Saturday's Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid pits two of European football's superpowers against each other — but it is also a clash between two of its greatest managers.
The Spanish giants, led by Carlo Ancelotti, are looking to win a record-extending 14th European Cup in Paris, while Liverpool are hoping to clinch club football's greatest prize for a seventh time.
Italian coach Ancelotti is seeking a record-breaking fourth European Cup title as a manager, while German Klopp is out to land his second.
Ancelotti has won the Champions League in 2003 and 2007 with AC Milan and in 2014 during his first spell at Real Madrid.
He has also clinched the Uefa Super Cup in 2003, 2007 and 2014, and the Fifa Club World Cup in 2007 and 2014.
Klopp won the Champions League in 2019 — after losing to Real in the 2018 final — when Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0. He added the Uefa Super Cup and the Fifa Club World Cup in 2019.
-
Liverpool fans at the Place de l'Hotel de Ville in Paris ahead of Saturday's Champions League final. PA -
Mel Singh and Leo from Birmingham outside The Louvre Museum in Paris ahead of Saturday's Champions League final at the Stade de France. PA -
A Liverpool fan poses next to the Champions League trophy at the Place de l'Hotel de Ville in Paris ahead of Saturday's final. PA -
A view of the badges and detail on Liverpool fan Mel Singh's car in Paris ahead of Saturday's Champions League final. PA -
Liverpool fans in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris ahead of Saturday's Champions League final against Real Madrid at the Stade de France. PA -
Liverpool fans pose in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. PA -
Liverpool fans at Gare du Nord ahead of Saturday's Champions League final. PA -
Liverpool fans in Paris ahead of Saturday's Champions League final. PA -
Artists from MurWalls work on a piece celebrating the defining moments of the Champions League season outside the Stade de France on Thursday, May 26, 2022. AP -
Liverpool supporters heading for the Champions League final in Paris wait among freight and holiday traffic queues at the Port of Dover in Kent. PA -
Real Madrid's midfielder Luka Modric, centre, arrives at the team's hotel in Chantilly ahead of the Champions League final against Liverpool. AFP -
Real Madrid's midfielder Toni Kross at the team hotel in Chantilly on Thursday. AFP -
Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Marcelo at the team hotel in Chantilly. AFP -
Real Madrid's Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema arrive at the team hotel. AFP -
Ferland Mendy, left, and Gareth Bale arrive at the team hotel. AFP -
Real Madrid's Eder Militao, right, and Vinicius Junior at the team hotel in Chantilly. AFP -
Eder Militao, right, and Vinicius Junior at the team hotel in Chantilly on Thursday. AFP -
Real Madrid's coach Carlo Ancelotti at the team hotel. AFP -
Real Madrid's striker Karim Benzema greets the fans as he arrives at the club's hotel in Chantilly. EPA
Ancelotti, at 62, has a few years on his younger rival, who is 54, but both have impressive managerial CVs.
The Italian's first major trophy was the Intertoto Cup with Juventus back in 1999.
He has since won five league titles, in five different major European leagues, during spells in charge of AC Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
His other major trophies include the Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italia, FA Cup, Community Shield, Copa del Rey, Supercopa de Espana and the German Supercup (twice).
Klopp managed to break the Bayern Munich stranglehold on the Bundesliga, winning the title in 2011 and again in 2012 with Borussia Dortmund.
He added the DFB-Pokal in 2012 and the German Supercup in 2013 and 2014 during his time in Germany.
After his move to Liverpool, he managed to end the Anfield club's 30-year wait for a title by winning the Premier League in 2020.
This season, he added the FA Cup and League Cup to his tally.
As it stands, then, the tale of the tape reads: Ancelotti 22 major trophies; Klopp 11 major trophies.
But whoever adds to their collection on Saturday night, time is definitely on Klopp's side in the battle between two of football's great managers.
