While the affection Liverpool supporters had for Klopp was no secret, the outpouring of emotion towards the German as he progressed on his extended farewell tour was biblical.
For millions of Liverpool fans around the world, Klopp was much more than a football manager. He became a representative of his city and a leader who had an impact that had already transcended the boundaries of the sporting arena.
His final moments at Anfield became an event that nearly wiped Manchester City’s final title celebrations off the sports news agenda.
Even after his departure, an appearance in a sold-out stadium in front of his adoring disciples two days before his contract expired was akin to a papal appearance.
Liverpool fans adored Klopp on a level we have only seen from a select few in football, with Alex Ferguson’s reign at Manchester United being the only comparable example in modern times.
So when Slot faced the world’s media as Liverpool manager for the first time on Friday, he wisely suggested that change is not high on his list of priorities.
Britain is in the midst of a political upheaval following Labour’s landslide victory in the general election, but Liverpool fans are not calling for such radical change.
Those who adore Klopp may already be longing for the moment when he returns for a second stint as manager of the club, but that moment is a long way off.
Slot walked with caution and prudence as he took his first steps away from Klopp’s shadow.
“They are very big shoes to fill, but you can see it as inheriting a team with a winning culture,” Slot said at the press conference to announce the start of his reign at Liverpool.
“One of the reasons I came here was because I think we have a very good team. As a coach, you want to work at a club with good players and the opportunity to win something.”
“The past has shown that there is the possibility of winning some trophies. I like working with the players and developing them, but I also like winning. At this club there is the opportunity to win.
“It always helps to know the city, but I think as a coach it helps even more if you win most of your games.
“If we do it in the best possible way, it will probably give me some time as well. I have found that if I have time, I can get to know the city a little bit better.
“It all starts with improving the team and winning as many games as we can.”
The fact that Klopp parted ways with Liverpool on his own terms and did not fall out with the owners or lose faith in their prudent spending strategy in the transfer market will help Slot.
It is a clear break imposed on Liverpool by Klopp’s desire to take a break from football and the initial impression that Slot has left is positive.
His charming smile, his direct way of speaking and his enthusiasm for embracing Liverpool as a city are part of the recipe that made Klopp a favourite with the Kopites.
Fortunately, the high-level style of football he pioneered at Feyenoord bears traces of the DNA that his successor injected into the club. While he will want to leave his own stamp on the team, Liverpool fans do not need or want radical change.
Klopp had already begun Slot’s work by reshaping the club’s midfield with the signings of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, while also developing young players who look ready to step up to the next level.
Last year’s third-place finish reflected a year of steady progress and Slot would do well to reflect on Liverpool’s history as he plots his own destiny at the club.
In 1991, Graeme Souness went too far in his quest to redesign the club on and off the field after replacing Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool manager.
His hardline approach backfired and sent the club into a spiral of decline that barely stopped for two decades.
While there will be a temptation to remove the Klopp brand from the team in an attempt to build his own empire, Slot’s shrewdest first move may be to stand still rather than reach for the accelerator pedal.
Succeeding a legend is arguably the toughest task in management, with David Moyes’ disastrous reign at Manchester United when he replaced Ferguson and Unai Emery’s failed attempt to succeed Arsene Wenger recent examples of why the odds may be stacked against Slot at Liverpool.
However, rather than shy away from the legacy of the recently departed Liverpool manager, the new man is content to try and build on what he created.
“What Jurgen did for this club is special,” Slot added. “When he arrived, he said he was ‘normal’, but what made him special was the impression he left – winning trophies and his style of play – the fans loved it.”
“Maybe he said he was normal, but I think the fans saw it differently. What he did for the club was more than normal.”
Great coaches find their own niche over time and Slot needs to think long-term in his mission to replace a coach who turned skeptics into believers on and off the football field.
