Jurgen Klopp shared a heartfelt moment with Alexis Mac Allister at the World Cup, with the footage going viral
Alexis Mac Allister and Jurgen Klopp share a heartfelt moment
Alexis Mac Allister and Jurgen Klopp shared a heartfelt moment(Image: Jurgen Klopp / Instagram)
View Image
World Cup fans gushed over Jurgen Klopp's heart-warming interaction with Alexis Mac Allister following Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria on Monday evening. The 59-year-old was spotted on the sidelines working as a pundit for German TV alongside Thomas Muller, when the Liverpool star approached all smiles to greet his former head coach.
The two shared a huge handshake and a lengthy embrace as they exchanged small talk, Klopp seemingly asking Mac Allister for his match-worn shirt as he pulled it up. After moving on to share a handshake with Muller, while Klopp greeted Lionel Messi, Mac Allister then returned to the Red Bull boss with his Argentina shirt in hand, passing it on before the two shared another hug.
Klopp also shared a photo of himself grinning while holding up Mac Allister's shirt on Instagram in the aftermath. It was a sweet interaction from the player and seasoned head coach, who spent the 2023/24 season at Liverpool together before Klopp's departure.
And football fans online couldn't help but share their adoration. One wrote: "Klopp collecting shirts like Pokémon cards after retirement. Absolute legend!"
A second added: "To the Professor with affection!" while a third noted: "This guy is a legend in life. Wins in everything he does."
A fourth said: "Klopp is a different breed man! That warm hug with Mac Allister, the pure joy on his face getting the #20 shirt...this guy doesn’t just coach, he heals souls.
"Football feels empty without him on the touchline. Bring him back ASAP, the game needs that energy!"
*FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE!All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page*
Content Image
Content Image
Another added: "He's a great guy, Jürgen; he lives it like just another fanatic, he doesn't know how big his name already is in the history of this sport." The footage has since gone viral and been watched millions of times on X.
Mac Allister played a pivotal part in Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria at the Dallas Stadium, featuring for the full 90 minutes as the South American nation cruised to the top of the Group J standings.
It was Messi, however, who stole the show. After pulling a penalty wide early doors, it didn't seem destined to be the Inter Miami sensation's night.
However, it took him all of 38 minutes to score his first of the evening, breaking Miroslav Klose's record of 16 World Cup goals in total by bagging his 17th. The 39-year-old wasn't content with just one goal, however, bagging his brace at the death of the game to secure his 18th World Cup goal from six tournaments.