Jurgen Klopp joined the famous faces at Wembley ahead of the Champions League final after being invited by his former club Borussia Dortmund.
Klopp, who stepped down as Liverpool head coach at the end of the season after a trophy-laden nine-year spell, was pictured in the stands before kick-off.
Having taken charge of Dortmund between 2008 and 2015, Klopp, 56, was extended the offer to be one of the club’s guests of honour and took up his seat in a box.
During his stint in Germany, Klopp won the Bundesliga twice and also finished as runner-up in the Champions League in 2013 after losing to Bayern Munich.
As the atmosphere built in London, Klopp was pictured extending his now infamous fist pump in the direction of Dortmund supporters and soaking up the reception.
Jurgen Klopp joined the famous faces at Wembley for the Champions League final
Klopp was invited to the match by Borussia Dortmund and fist-pumped toward their end
Jose Mourinho was also at the ground as part of TNT Sports’ coverage of the showdown
Jose Mourinho was also present after he stepped away from the touchline as one of TNT Sports’ punditry team for their coverage of the showdown.
A video shared on X, formerly Twitter, caught a contrasting reaction from the Dortmund end toward Mourinho and Klopp when they appeared on the big screen.
The stony-faced Mourinho, a former Madrid manager, flashed up first and was treated to jeers while footage of Klopp roused cheers just seconds later.
‘I have got an invitation now for the Champions League final,’ Klopp revealed in one of his final interviews as Liverpool manager last month.
‘They said, “I don’t think he will come”, but of course I will come, it’s the Champions League final and I have nothing to do, really!
Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger, now in a prominent role with FIFA, was also at Wembley
Former Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale was suited and booted for the occasion in London
‘But then I need more tickets too. It’s the first time in my life I’m asking for tickets – normally it’s me who is always being asked! It’s a really strange feeling.’
Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger, now FIFA’s chief of global football development, also secured himself a seat at Wembley, as did former Madrid superstar Gareth Bale.
Music megastar Jay-Z was pictured inside the stadium, too.
Jude Bellingham’s family, including his father Mark and brother Jobe, took their place in the stands among Madrid’s supporters during the warm-ups.
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, a one-time winner of the competition, was also part of the significant TV coverage for the final.
Madrid arrived at Wembley first clad in suits while Dortmund followed in tracksuits.
Music megastar Jay-Z flashed the peace sign after taking a walk down the Wembley touchline
Jude Bellingham’s father Mark (left) and brother Jobe (right) sat down in the Madrid end
Peter Schmeichel, a one-time Champions League winner, was also on punditry duty
Carlo Ancelotti’s heavyweights will seal a treble should they win the Champions League, having already clinched the LaLiga title and lifted the Spanish Super Cup.
Dortmund, meanwhile, won the famous jug-eared trophy once, in 1997.
Bellingham, who has enjoyed a scintillating debut season with Madrid since joining from Dortmund, was unsurprisingly handed a start in his usual No 10 role.
Thibaut Courtois was given the nod between the sticks despite his understudy, Andriy Lunin, performing heroics during Madrid’s route to the final.
For Dortmund, Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho will line up on the wing.
