This time last year, Jurgen Klopp was preparing his Liverpool squad to host Aston Villa at Anfield.

Fast forward 12 months, and Klopp, having left Merseyside at the end of last season, is sporting a white Adidas top and blue corduroy shorts with a crossbody bag, passing around Haribo sweets in the Porte de la Chapelle arena in Paris. He is fuelling himself to cheer on his long-time friend Wojtek Czyz in the opening round of the SL3 badminton against Great Britain’s Daniel Bethell at the Paralympic Games.

Czyz and Klopp have been friends for over 20 years and met one another during Czyz’s rehabilitation. The former German third-division professional footballer broke his knee in a collision with a goalkeeper while playing for Fortuna Koln in 2001 and had to have his left lower leg amputated. A year later, he played in a charity match against the then second-division team Mainz, led by Klopp, and the former Liverpool manager vowed to support him.

Over the years, the duo stayed in touch. While Klopp was becoming one of the world’s best managers, Czyz was breaking world records. He won seven medals, including four golds, at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Paralympic Games in the 100m, 200m and long jump. Czyz then retired from para athletics and set up a charity Sailing4Handicaps. Despite not knowing how to sail, he bought a catamaran with his wife Elena Brambilla and travelled around the world delivering workshops and providing prostheses in developing countries.

Then, at a harbour in Lisbon — before Klopp became Liverpool manager in 2015 — the duo bumped into one another. The German coach was on holiday and Czyz, who was chucking a frisbee about, was sailing with his charity. “That’s destiny, stuff like that,” said Klopp.

Klopp has told Czyz’s story more than 500 times, often as a motivational tool. “It’s the most inspiring story I’ve heard in my life,” said Klopp. “This story has to be told, it’s just not normal. My friend is super special. That’s what I love about sport, that it can change the world — sometimes only for moments and sometimes forever.

“We experienced the Olympics here in Paris. Before that, the world was in a big, big crisis, but for these two and a half weeks, we forgot it. That’s what sport and the Paralympics can do, there’s no difference.”

Klopp drew the media’s attention at the Paralympics (Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Ever since Czyz qualified for the 2024 Paralympics, Klopp wanted to support him in Paris. The former German citizen, who represents New Zealand, having been trapped there during the Covid pandemic, decided to take up badminton because he played it as a child and was inspired by the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

“Jurgen is family,” said Czyz, who did not even know how to pick up a badminton racket three years ago. “He wanted to come, but not only for me. Jurgen is here to make a statement: the Paralympics is amazing. We need people like Jurgen putting the focus on it.

“We already celebrated my qualification. There were so many doubters who said it was impossible. He said: ‘If I can help somehow, I will be there’.”

Before Czyz’s first game, Klopp told him: “Wojtek, we are here now. I am here because of you and you are here because we made it possible. Now enjoy it.”

Klopp took a much more laid-back approach in the stands compared to his usual touchline manner. With Brambilla and other New Zealand supporters by his side, Klopp stood, leaning back on the folded chair, arms and feet crossed, black sunglasses folded and tucked into his shirt, and cheered as his friend took to the court. One spectator said, “You’ll never walk alone, Jurgen,” but Klopp, who may not have heard, was laser-focused on the competition.

Czyz had a tough draw against gold-medal favourite Bethell and lost 21-5, 21-2 in straight sets. Klopp clapped every point Czyz won and at the end shouted, “Well done”, accompanied by a thumbs-up to the winning Brit as he walked off court.

“I enjoyed all seven points,” laughed Klopp, Czyz chuckling by his side, as the German’s voice boomed in the mixed zone after the game. “He’s 44 by the way, 44,” Klopp added, before looking around and asking, “By the way, how did we end up in a mixed zone? Nobody told me that!”

Reflecting on Czyz’s journey, Klopp said: “I stood next to Elena and we both had tears in our eyes because I know sport is always about the result and winning, but there’s much more behind that story. Being here is always so touching; I couldn’t get my head around it. It’s just pure joy. Yesterday, we stood in front of the Eiffel Tower and we both thought, ‘Wow! Again!’ It’s super, super special.

“I couldn’t be prouder. To do it again (qualify for the Paralympics) in a different sport. Imagine you decide tomorrow: ‘By the way, it would be a good idea if I go to the Olympics or the Paralympics,’ and then think, ‘What (sport) did I like as a kid?’ He’s crazy. We are completely different. He’s constantly doing things I’m not brave enough to do. He only told me yesterday how easy it is to dive with sharks, and I said, ‘Yeah, I’ve heard it — I still don’t do it.’”

Bethell said it was “surreal” to have a Champions League-winning manager watching on. The 28-year-old did not know until just before the game Klopp was in attendance.

“It’s amazing for someone of that calibre in the sporting world to be here at the Paralympics and supporting para badminton,” said Bethell. “It’s another thing I’ll always remember about this Paralympics.”

Klopp watching Czyz against Bethell in Paris (Fiona Goodall/Getty Images for PNZ)

Klopp is still on his break from management, having rebuffed an approach from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) to take over as the men’s national team head coach following the dismissal of Gregg Berhalter in July. Asked how he has been spending his time away from football, Klopp replied: “All good. Don’t worry about me, I can fill my time easily.”

Czyz said he has seen him enjoying time with his wife and family, especially as a new grandfather. “This is what he really likes,” the Paralympian said. “When you dedicate 100 per cent for so many years, then it’s the right time to say, ‘Hey, I’ve had enough.’ Chapeau to Jurgen.”

Reflecting further on the Paralympics, Klopp said: “Life is a challenge for all of us very often, but not all of us have a physical disability. I saw yesterday in the crowd, so many people with disabilities, sitting there watching it, and for them it means the world that they can compete on this level.”

On coverage of the Paralympics, Klopp said: “It’s already a challenge to find Paralympics on television. We should show much more because it’s so encouraging. It’s not about having no disabled people, it’s about giving them an opportunity.

“There is so much more to do. In sport in general, apart from football in Europe and other sports in America, the athletes have to be supported much more. There’s no doubt about that. A story is always about ups and downs, and we all want to have a happy ending. If we show all these happy endings here, it’s just the best example.”

At which point Czyz chipped in: “Well, it was not a happy ending today for me, mate.”

“Wait, wait, wait: this was the start, not the end,” Klopp said to his friend, who only played his first para badminton international for New Zealand in 2022 and made history as the first para badminton player to represent the country’s Paralympic team.

“That’s why I need Jurgen; this is the motivational part,” smiled Czyz.

“Just to tell him the obvious stuff,” replied Klopp.

Sometimes the simplest advice is the most valuable. “You have to keep going,” Czyz said. “If you lose and give it your all, then try to be happy. Put a pin in it and move on. That’s what I’ve learned from him.”