Former footballer-turned-diving instructor, 44, set to be cheered on at Paralympics 2024 by best pal Jurgen Klopp
JURGEN KLOPP will spend his sabbatical off football management at the Paralympics on Thursday as he supports a badminton pal.
Liverpool’s Champions League-winning boss is not on the touchline these days having decided to leave Anfield at the end of last season.
Before he takes up another job, the German, 57, will be in Paris to cheer on his friend Wojtek Czyz in group-play action.
Czyz, 44, is a former German citizen and a Paralympic champion in Para athletics, who is now competing for New Zealand.
His opening tie will be against Britain’s Daniel Bethell, one of the favourites for SL3 gold, at the La Chapelle Arena.
They have been friends for more than 20 years and Klopp said: “The best and most honest stories happen in Para sports.”
Czyz was a former professional footballer for Fortuna Koln but in September 2001, he broke a knee in a collision with a goalkeeper – and that led to an amputation of his left lower leg.
During his rehab, he met Klopp, who was then in charge of FSV Mainz 05, and they have kept in touch ever since.
A certified diving instructor, Czyz got involved in charity sailing and started a circumnavigation of the world with his wife.
After five years of the project, and trapped in New Zealand during the Covid pandemic, they decided to settle there.
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They set up a manuka honey company and he loved the country so much, he switched allegiances to the Kiwis.
On being cheered on by pal Klopp, Czyz said: “I’m really happy to see him. We talk a lot about the Paralympics.
“He is a big fan of it – to see what people can achieve and how hard the competition is.
“He will enjoy being there and I look forward to giving him a good show.”