Player Jurgen Klopp sold has won four titles in five years since Liverpool exit

Jurgen Klopp never wanted to sell goalkeeper Simon Mignolet in 2019 and the former Liverpool stopper has proven exactly why after playing a key role in his fourth title win in five years. The Belgian returned home to Club Brugge after six years at Anfield following the signing of Alisson, where he has gone on to great success.

Mignolet celebrated another Belgian Pro League title on Sunday, getting over the line with a 0-0 draw at home to Cercle Brugge in which Mignolet kept a clean sheet. The point sparked jubilant scenes inside the Jan Breydel Stadium, led by their 36-year-old goalkeeper Mignolet.

“A fairytale that deserved a happy ending,” Mignolet posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) accompanied by a photo of the former Liverpool man lifting the trophy amid a huge pitch invasion from the passionate fans. “We Are Bruges!!”

Club Brugge have become a dominant force in Belgium with Mignolet, though the stopper will not continue his success on the international stage after retiring from the national team last year.

He will continue to focus on his club, where he is contracted for another two years, having been one of the few players in recent years to depart from Anfield and enjoy success elsewhere.

The likes of Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mane and Georginio Wijnaldum have all struggled despite going down in the Liverpool history books, though Klopp won’t be surprised after admitting that he was forced to axe Mignolet and allow him to leave the club.

“If you were to ask me to write a list of the most standout professionals I’ve worked with in the game – in a career of well over 30 years – Simon Mignolet would be competing for the number one spot,” Klopp said upon Mignolet’s exit.

“The respect he commands in our dressing room is unrivalled. An outstanding athlete, an outstanding person, and an international-class ‘keeper. The truth is I don’t want Simon to leave – why would I? He’s a ‘keeper good enough to start for all the teams in the Premier League.

“But this is a little like the situation we faced with Lucas Leiva a few seasons ago now. Sometimes you have someone whose contribution to the club means you have to consider their welfare also. Simon is such a person.”