell at the Kop – No Saves Required

Here's the kicker, though: Manninger never pulled on the gloves in a competitive Liverpool match. Not a single appearance. At 40, he was there as experienced back-up, third choice behind the fresh-faced Karius and reliable Mignolet. Klopp wanted that calming presence in training, someone to push the young guns without risking the dream team.

But football's a funny old game, innit? Injuries and form guided Klopp's hand elsewhere. Manninger trained hard, soaked up the Anfield vibe, but his big moment? A guard of honour send-off in front of The Kop. 'I never played,' he admitted with a grin, 'but bidding farewell to football there was magical.' Imagine that – flying halfway across Europe for a season on the bench, then bowing out with 20,000 Reds roaring your name.

It's peak Klopp chaos. The man who geed up Dortmund to titles now chasing ghosts from his dark days. Karius flopped spectacularly (that Champions League final...), Mignolet shipped his share, and Manninger? He became the ultimate 'what if' trivia nugget. Liverpool fans still chuckle about it – signing a 40-year-old keeper who'd once no-entry'd their gaffer.

In the end, it was a footnote in Klopp's Merseyside revolution. But it tells you loads about his nous: loyalty to performers who'd stung him, blending youth with nous. Manninger hung up his gloves post-season, heading back to Austria a cult hero in red without kicking a ball. Proper football fairy tale, or cautionary tale? You decide over your next pint.

(Originally reported by Goal.com)

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