A surprising guest made headlines at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics when renowned soccer manager Juergen Klopp rang the final lap bell during Tuesday’s men’s biathlon relay competition in Anterselva, Italy.
French athlete Eric Perrot was unaware that the former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund coach was the one signaling his final victorious push to the finish line. The moment came during a crucial point in the race, as nearly every biathlon event at these games has been determined by performances at the shooting range during the final stages.
Speaking with Reuters and Norwegian broadcaster NRK before Wednesday’s women’s relay event, where he attended as a spectator, Klopp expressed his admiration for the demanding winter sport.
“It’s, for me, the best combination of all the physical aspects of sports and all the mental aspects of sports,” Klopp explained. “(If you took them) and put it in one sport, if you would have asked me that, let somebody run until he dies, pretty much, and then give him a rifle? Not sure who had that idea! But no, really, for ages, I have loved it.”
While the Milano Cortina Games biathlon events have delivered plenty of excitement and drama, Klopp’s home country of Germany has managed just one medal so far – a bronze earned in the opening mixed relay competition.
Despite his nation’s limited medal count, the 58-year-old coach emphasized his respect for all biathlon competitors, regardless of their results.
“It’s an example for constantly restarting, constantly refocusing, and I have to say, there’s so many aspects. A real challenge for me would be to do the last shooting and miss, and then still to finish the race with all you have. That’s a massive thing to do,” he stated.
Since leaving his position as Liverpool manager in 2024, following Champions League success in 2019 and a Premier League title in 2020, Klopp has remained away from club management. He recently joined Red Bull as their global head of soccer in January 2025 and is using his free time to experience Olympic competition firsthand.
“I’m a big fan of the sports people, big fan of the attitude, a big fan of all the things sport can teach us in life,” Klopp shared.
“And so when you see it here, the Olympic Games, in a super difficult time in the world, they still have their spot and their place, and it’s still the same atmosphere and the same mood they create.”
“Everyone, we are all friends — fight against each other (in the events), but we are friends, and that’s the most important message you can get,” he concluded.
