They say great things never come from comfort zones. Much more than hard work and discipline, achieving the best comes at a cost. Katie Hultin, being appointed as Illinois soccer head coach, would suggest that she is hungry for success. While it’s clear that no one understands the ‘hardest‘ realities of the managerial world better than her, Hultin fortunately knows how to tackle the challenges with the help of none other than Jurgen Klopp.

Yes, the ex-Liverpool manager, who surely doesn’t need an introduction, thanks to his illustrious career in the beautiful game both as a player and later as a manager. It’s no surprise that the German tactician would turn out to be the idol of many who wish to become like him. Consider Hultin in the same boat, who not only considers the ex-Dortmund boss a role model but even tends to imply his philosophy.

“My professional role model is … Jurgen Klopp,” Katie began while answering questions from Jeff D’Alessio, the Editor of The News-Gazette, based in East Central Illinois, Champaign. “He is competitive, yet he cares deeply for his team and sees them as people first,” she added, highlighting the 57-year-old’s empathy-driven leadership, a quality that is hard to find these days.

Well, Hultin not only knows the name, but the game as well. The 42-year-old was also praiseful about Klopp’s former side Liverpool and their ever-famous motto that touches lives more than one could imagine. “Their mantra is ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone,’ which I truly connect with as a coach and a person,” explained the former coach of the University of Michigan.

Now one would question, why would she relate so much to someone like Jurgen Klopp? Well, for someone who has savored the taste of success at the highest level possible, even the former Reds boss was forced to say “I’m running out of energy” while announcing his exit from the Premier League giants.

Even though Klopp seems to be enjoying his sabbatical days, Hultin remains inspired by the ever-lasting impact that the German tactician left on her. “The hardest thing about being a leader is … it can be lonely if you let it be,” concluded the new Illinois boss, who despite knowing the hardships of being a leader, seems ready to face all that may come.

All thanks go to none other than Jurgen Klopp, for whom this isn’t the first time helping a female soccer coach.

How did Jurgen Klopp help USWNT boss Emma Hayes overcome mental challenges as a manager?

Last summer, when Emma Hayes was in her final year at Chelsea Women, she surprisingly decided to take a break from social media, deleting her account from Twitter and Instagram. The step was taken after she faced significant backlash and abuse over a mere loss to Liverpool. Admitting how she turned to Jurgen Klopp for guidance, the English tactician blasted the media saying, “I think it’s ridiculous what everybody expects of a football manager. We’re human beings. We have lives.”

“Everybody’s under pressure, everybody’s got to get headlines. Everybody’s got to grab content. For football managers, we’re in an impossible position,” explained the 48-year-old, insisting how the media puts the managers in a position where they are just ‘pieces of meat.’

No wonder Hayes felt the need to have a much-need chat with someone like Klopp, who exactly knows better than anyone about the kinds of challenges one faces in the managerial world. In that case, we reckon that Katie Hultin is right to follow Jurgen Klopp’s ideal mantra.