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The view from Leipzig: From Klopp's Mainz teammate to RB reporter

For one sports reporter based in Germany, Liverpool's pairing with RB Leipzig in the last 16 of the Champions League was particularly poignant.

Guido Schäfer is the chief reporter at Leipziger Volkszeitung, focusing on the fortunes of Die Roten Bullen for the regional newspaper.

He’s also a personal friend and former teammate of Jürgen Klopp.

The pair played together for six years at FSV Mainz 05 between 1990 and 1996, but their careers would take on two very different trajectories.

While Klopp went on to become the manager of Mainz and later Borussia Dortmund and, of course, the Reds, Schäfer’s journey turned towards the media and when his boots were hung up in 1999, he took up a full-time role in football reporting.