RAFA BENITEZ congratulated Jurgen Klopp after the German became the fourth manager to win the Champions League with Liverpool.
Current Newcastle boss Benitez was in charge at Anfield when the Reds last lifted the trophy in 2005.
And he was quick to extend an invite to an exclusive club after Klopp steered Liverpool to victory against Tottenham in Saturday’s all-English final.
As Liverpool celebrated in Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano stadium, Benitez tweeted: “Congratulations to @LFC and all the fans. Welcome to the club Jurgen.”
Liverpool claimed their sixth European crown in the sweltering heat of the Spanish capital to set right the defeat they suffered at the hands of Real Madrid in last season’s final.
Victory this year came about in more routine circumstances than Benitez’s 14 years ago as Klopp’s men ground out a 2-0 victory over Spurs.
Back in 2005 Liverpool famously overturned a 3-0 half-time deficit to win on penalties against an imperious AC Milan.
Mo Salah opened the scoring for Liverpool with a penalty after just two minutesKlopp adds his name alongside Benitez’s to a storied roster of Liverpool managers who have tasted success at Europe’s top table.
The legendary Bob Paisley first steered the club to the pinnacle of the European game, winning the European Cup as it was then known back in 1977.
He followed that up immediately with a successful defence of the title in 1978, before lifting the trophy for a stunning third time in 1981 after Brian Clough’s twin victories with Nottingham Forest.
Liverpool’s continental dominance of the late 1970s and early 1980s would not end there as Joe Fagan backed up Paisley’s success with a European Cup of his own in 1984.
The Reds would have to wait over 20 years before Benitez re-ignited memories of those European glory days with his victory in Istanbul.
Klopp’s trophy extends Liverpool’s lead as England’s most successful club in Europe and puts them one behind Milan in third on the all-time list.
