Brentford head coach Thomas Frank has recalled his memorable first meeting with Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, over a decade ago.

Frank revealed his first meeting with Klopp was in Germany when he was Denmark Under-17 coach and the Reds boss was at Borussia Dortmund.

And, with Klopp set to leave the Merseysiders at the end of the season, the Bees head coach detailed the classy touch that the German showed when they first came across each other all those years ago.

Frank said: “Jürgen is a fantastic coach, a fantastic personality, and a huge asset for the Premier League and football, in general. 

“The first time I got to know him was in Germany. I was down there to visit him with the Danish Football Federation; I was the youth national team coach. 

“The national team head coach Morten Olsen was a big guy in Germany and he opened the doors for us there. 

“The first time I met Jürgen, there were five or six of us. He was a little bit late, but he came into the room, sat there talking, and asked us all the questions. He was just full of energy, as we know him now. We then went out to the training pitch, he came over to talk with us.  

“Then, the day after, we were there again, but all the others had to go earlier, so I still stood there and watched training on my own and he still came over. I was there, a nobody, an under-17 coach from Denmark, but he took the time. I like that, that human touch. He probably can't remember that, but I remember it!

“I do understand [his decision to leave] though. For him, personally, looking from the outside, it seems to be a good choice to enjoy the other parts of life.  

“Let's see how long he will do that! He'll probably miss football at some point.” 

Klopp has explained that he is leaving the Reds because he is "running out of energy" after nine years at Liverpool, where he has won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup since arriving at Anfield in 2015.

And Frank gave his own perspective on being a head coach at the top level and the toll it takes.

“We’re in football because we love the game, we love working with people, trying to create something special, coach a team to play a specific way, create a culture - hopefully both," he explained.

“The highs and lows definitely make you feel alive, so if you want a more like consistent life, don't become a football manager or a head coach! 

“But it's the constant hamster wheel: you're doing the same week, after week, after week, and you need to do it to an excellent level. There's a lot of things you can control, but there's a lot of things you don't control and that's the thing that's tough. 

“Every manager and head coach I speak to, or every person I speak to about leadership, the most valuable thing is about taking care of your energy, and the worst thing we are able to take care of is our energy! 

“I've not met one head coach or manager that is perfect at it, but it's something we definitely need to look into.”