Liverpool boss paid his respects to football legend Diego Maradona after his death at the age of 60
Jurgen Klopp has paid tribute to Diego Maradona after the Argentina legend passed away on Wednesday.
The iconic Maradona suffered a reported cardiac arrest in Tigre, in his homeland, just a few weeks after turning 60.
The 1986 World Cup winner was revered throughout football for his exploits during a career that saw him turn out for the likes of Napoli, Barcelona and Boca Juniors in Argentina.
Klopp labelled Maradona as one of the game’s most talented and recognisable figures after Liverpool were beaten 2-0 by Atalanta in the Champions League at Anfield.
Klopp said: “[He is] 100 per cent [an icon]. I had the honour to meet him once. As a 53-year-old man, loving football as long as I can remember, he is one of the greatest ever.
"Then I saw, not so long ago, the documentary, which I think is exceptional.
"And you could see there was Diego who was an unbelievable footballer, then Maradona who struggled slightly with all the things around when you are a young person and all the people go crazy wherever you go, that is not so easy.
"He had his fights with that 100 per cent but I will miss Diego and Maradona. What a footballer he was. He was unbelievable.
"His technique, his endurance, his attitude, whatever, he just showed us that you don't have to be the tallest, you don't have to be the busiest in training.
"You don't have to be always on time, it is possible you can still be the best player in the world.
"He loved this game so much. You could see that in each second when you watched him playing. Even when he was warming up, he was special.
"So there was Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, for England I am not sure, but you all have absolute heroes who make it look easy like there's no effort necessary.
"But they understood the game on a different level and that was Maradona. He understood the game on a different level. He knew what other players would do before they knew.
"That made him really special and he pushed football on a different level."