A LOOK BACK: Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp did not see the funny side of internet sensation IShowSpeed's publicity stunt after being knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United
Jurgen Klopp was left puzzled when he found a signed Manchester United contract
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Image: @Radio_Gaz)
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IShowSpeed and Jurgen Klopp are two names that you wouldn’t ordinarily associate with one another.
Yet, one bizarre incident involving the YouTube sensation once left legendary Liverpool manager Klopp visibly annoyed. The German, in his final season as Red boss last year, had just suffered a 4-3 FA Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of rivals Manchester United, courtesy of a winner from young winger Amad in stoppage time of extra-time.
When the frustrated Klopp went to sit down for his post-match press conference at Old Trafford, he saw a piece of paper in front of him. He held up in the air what was a signed Red Devils contract, making clear his confusion – but all wasn’t as it seemed.
The contract was a gimmick, actually signed by none other than YouTuber and streamer IShowSpeed, real name Darren Watkins Jr. The internet star, who regularly goes viral for his outrageous behaviour in videos, attended Old Trafford last year due to his love for club legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
United laid out the red carpet for the 20-year-old American, giving him a tour of the dressing room, presenting him with his own jersey, and inviting him to the press room, where they allowed him to sign a fake contract as if he had received his dream move.
It’s unknown whether the contract was intentionally left behind to rattle the Liverpool boss post-match, with his own contract being up that summer, but Klopp was clearly bemused.
Speed himself had participated in a charity football match with fellow YouTubers, the Sidemen, at the London Stadium just months prior in September 2023. And he is now in the United Kingdom again, ready for the 2025 edition of the Sidemen Charity Match, where he was finally confirmed as a player live on air by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.
IShowSpeed signed a joke contract and left it in the media room
With the game set to unfold at a sold-out Wembley Stadium in London this Saturday, Speed – who has over 36million YouTube subscribers – had plunged his return to the fixture in doubt. He teased his retirement from football after yet another frustrating and goalless performance at the Match for Hope 2025 in Qatar last month.
Having played on the opposite team during the Match for Hope, Gunners hero Henry had encouraged him not to give up. Speed, apparently by coincidence, found himself in England days before the Sidemen’s upcoming event, appearing on CBS Sports’ coverage of the Champions League on Wednesday, joining the likes of Henry, Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards.
IShowSpeed
IShowSpeed is set to play at the Sidemen Charity Match
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Image:
Getty Images)
While Speed was voicing his frustrations over his lacklustre football career in exhibition matches, Henry interjected and announced: “Before you feel like that, you’ve been chosen as the captain of the team. That’s the present that they gave me to give you.”
He pulled out a captain’s armband and asked: “Are you gonna stop or are you gonna play now that you’re the captain?” Speed showed his trademark devious grin and replied live on air: “Wait, the captain of the YouTube Allstars? Come on, put me on, man. I’m in, man, come on!”
It remains to be seen where Speed will pop up next before the action unfolds this weekend, with the YouTuber known for his cheeky pranks and appearing in random places – for example, the Gloucestershire annual cheese rolling contest, which he attented in 2024.
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