There are very few examples of players who didn't thrive under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. Especially when it came to the signings the German boss made, he was incredible at taking players to new levels.
When he first took over in late 2015, Klopp had to spend the first half-season of his time at Anfield reviewing which players in the squad were up to the standard, and who would need to be moved on. When he got players in the door, Liverpool started to look like a real force.
The likes of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson were brought in and transformed not only their own fortunes, but elevated Liverpool to an elite level. One man who was supposed to play a part in Klopp's revolution on Merseyside, but failed to deliver, was Loris Karius.
Ex-Liverpool Star's Wife Reveals He Almost 'Gave Up'
Liverpool Players | Champions League Final 2018
Karius, a £4.75 million signing from Bundesliga outfit Mainz, was supposed to be the end to Liverpool's goalkeeping problems. After wrestling for the number one shirt with Simon Mignolet, the German was eventually given the reigns as Klopp's first-choice.
By the end of his second season, the Reds had made it to their first Champions League final since 2007. Being given the chance to start in between the sticks as a 25-year-old in such a game should've been a blessing. Instead, it famously turned into a nightmare.
Karius was responsible for two of the Real Madrid goals as Liverpool slipped to a 3-1 defeat. After taking a heavy knock to the head, the shot-stopper threw the ball into Karim Benzema, with the ball then bouncing into the net, before letting a long-range Gareth Bale effort slip through his fingers.
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This Liverpool legend once spoke about how Jurgen Klopp impacted the career of this former Reds shot-stopper.
Almost eight years later, and that game is still the image many people have when they hear Karius' name. It effectively ended his Anfield career as Alisson Becker was signed and Karius was shipped out on various loans.
Despite struggling to find his feet at Besiktas, Union Berlin or Newcastle United, he has now found a new home. Karius is very popular as the starting goalkeeper for Schalke 04 after signing for the club in 2025. The German giants have just secured promotion back to the Bundesliga.
DAZN presenter Diletta Leotta, who Karius married in June 2024, was ecstatic for her husband. She posted an emotional message, praising her partner for continuing his career in the tough moments when 'it would have been easier to give up'. She wrote on social media:
"This sport can be tough, sometimes ruthless. [It] exposes you, tests you, makes you fall in front of everyone. But if you find the strength to stay, to believe again, sooner or later it brings you back exactly where you deserve to be.
"I have seen that strength up close. In the silences, in the difficult moments, on the days when it would have been easier to give up.
"And today it's not just a victory. It's a revival. It's love for what you do. That's courage. Proud of you."
Karius Was Preparing to Retire in 2024
Loris Karius
Karius spent two years at Newcastle United between 2022 and 2024. He knew he was a back-up option at St James' Park but still only made two appearances for the Magpies, including in the 2023 EFL Cup final.
He did enjoy his time at the Premier League club, but admitted he had to move on in an interview with SPORTbible: "I asked myself, ‘Was I the second-choice and would I get games?’ It was difficult. The coach would have liked to keep me but all in all; the whole package didn't make sense for a third year. It made sense to move on. They were two great years but it was time for a change."
After leaving the English side, nothing materialised in terms of a summer transfer as Karius turned down the chance to go to Saudi Arabia. After going more than six months without a club, he was snapped up by Schalke in a move that has rejuvenated him.
But as his wife said in her recent post, there was a part of the now 32-year-old that was preparing for life without football. Accepting that while he still wanted to play, he was ready to move onto something new if needed.
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"If you've been out for as long as I have then you obviously have to consider retirement," he said. "I haven’t made a decision yet because there's no need to. I'm still fit. I still have all the potential and the ability.
"But if a door doesn't open then I have to be honest and say to myself, 'Listen. I've got many other things that I can pursue that excite me; that I enjoy and put effort into.' I don't think it would hit me that hard because I've already been going through this process over the last few years."
Statistics in this article are courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 09-05-26.