Jurgen Klopps family life and strict rule that meant he missed mums funeral

Jurgen Klopp is at the top of his game, with his Liverpool team flying high in the league and in Europe.

The maverick manager will face up against Unai Emery's Villarreal tonight, April 27, in the hunt for an incredible quadruple, never done before in the English game.

The Liverpool manager said ahead of the tie: "It is absolutely special to be a part of the semi-final, it's crazy. It's a massive game. So many coaches and players work their socks off their whole life and don't get a chance to be close to a semi-final."

Klopp's Reds are still battling for the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, and have already beaten Chelsea in the League Cup final in February.

He has become known for his passionate touchline defence of his players and often fiery interviews after a rare Liverpool defeat.

With him now such a big presence in the world of football, plenty are wondering about Klopp's life outside of football.

So who are Klopp's wife and family?

Who is Jurgen Klopp married to?

Jurgen Klopp is married to Ulla Sandrock and the two have been in a relationship since 2005.

Ulla is a children's novelist and has produced her own book, Tom And The Magic Football. The book is about an 11-year-old boy who finds a magic football that helps him to become a great player.

They reportedly met when Ulla was working as a waitress in Germany's famous Oktoberfest in Munich.

Ulla's status as the wife of Klopp and her charity work led her to be called the 'First Lady of the Bundesliga', while Klopp was managing German giants Borussia Dortmund.

Klopp said of her books: "It's like Harry Potter but about football. There’s no flying on his f**king stick."

The two both have children from previous relationships. Klopp divorced his ex-wife Sabine in 2001 after 12 years. They are reported to have a good relationship with each other to this day.

Their son Marc, now 33, played for the likes of Borussia Dortmund II and SV Darmstadt 98.

Why did Jurgen Klopp miss his mother's funeral?

Jurgen Klopp was unable to go to his mother's funeral due to travel restrictions imposed during the Covid pandemic.

Jurgen said: "She meant everything to me. She was a real mum in the best sense of the word."

His mother Elisabeth died at the age of 81 in early 2021 as Germany banned all UK arrivals.

To German newspaper Schwarzwaelder Bote, Jurgen added: "As a devout Christian, I know she's now in a better place.

"The fact that I can't be there at the funeral is because of these awful times. As soon as circumstances allow, we'll give her a wonderful, fitting commemoration."

When his Liverpool team won the league for the first time in 30 years in 2020, the Reds manager told players and fans to celebrate by keeping to the Covid rules.

After the partygate scandal broke in the back end of 2021 and continued into the new year, Klopp, previously critical of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, simply said: "My opinion about Mr Johnson is pretty clear."

Liverpool vs Villarreal kicks off tonight at 8pm with coverage starting at 7pm on BT Sport 2

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