Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says his first interaction with Sir Alex Ferguson was like meeting the Pope.

Klopp was awarded the League Managers Association Manager of the Year award on Monday, which is named in Ferguson's honour.

And the German revealed he met Ferguson for breakfast after joining the Reds.

"I'm absolutely delighted to be named the winner of the League Managers Association manager of the year award, for this wonderful Sir Alex Ferguson trophy, named after a man that I admire so much," Klopp said.

"I know it's not 100 per cent appropriate as a Liverpool manager - but I admire him. He was the first British manager I met and we had breakfast together. It was long ago and I'm not sure if he remembers it still, but I remember it forever because it was for me in this moment like meeting the Pope if you want!

"It was absolutely great and from the first second we really clicked. I wouldn't have thought in that moment that one day I would hold the trophy in my hands which is named after him."